Lowndes showcased their defensive prowess on Saturday afternoon, overcoming Grovetown with a decisive 53-37 victory. This win marked the Vikettes” 18th consecutive triumph and secured their spot in the Elite Eight for the second year in a row. Remarkably, they remain undefeated in 2026, with their last defeat occurring against Bradwell Institute on December 13.
“Defense wins championships, and our defense today was phenomenal,” said Lowndes head coach Courtney Fleming. “Our bigs inside – Payton, Laila, Kayla, and Maddie Quinn off the bench – when we play together, it”s tough to stop that. I”m just so proud. Three straight Elite Eights for this senior class, who weren”t even picked to win the region this year. I”m excited.”
Seniors Kayla Jackson and Laila Foster proved to be a formidable duo against the Warriors. Jackson led all scorers with 20 points, netting 10 in each half. She aggressively attacked the rim, drawing fouls and even hitting a 3-pointer. Additionally, she secured six rebounds during the match.
“My mentality is just to play hard and win every game,” Jackson stated. “You won”t get every call, so you have to play through it. Adversity is everything. I always think about grinding and stepping up for my team. Defensively, we wanted to use our pace and play aggressive defense like we”ve done all season.”
Fleming praised Jackson”s resilience, noting, “When she got hit going to the basket and fell, I thought, “Oh my goodness gracious, not like that.” But she got right back up. That”s how she was raised – to just get back up, and she”s always done that.”
Foster also shone in the fourth quarter, scoring eight points during a critical 14-2 run that helped the Vikettes pull ahead. She finished the game with 11 points and seven rebounds, showcasing her development in the post.
Fleming mentioned Foster”s growth, saying, “When I first got here, Laila didn”t love the inside game or contact. Over time, she has embraced her role. She”s a lefty, and that gives her confidence with both hands inside.”
Grovetown started strong with an 11-8 lead after the first quarter, but Lowndes regained momentum in the second. Jackson scored the first seven points of the second quarter, reclaiming the lead. A buzzer-beater by Mackenzie Dudley at the end of the first half extended the Vikettes” lead to 24-19.
Despite facing injuries to key players earlier in the season, Lowndes has adapted well. Both Jackson and Bryana Thomas have taken on more ball-handling responsibilities, while freshman point guard Naomi Williams has stepped up during the postseason. Thomas, the reigning Region 1-6A Defensive Player of the Year, contributed with 11 points, six rebounds, and seven steals. Williams added seven points, with five coming in the fourth quarter.
Next, the Vikettes will face the Campbell Spartans on March 3. Campbell is riding a 10-game winning streak after defeating North Forsyth. “Three straight Elite Eights is huge for a program in South Georgia,” said Fleming. “We won”t take it for granted and will prepare to face a tough Campbell team.”
Foster added, “As a senior, you want to go as far as possible, especially with a team like this. We have to show that we”re more than just a small city from South Georgia.”
In contrast, the Lowndes Vikings were unable to replicate this success against Peachtree Ridge, falling 62-52. Despite a strong effort that kept the game competitive into the third quarter, Peachtree Ridge pulled away in the final period. Junior guard Tyler Barnes led the Lions with 20 points, scoring 13 in the second half. Peachtree Ridge”s victory sends them to the Elite Eight for the second time in three years.
Lowndes” season concludes with a record of 22-7 after securing back-to-back Region 1-6A championships. Coach Reshon Benjamin reflected on the game, stating, “It was hard to contain Barnes tonight. He made tough shots and was a key reason for their victory.”
