By Chad W. Smith
The Dodge County High Squaws basketball team won two of three games last week. The third ranked Squaws suffered their first loss of the season to sixth ranked and also undefeated Vidalia by a score of 59-45 on Tuesday, January 5 in Vidalia. The Squaws bounced back to defeat East Laurens on the road by a score of 55-43 on Friday, January 8 and then returned home on Saturday, January 9 to defeat West Laurens, 61-45. The Squaws are now 12-1 overall and 3-1 in the sub region.
In Tuesday’s game in Vidalia, the Squaws led 7-4 at the 4:43 mark, before Vidalia outscored Dodge 9-4 to finish out the first quarter and hold a slim 13-11 lead over the Squaws. Tahitia Butler and Michelle Mitchell each had four points and Staci Ross added a three pointer for the Squaws in the first. Dodge opened the second quarter with five straight points to take the lead back at 16-13 at the 6:53 mark of the second quarter. Vidalia then outscored Dodge 14-6 the rest of the quarter to take a 27-22 lead into the half. Yaleisa Burns led with six points in the quarter followed by Nisha Walker with five points. Vidalia outscored Dodge 18-9 in the third quarter to take a 45-31 lead. Kadayasha Jones led the Squaws with four points. The Squaws could get no closer to ten points in the final quarter as the Vidalia Lady Indians pulled out the win by a score of 59-45. Mitchell led the Squaws with six points in the final quarter. Final scoring for the Squaws against Vidalia was: Michelle Mitchell, 11 points; Nisha Walker, nine points; Tahitia Butler, eight points; Yaleisa Burns, six points; Kadayasha Jones, four points; Staci Ross, three points; Jaye Hilliard, two points; Kemiya Harrell, two points.
Against East Laurens on Friday, the Squaws led 16-13 after one quarter. Michelle Mitchell and Kemiya Harrell each led Dodge with five points in the quarter. The Squaws extended their lead to 28-18 at the half. Nisha Walker led in the quarter with six points. The Squaws continued to pull away from the Lady Falcons in the third quarter by outscoring them 19-9 to lead 47-27 after three. Tahitia Butler had seven points in the third to lead Dodge. The Squaws were outscored in the final quarter but defeated the Lady Falcons 55-43. Final scoring for the Squaws against East Laurens was: Michelle Mitchell, 11 points; Kemiya Harrell, 11 points, Tahitia Butler, 11 points; Nisha Walker, 11 points; Yaleisa Burns, four points; Kadayasha Jones, four points; Staci Ross, three points.
The Squaws took a commanding 21-6 lead over the Lady Raiders of West Laurens in the first quarter. Nisha Walker led Dodge with eight points in the quarter. Dodge led 35-15 after two quarters. Yaleisa Burns, Tahitia Butler and Kadayasha Jones each scored four points in the second to lead the Squaws. Dodge lead 45-23 after three quarters and defeated the West Laurens 61-45. Final scoring for the Squaws against West Laurens was: Nisha Walker, 15 points; Tahitia Butler, 10 points; Yaleisa Burns, 10 points; Michelle Mitchell, eight points; Kadayasha Jones, seven points; Jaye Hilliard, five points; Kadejah Carson, four points; Staci Ross, two points.
The Squaws were scheduled to travel to Dublin on Tuesday, January 12 and then return home to host Toombs County on Friday, January 15 at 7:00 p.m. and the fourth ranked Laney Wildcats on Saturday, January 16 at 4:00 p.m. The Squaws travel to Bleckley County on Tuesday, January 19 at 6:00 p.m.
