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Lady Gators stay unbeaten on season
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Bulloch Academy junior forward Haley Burke makes a contested shot against Frederica's Ansley Morgan Thursday night at the Lady Gator Classic. - photo by BRYAN BURKE/Special to the Herald

Bulloch Academy fought off a strong third-quarter charge from the Frederica Lady Knights and pulled away in the fourth for a 50-39 victory Thursday in the final day of the fifth annual Lady Gator Classic.

Anna Newton had a team-high 18 points, Haley Burke added 12, Rachel Gilbert and Taylor Collins had seven each and McKenzie Webb added six in the victory. Frederica’s Morgan Brian netted a game-high 26 points and Anne Marie Slaton had 11.

In other games, John Milledge ripped Thomas Jefferson 46-16. Sarah Miller netted 18 for the victorious Lady Trojans and Chelsey Toulson led the Lady Jaguars with 14. In the nightcap, Trinity Christian waxed First Presbyterian Christian Academy 72-33. Anna Claire Knight poured in 30 points for the Lady Crusaders while both Briana Reece and Emone Fisher had 11 each for the Lady Highlanders.

In Bulloch’s game, the Lady Gators (3-0) had to work hard against a tight Frederica zone and the quick guard play of Brian. BA pulled out to a 10-2 midway through the first quarter on a Burke three-pointer but the Lady Knights stayed around. Bulloch held a 15-9 by the buzzer.

In the second quarter, turnovers were almost the downfall of the Lady Gators as they helped Brian and company go on a 6-0 run to knot the score with 5:25 left in the quarter. But a Webb three-point bucket at the 5:15 mark sparked some momentum and the Gators pulled out to a 25-17 lead. Still, FA hung on and cut the advantage to 25-21 by halftime.

The third quarter was a quick-scoring contest up and down the floor between Brian and the Lady Gators. The Frederica senior scored 10 points as she almost singlehandedly cut the Lady Gator lead to just a bucket, 35-33, by the buzzer.

In the fourth, Bulloch smothered Brian with defenders, allowing her just a three-point basket. The Lady Gators then upped the ante, flying up and down the court to play good defense and drill quick baskets. Bulloch outscored the visitors from St. Simons Island 15-6 in the quarter to take the hard-fought victory.

The Lady Gators take a break for the Thanksgiving holidays and then travel to Stillmore on Nov. 30 to take on local rival David Emanuel Academy.