After securing a pair of high-flying road wins over Thomas Jefferson and Windsor Academies last Thursday and Friday, Gatewood’s Lady Gators basketball team was brought back down to earth with a very close loss at home to Westfield on Saturday.
“What killed us today was free throws. We missed 11 free throws and lost by one to a very good Triple-A team,” Gatewood head coach Jordan Walters said following a 45-44 final score. “We’ve been preaching all year, consistent details, being consistent with our details, and the girls they’re buying in, we’re getting there, we’re making strides, but we just have to figure out how to keep those details consistent for the remainder of the season and we’ll have wins in games like this.”
Gatewood traveled to Louisville on Thursday to face the Jaguars at Thomas Jefferson Academy and left with a dominating 61-29 win. Friday night they were in Macon to take on Windsor Academy and after leading 51-14 at the half, the Lady Gators finished with an even more lopsided 69-22 decision.
“Our starters, they’re stepping up to the plate, knew what we needed them to do. My two seniors, London Darden and Carly Cannon have been killing it,” Walters said. “And Natalie Sills is our defensive motor. But she has recently decided she wants to be in that offensive game, too, and she’s been in our top-three scorers the last couple of ball games. So, things are looking good.”
The Lady Gators return to Macon on Jan. 16 (after press time) for a rematch with First Presbyterian Day after losing to the Lady Vikings 41-35 in Eatonton to start the new year.
They will be back at home Friday to take on Augusta Prep Day at 6 p.m. and again Saturday at 3 p.m. against the visiting Trinity Christian Crusaders.