Lamar County pulled off a 56-54 upset over Putnam County in the Region 4-A Division I championship game last Friday in Eatonton.
The victory marked a dramatic reversal from their regular-season matchup, in which the Lady War Eagles dominated with a 70-56 win.
Putnam got off to a strong start, leading 17-11 after the first quarter and extending its advantage to 33-24 by halftime. The Lady War Eagles got strong guard play from junior Journey Waller and freshman Jaydah Baker. They controlled the pace, as their defense also forced several turnovers, leading to points on the other end.
However, Lamar County mounted a furious comeback in the third quarter, outscoring Putnam County 14-5. That surge erased the Lady War Eagles’ lead and tied the game at 38 heading into the final quarter of regulation.
The Lady Trojans’ third-quarter pressure proved decisive. Their defensive intensity slowed Putnam’s offense, forcing tough shots and turnovers that shifted momentum. In the final frame, Lamar managed to outlast Putnam by a narrow margin, scoring 18 points to the Lady War Eagles’ 16 to secure the two-point victory.
Putnam had a hard time stopping Lamar’s Ella Bleu Leverett, who recorded a double-double.. The Lady Trojans’ two-leading scorers, Ja’Ziyah Foster and Makayla Watts, also played a key role, scoring 12 points each.
To get to the region championship, Putnam defeated Jasper County 69=15 on Feb. 19, completing the season sweep of the Lady Hurricanes. The Lady War Eagles dominated from start to finish to reach the finals.
Putnam had won eight straight heading into the region title game, and enters the playoffs with an 18-2 overall record. Over the weekend, the Lady War Eagles were named the No. 8 overall seed in the Class A Division I bracket. They’ll host No. 25 Chattooga at home past press time on Wednesday. If they win on Wednesday, they’ll host the second round on Feb. 28 against either No. 9 Fannin County or No. 24 Pepperell.