The five game winning streak for Head Coach Steve Sweat and his Lady Tiger basketball team is over.

Dawson lost for the first time this season last Friday night to a tough Gilmer County team, by a score of 50-47.

On Saturday, the Lady Tigers dropped their second straight game, by a 70-52 score, to Walnut Grove High School. Walnut Grove is in its first year of existence.

With the two losses and a win earlier in the week over Cross Keys, 72-11, the Lady Tigers move to 5-2 on the season.

Tuesday’s game with Cross Keys (0-5) was over in the first quarter. Dawson sprinted out to a 15-4 lead after one quarter and never looked back.

The Lady Tigers were able to extend their lead each quarter before coming away with the 61-point victory.

Dawson placed three players in double digits. Erin Gordon and Carly Gilreath each contributed 11 points. Morgan Bennett also had a good offensive game with 10 points.

Other scorers against Cross Keys were:  Morgan Huber - eight points; Alyss Woody - seven points; Hannah Porter and Judith Hall with six points each; Jessi Phillips and Nikki Dean scored four points each; Christian Daniel and Kenna Seitz had two points each and Allie Costley contributed one point.

Friday night the Lady Tigers traveled to Ellijay to face an 0-4 Gilmer County Lady Bobcat team.

Gilmer pressured the Dawson guards throughout the game, which caused rushed shots and turnovers. The Lady Bobcats jumped out to a 27-16 lead at halftime.

The Lady Tigers came out of the dressing room after halftime and put some full court pressure of their own against Gilmer County.

Dawson cut the lead to one point late in the third quarter, but foul trouble spelled doom.

Dawson had three players foul out in the game.

“We started the game very slow and got behind early. We did not execute very well against Gilmer’s defense in the first half. We came out in the second half and played much better, but not good enough to win. We got the game close in the second half and had chances to get the lead, but we did not protect the ball or missed shots we should have made,” said Sweat.

Freshman Allie Costley had a great game for the Lady Tigers. Costley finished the game with a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Ten different Lady Tiger players got in the scoring column. Judith Hall had nine points, Morgan Bennett had six; Christian Daniel and Jessi Phillips each had five; Carly Gilreath had four points; Hannah Porter and Kenna Seitz added two points each and Alyss Woody and Natalie Parker had one point each.

Saturday night the Lady Tigers were back in the friendly confines of the Ford E. Phillips Center against Region 8-AA opponent Walnut Grove (3-3).

The game was close for three quarters and both teams seemed about even in ability.

The Lady Warriors took a 15-13 lead after one quarter of play.

At halftime Walnut Grove still held a slim lead 28-25.

The third quarter was much of the same, as both offenses seemed on track.

Dawson and Walnut Grove tallied 19 points each in the quarter to make the score 47-44.

The fourth quarter was a different story. Dawson County managed only two baskets in the final quarter. Walnut Grove outscored the Lady Tigers 23-8 in the quarter to take home a 70-52 win.

Walnut Grove went to the charity stripe 26 times in the final quarter, and  made 15 of them. The Lady Warriors shot 61 free throws for the game and converted 31. Dawson only went to the free throw line 19 times.

“The game lasted forever. We have a lot of work to do in the weeks to come,” Sweat said.

Dawson County placed two players in double digits offensively.

Carly Gilreath led all Dawson scorers with 13 points. Gilreath was followed by Judith Hall with 10 points.

Also scoring for the Lady Tigers were:  Morgan Huber - seven; Morgan Bennett - six; Christian Daniel, Jessi Phillips and Kenna Seitz with four points each; Alyss Woody - two; Kaitlyn Pain and Nikki Dean contributed one point each.

The team will be at home this Friday for a match-up with Region 8-AA foe Jefferson. On Saturday the team will travel to White County.

The Friday tip-off will be at 7 p.m. Saturday’s game will begin at 4 p.m.