Dawson County seemed to be in total control with a 12-0 spurt to open the game on Tuesday, but host Lumpkin County (10-4; 1-2 in 6-AAA) used a second half surge and great defense to secure their first regoin win of 44-39. The #8-ranked Lady Tigers (10-4; 1-2) held a 5-point lead at the half, but scored just 14 total points in the second half.

Laila Woody had a rare 4-point play for the Lady Tigers early on as part of the 12-0 run, and Maddie Lee ended the Lumpkin drought with the team’s first points coming with less than two minutes left in the first.

EK Reese had back-to-back buckets after that, and Alayna Lindley had a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to make it a 14-10 deficit. In the second, the sides traded baskets, and Dawson’s Lilly Abbott totaled 10 points in the opening half. The Lady Tigers were up 25-20 at the break.

Lee went to work in the second half, using a 3-point play before Reese added a shot from downtown to tie the game at 32 apiece, which was the score going into the final period.

Lee had another big triple in the fourth, giving Lumpkin its first lead. Woody retaliated for Dawson County to regain the lead momentarily, but Lindley put the Lady Indians ahead for good with a 3-pointer and a bank shot moments later.

Lee finished with 18 to pace Lumpkin, while Reese had 11, Lindley nine, Anna Kate Davis four, and Violet Green two. Dawson County was led by Abbott’s 14. Woody had seven, Ava Roberson five, Baylee Green four, three each for Ramsey Smith and Kadence Rhodes, and two by Addison Smith.

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