Lady Jets win GCAA Championship; District next hurdle before full focus turns to NJCAA tournament

Saturday's title marks the fourth in the past five years for the Lady Jets allowing them to advance out of Region 17. Yet they have one more task, the District J Championship, before they can turn their full attention on the NJCAA National Tournament and Lubbock TX.

The Lady Jets received an opening round bye after running the table during conference play and finishing 18-0. That reward also allowed them the luxury to stay at home and host the GCAA semis and finals.  Semifinal game one saw the Lady Jets take an easy 84-51 win over Albany Tech. Balanced scoring was the name of the game as four players landed in double figures. Yasriyyah Wazeerud-Din led SGTC with 13 points. Ricka Jackson and Mari Hill each contributed 12 points. Alyss Nieves finished with 11 points.  

Semifinal Game two saw Georgia Highlands take a last second victory over C. Georgia Tech. At one point the Lady Chargers were down 11 with 7:00 left but fought back and advance to the finals on a last second shot by Ciara Thompson to win 80-78.

Championship Saturday saw a tight first half as SGTC had a 33-29 halftime lead and a 14 point margin by the Lady Jets in the second half sealed a 75-57 win. Ricka Jackson led all scorers with 22 points, followed by Alyssa Nieves 16 and Mari Hill's 13 points

Next step for the Lady Jets is familiar territory as they will face Spartanburg Methodist for the second straight year and this time in the friendly confines of The Hanger on the SGTC campus for the District J Championship.   Last year the Lady Jets dominated with a 69-42 win. SMC comes into Saturday's game with a 10-14 overall record.  A win and the Lady Jets will have a 30-3 record and sights set on the national tournament.