The girls victory put Lithia (15-6, 9-2) in first place, giving them a one game advantage over Villa Rica (11-8, 8-3).
The Lady Lions opened the game on a 6-0 run, aided by a tech foul on Villa Rica to start the game. The visiting Lady Wildcats did not sink their first shot until four minutes in, to cut the deficit to four. A minute and a half later Villa Rica only trailed by two. However, two 3-pointers by Tobreshia Horn, with under a minute to play in the first, gave Lithia a significant advantage and as the buzzer went off, the Lady Lions led 12-6.
Lithia opened the second quarter with a 3-pointer and took a 10 point lead, 19-9, three minutes in. The Lady Lions continued to pull away and by the two minute mark, a short jumper by Selena Crummie and a layup by Jones put Lithia up 27-9.
Villa Rica started to press as time wound down in the second, managing to cut the deficit to 12 at 27-15. However, Jones held the ball for the final five seconds of the half and then hit a deep three for a Lady Lion 30-15 halftime advantage. Jones led all scorers at the half, totaling 19 of the team’s 30 points.
Villa Rica showed spurts of a comeback to open the third quarter. The Lady Wildcats cut the deficit to seven, 36-29, within four minutes, forcing a reeling Lithia team to call a timeout. A layup by Villa Rica’s Britney Wright then made it a five point game.
At the end of the quarter, Lithia’s Alexa Walker made a layup and then Jones hit two free throws for a Lady Lions 40-31 lead.
A minute and a half into the fourth quarter, Horn gave the Lady Lions a double-digit lead once again at 42-31.
With four minutes to play, the Lady Wildcats picked up their game, cutting the deficit back down to six after a Rhianna Warren 3-pointer. They had plenty of opportunity to cut it even more but missed three shots after forcing turnovers.
Three shots from the line by Jones put Lithia’s lead at nine. With two minutes to play, the Lady Lions were up 49-39.
A free throw by Villa Rica’s Shamaya Evans cut the deficit to nine with 1:14 on the clock. With only four team fouls on the board, the Lady Wildcats found themselves in a position where there was not enough time on the clock to foul. They tried to press to force turnovers and managed a few but could not convert. Lithia went on to win by nine.
Jones wrapped up the game with 31 points. Horn followed with 14. Only two other players scored for Lithia. Both Crummie and Walker had two points each.
Warren led the Lady Wildcats with 12 points. Wright followed with 10.
BOYS GAME
The Lithia Springs boys squared off with Villa Rica in a 5-AAAAA region match-up on Tuesday. The boys never led until overtime, but would win the game 60-57.
Villa Rica (13-8, 5-6) opened the boys game on a run, eventually taking an 11-3 lead with 3:39 remaining in the opening quarter. Lithia (16-4, 10-1) fought back over the next few minutes, cutting the deficit to 17-12 as the period ended.
In the second quarter, The Lions continued to battle, eventually cutting the deficit to two points. However, The Wildcats took charge and widened their lead to 29-22 with 1:30 on the clock. Lithia went into the half down 31-25.
A minute and a half into the third quarter, the Lions completely erased their halftime deficit, tying the game at 31-31. Villa Rica again built up a lead with two minutes to play in the third, but the Lions came back to pull within one. A layup at the end of the third gave the Wildcats a 42-38 advantage.
The two teams put everything on the line in the fourth quarter, battling back-and-forth. Villa Rica would build a small lead and Lithia would battle back. With under three minutes to play, the Wildcats started to run around with the ball, hoping to take time of the clock. They led 51-46.
With two minutes to play, the Lions forced a turnover and then Myles Howard knocked down a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to two. Beau Carter then tied the game with two shots from the foul line.
After a scramble for the ball, a jump ball gave Lithia possession with 10 seconds on the clock and the game knotted at 51-51.
Carter took the inbound and put up a shot at the end but it was no good, sending the game into overtime.
The Lions took their first lead of the game in OT when Titus Vick hit a short jumper to go up 53-51. Late in the quarter, a layup and foul shot by Howard gave Lithia a 59-55 lead with a minute to go. The Lions managed to hold on for the win.
Howard and Carter led the Lions to victory with 16 points apiece. Phillips added 15.
Both the Lions and Lady Lions will be back in action on Friday when they travel to South Paulding for another tough set of region games. Girls will tip off at 6 p.m. Boys will follow.
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