The Putnam County Lady War Eagles continued their postseason surge Friday night, rolling past the Fannin County Lady Rebels 75-36 in the second round of the GHSA Class A Division I state playoffs.
No. 8 seed Putnam County (20-2) took control early and never looked back against No. 9 seed Fannin County, the defending state champions. The Lady War Eagles built a commanding lead by halftime and maintained their intensity on both ends of the floor to secure a dominant win and advance to the Elite Eight.
Junior guard Journey Waller led the team with a team-high 24 points in a milestone performance that included her 1,000th career point.
Waller reached the mark late in the second quarter, needing just 11 points entering the night.
“To me, it’s like a goal I’ve wanted to accomplish since I was in ninth grade,” Waller said. “I always wanted my 1,000 points.”
Waller said she wasn’t focused on the milestone during the game and didn’t expect such a big scoring night, instead pointing to the team’s renewed focus down the stretch of the season.
“I wasn’t expecting that,” Waller said. “Since we lost the Lamar game, we knew we had to come back harder and everything. So we were ready.”
Freshman guard Jaydah Baker added 17 points, while JaiKarccie Smith finished with 12 and Melody Richardson contributed 10 as Putnam County showcased its balanced scoring depth.
Head coach Derrick Arrington said he was proud of how his team responded in a high-pressure playoff environment, especially against a proven opponent.
“That’s a really good program we played,” Arrington said. “Much respect and all the love to them. Our girls just did a really good job.”
Arrington also praised his team’s energy and composure, crediting the atmosphere inside the gym and his players’ ability to rise to the moment.
“The energy was good, and the girls responded well to it,” Arrington said. “I’m very happy. Very pleased with how they played tonight.”
Defensively, the Lady War Eagles limited Fannin County’s offensive rhythm, forcing tough possessions and preventing the Lady Rebels from gaining momentum throughout the game.
With the win, Putnam County advances to the Elite Eight and will face No. 16 seed Heard County at home on March 3. The Lady Braves knocked off top-seed Bremen 66-62 on Friday night.