From Staff Reports

            The No. 2 seed Screven County Lady Gamecocks outscored the No. 1 seed Squaws of Dodge County 11-1 in overtime to advance to the quarterfinals of the GHSA Class AA state playoffs with a 55-45 win.

            Eleven was the magic number for SCHS – they scored exactly 11 points in each of the game’s four quarters and in the overtime period.

            “I told my statistician – ‘that’s what I need to start playing in the lottery,’” said SCHS coach Jennifer Acree. “‘Elevens across the board.’”

            Screven led for most of the game, taking a 22-20 lead into halftime. They lost the lead late in the third quarter, but when they took a 28-26 lead with four minutes to go in the third, they never trailed again.

            Trailing by three with under a minute to go in the game, DCHS was able to hit a game-tying 3-pointer with six seconds on the clock to tie it up and send it into overtime.

            Screven outscored Dodge 11-1 in the overtime period and advanced one step closer to the state title game.

            Ashley  Loundy scored a game-high 16 points and Kadedra Evans scored six of her 14 points in overtime for Screven.

            The Lady Gamecocks (25-5) will take on No. 1 seed Randolph-Clay (29-0) on Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Albany Civic Center. Playing the games in Albany – Acree’s home town – has allowed her family to see what she and her team have accomplished. As for having to take on an unbeaten team in the quarterfinals, Acree is not worried.

            “I feel great,” said Acree. “I’m looking forward to it. I don’t see their undefeated record – I just see another basketball team. We got a chance to watch them play, plus I have about four or five tapes on them. I am very excited – it is going to be a great game.”