The Dawson County High School varsity Lady Tigers' basketball team continued its playoff run with two wins last week.

The Feb. 17 first round of the Class AAA state playoffs were pushed back to Feb. 19 because of weather.

The delay didn't seem to bother Coach Steve Sweat's team, as the team advanced to the next round following the 71-35 defeat of Elbert County.

In the second round Dawson County was matched up with formidable foe Dodge County.

The Squaws came into the game with an impressive 23-win season and a No. 10-ranking in Class AAA.

Once again the Lady Tigers dispatched the visiting team from Eastman easily with a 71-40 victory.

Sweat's team was set to play Laney High School, from Augusta, last night.

Laney came into the third round with a 26-3 record and a No. 4-ranking.

Scores were not available as of press time.

Dawson County got off to a quick start against Elbert County last week.

The Lady Tigers took a 20-5 first quarter lead.

The Lady Tigers kept up the pressure in the second quarter to extend their advantage to 35-16 going into halftime.

The second half was much of the same with Dawson outscoring the Lady Blue Devils 36-19 for the 36-point win.

"After such a long wait, due to the weather, the girls were really ready to play tonight," Sweat said.

The Lady Tigers placed four players in double figures.

The team was led by Sheyenne Seabolt with 19 points. Karlie Bearden added 15 points, Haley Burgess scored 11 points and Ashley Parker contributed with 10 points. Parker also pulled down nine boards.

Also scoring in the contest were: Katelynn Simpson with four points, Jordan Moore, Erin Chatham and Peytan Porter each had three points, Ansley Costley scored two points and Lauren Burgess added a single point.

In front of a capacity home crowd on Feb. 21, the Lady Tigers held Dodge County to just 12 second half points in a huge 31-point win over the Squaws.

The game was physical early, with two Lady Tigers getting in foul trouble.

Both Parker and Sheyenne picked up two fouls and had to sit on the bench early.

Because of the tightly called game by the officials, Dodge County was in the bonus in the first quarter.

Six of the 12 Dodge County points in the quarter came from the free throw line.

The Dawson County defense responded with six blocked shots in the quarter.

On offense, despite foul trouble, Seabolt and Parker led the scoring early with five points apiece.

Both teams had trouble scoring field goals in the second quarter.

The Lady Tigers got their first field goal of the quarter on a three-pointer by Seabolt with 4:23 left before halftime.

The senior had 7-points in the quarter.

With only three seconds left in the quarter, Porter, launched a long 3-pointer that touched nothing but the bottom of the net.

The Dawson County crowd erupted as the Lady Tigers sprinted to the dressing room with a 41-28 advantage.

Sweat changed his defense to a 2-3 zone after halftime.

The strategy worked as Dodge County had a difficult time scoring.
The Squaws managed their first points of the quarter on a 3-pointer by Alexis Northcott at the 3:21 mark.

It was the only three of the game for Dodge County.

Parker ignited the Dawson County offense in the third quarter with 10 of her 18 points in the game.

Behind Parker's performance in the quarter Dawson County managed to put the game away.

The Lady Tigers outscored Dodge County 12-6 and ranthe score out to a 53-34 advantage.

Sweat's defense stopped the Squaws' best player, Rachel Selph, and held her to only 7-points.

Selph didn't score any points in the second half.

Sweat was able to substitute his starters with two minutes to go and a huge lead.

Nine different Lady Tigers scored in the contest.
Seabolt and Parker each had 18-points in the contest.

Also entering the scoring column were: Porter with eight-points, Bearden, Simpson and Haley Burgess with seven points each, Erin Chatham added three points, Moore with two points and Lauren Burgess with one point.

Leading Dodge County in scoring was Keyna Gordon with 17 points.

"I'm very proud of the way our girls played this game," Sweat said. "Our fans were great tonight and we appreciate all their support."

With the win Dawson County will play in the Elite Eight for the second time in three years.

In 2013 the Lady Tigers lost the state championship to St. Pius.