The Lady Raiders have had an outstanding season as they have been performing at an elite level, as they currently have a 31-0 record. They once again won their region for the seventh consecutive year and earned a state playoff appearance. As they advanced through the tournament they remained undefeated and won their final four game to send them to the 6A state championship, where they will play Marist high school.
Before the game, junior forward Sophia Parks said the biggest reason for their success was, “We keep reminding ourselves every game what we are playing for… and now to see all of our hard work pay off, and this opportunity is amazing.” She also said that a way the team could improve was to improve their communication on the defensive end because “good teams will expose you when you make a mistake.”
When the game began, the Macon Coliseum was packed as Raider Nation showed up to support the team for their biggest game of the season. In the 1st quarter, the Raiders started out red hot after 3’s made by junior Emma Rose and sophomore Gabbie Gliatta, as the Raiders took an early ten point lead. But right when it seemed like the Raiders would run away with it, Marist would answer with threes of their own and tie the game at 16 at the end of the first quarter.
Marist would continue their hot streak as they took the lead in the 2nd quarter and did not look back as they outscored the Raiders sixteen to seven in the second quarter and would take a 32-23 lead at the half.
As the second half began, the Raiders tried to climb their way back into the game as they started the half with a couple of quick layups and defensive stops to cut the lead to six but every time the Raiders would score, Marist would have an answer of their own. Marist continued to knock down threes and would end the third quarter with a 54-38 lead.
Going into the 4th quarter, the Raiders were looking for a late run to get back in the game and potentially win, but Marist would not take their foot off the gas as they continued to knock down shot after shot and kept adding to their lead as they would go on to win the state championship 67-48.
The Lady Raiders finished the season with a record of 31-1 as they were the runner-up for the 6A state championship. The Raiders will look to carry their success into the next season and have a shot at another state title.
