ABBY SMITH IS THE SCORING LEADER FOR W-W She was in double figures for all three games last week. With only three region games to go, the Washington-Wilkes Lady Tiger basketball team is solidly in command of its post-season possibilities and is en route to a possible region championship. The girls have won 11 straight games and if they win the remaining three will host at the beginning of the playoffs.

“The Lady Tigers are developing a winning spirit – basically refusing to lose,” Head Coach Nick Brinson said of his surging team.

“The girls are play great together,” Athletic Director Robby Robinson added, “They have a great chemistry and most of them will be back next year too.”

However, the remaining three games are still critical. In the subregion, W-W, Warren County, and Aquinas are all still in contention and must all play each other before the regular season ends. The Tigers (15-5, 7-0) could win out and leave the others behind at 10-0, but a loss against Warren in the final game could leave the two teams both at 9-1, complicating the decision.

Warren is currently 6-1, just one game behind the Tigers, and is the main threat. Aquinas, however, could be a thorn in somebody’s flesh at 5-2.

Coming up, the girls have all home games this week beginning Tuesday, January 31, (too late for reporting in this issue) against Glascock County. On Friday, February 3, W-W will host Aquinas and next Tuesday, February 7, will close out the regular season against Warren.

Last week, the Lady Tigers beat Lakeside 54-47 on Tuesday. Brinson reported that “a very controlled game in the second half” enabled the girls to secure the victory. Senior Abby Smith led the way for W-W with 22 points. Sanquela Gresham also doubled with 12 points.

On Friday, Taliaferro County was no match for the powerful Lady Tigers who won handily at 55-38. Lots of W-W players contributed to the winning score with Tiare Tatum and Smith leading the way with 12 points each.

“The Tigers played well enough,” Brinson commented, “although the Lady Jaguars did put up a great fight all night long.”

Finally, last week, on Saturday, the Lady Tigers squeaked by GMC 47-44 coming back late in the game to secure the win.

“We were put to the test in this game,” Brinson reported. “We were down by 13 in the third but chipped away and took a two-point lead into the fourth quarter. We had enough spirit to hold onto the lead.”

Again, Smith led the girls and was the only Lady Tiger in double figures with 20 points.