If there are any questions about the girls' basketball teams at Ringgold or Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe heading into the last week of the Georgia regular season, they certainly aren't about resilience.
LFO stormed back to overcome sizable deficits, and Ringgold took every shot to the chin and delivered the final blow to escape with a 59-56 Region 6-AAA home win on senior night.
"We made some key shots, some key free throws, key rebounds and big stops there in the fourth quarter," Ringgold coach Margaret Stockburger said. "It was also important for us to stay ahead after the third quarter. It's good to be able to play those close games and come out on top. It gives the girls confidence that they can do what they need to do to win."
The host Lady Tigers (17-5, 9-1) started hot, leading 22-5 with six minutes to play in the opening half before Jazzmyn Elston and Macey Gregg started the charge for the Lady Warriors. The sharpshooting duo combined for 15 of their team's 17 second-quarter points.
LFO (14-9, 7-4) trimmed the lead to single digits at 31-22 just before the half.
"Just take away that first quarter where we came out flat," LFO coach Dewayne Watkins said. "You can't spot a good team a lead like that. Then we started to play the way we want. We played fast-paced and attacked the basket, which puts pressure on their defense."
The Lady Warriors continued to chip away in the third quarter, while the Lady Tigers came out of the locker room cold. LFO scored the first six points to make it 31-28 before Ringgold got its first basket of the half with 4:30 to play in the quarter. Senior Rachel Thomas scored the last six of the Lady Tigers' third-period points, keeping in front.
The teams went toe-to-toe in the final stanza, each responding to the other in big moments. Two 3-pointers from Gregg pulled LFO within one, but three Ringgold players contributed buckets to provide some cushion ahead of what appeared to be a dagger 3 from Karoline Sholl, which pushed the lead to eight.
Elston then poured in six of her 10 fourth-quarter points as part of an 8-0 run that knotted the game at 54-all.
"We know offensively we're going to score," Watkins said. "We have to to a better job of starting the game the right way. I'm proud of the way they fought to the end, and we feel like we're in a good place."
With pressure mounting, a freshman stepped up for the Lady Tigers. Rachel Akers took contact, scored and hit the free throw to convert a three-point play to give her team the lead for good. Gabby Ware put one in for LFO, but two pressure free throws from Ringgoldl seniors Kiwi Dale and Dare Schley were the final margin.
"It's always tough on senior night," Stockburger said. "It's an emotional night, and they did what they needed to do. I can't put into words their leadership. I've had most of them for six years since I followed them from seventh grade. Their work ethic, love of the game, love of their teammates - I can't say enough about them."
Sholl finished with 15 points, and Thomas added 11. Elston led all scorers with 30 and Gregg put 16 on the board for LFO.