RINGGOLD, Ga. - Seldom are basketball state quarterfinals decided in the first quarter, but Wednesday night at Ringgold's David Moss Gymnasium was one of those rare occasions.
The Beach High School girls from Savannah used an overwhelming first eight minutes to post the early knockout en route to a 47-31 win in GHSA Class AAA, ending the Lady Tigers' season at 20-9.
The Lady Bulldogs (21-9) created havoc with their defense early, causing nine Ringgold turnovers, with five of them leading to uncontested layups as the visitors roared to an 18-2 lead after one quarter. When it wasn't getting easy bunnies, Beach lobbed the ball inside to post Ameyah Dantzler for three more layups.
It was, as Ringgold coach Margaret Stockburger said, too much to overcome.
"The first quarter killed us," said Stockburger, whose team had beaten an athletic opponent in the second round by topping Rutland 68-53. "We battled back after that, but when you let a team as good as Beach is get out like that, it's hard. I'm proud of them. I don't like losing and they don't either, but I'm proud of the way they came out of the dressing room and fought back.
"It goes to the fact that basketball is four quarters, and you have to play all four quarters."
Dantzler had her way inside with 11 points and 18 rebounds, but it was the guard play of Madison Evans and Kaila Rougier that set the tone. The two combined for 23 points and eight steals and consistently worked their way into the lane to set up teammates or get easy looks for themselves.
"The two guards are pretty quick, and we did not figure it out even though we told them over and over, that 23 (Rougier) was left-handed and that No. 10 (Evans) will go left-handed all the time. That was the key to the game, to me. We couldn't allow her to penetrate like that, make that dish or pull up for the quick jumper."
Ringgold didn't help itself from the foul line early, either, missing all seven of its free throws in the first half. The Lady Tigers did succeed some in the second quarter, outscoring the Bulldogs 8-6 to trail by 14 at the break.
Riley Nayadley, who led Ringgold with 14 points, got hot in the third quarter, scoring 10 of her points during that period, but Beach kept pace and led by 18 entering the final eight minutes.
Indians still in it
In a GHSA Class AA boys' quarterfinal, Chattooga used a dominating fourth quarter to upset Banks County, 67-57, and advance to Saturday's semifinal round against Therrell at 8 p.m. at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville.
Jatorrian Williams led the visiting Indians (24-6) with 22 points, 13 of them coming in the second quarter to help the Region 7 runners-up take a 32-23 lead into halftime.
Region 8 champion Banks (25-5) rallied behind Carl Cleveland's 10 third-quarter points to go ahead 45-42, but Chattooga's Damien Smith then made a tying 3-pointer and the Indians took a 47-45 lead on Jamerious Mosteller's short jumper.
Smith, who finished with 13 points, hit a 2-pointer to push the lead to four moments later, and Banks never got closer. Malachi Jackson's six free throws in the final minute iced the win.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.