Lady Indians Win Region Title
The Vidalia High School Indians basketball teams hosted the Region Tournament last week with the Lady Indians winning the Region Championship. The boys came in third place after being upset Toombs County in the semifinals.
Girls vs. Swainsboro
The Lady Indians jumped out to a 15-5 lead in the first quarter of the game over the Lady Tigers. They added to that lead in the second on the way to a 31-18 lead at halftime.
In the third quarter, VHS continued to pull away as they were on top, 46-27, heading to the fourth. VHS went on to win the game, 60-47, to advance to the Championship Game.
Boys vs. Toombs
Vidalia had a bye in the first round, and faced off with rival Toombs County in the semifinals for a chance to make it to the Championship Game. This was a close and low scoring game throughout with Toombs coming out on top by just two points.
Toombs was trailing in the first quarter, but went on a run to take the lead, and they were on top, 11-9, at the end of the period. In the second, the continued from page
Bulldogs increased their lead to 22-19 by the end of the first half.
In the third quarter, the Indians kept it close, but Toombs was clinging to a 32-30 lead heading to the fourth quarter. In the fourth, neither team could do much on offense as they each scored just six points, but with that, Toombs picked up the win, 38-36.
Girls vs. Country Day
The Vidalia Lady Indians fought off an upset minded Savannah Country Day Lady Hornet team to win the 1A Region 3 Championship 56-46 Friday night at Parsons-Reid Gymnasium. The Championship was the first for the Lady Indians since 2020 and the first for Head Coach Kourtnee Williams.
VHS took a 15-11 lead in the first quarter of the game. The teams kept pace with each other in the second, but the Lady Indians were on top, 2622, at the end of the first half.
In the third quarter, the Hornets closed the lead slightly as VHS was in front, 40-38, heading to the fourth quarter. In the fourth, the Lady Indians took control and pulled away to a 56-46 win, and the Region Championship.
Freshman Tori Polk led the way for the Lady Indians with 12 points, 8 rebounds and 2 steals. Region Player of the Year Hannah Nichols and Region 3A First Teamer Cori Warner each had 11 points for Vidalia which moved to 21-6 on the year.
“Our team overcame every challenge with heart and determination,” said Williams. “I’m so proud of these girls for showing how that infamous 'Never Quit' attitude from the late Coach Reid still wins Region Championships.”
Boys vs. Savannah
The boys played in the consolation game on Friday against Savannah Christian to try to win third place in the Region Tournament.
The Indians overcame a sluggish night to take 3rd place in the tournament with a 40-35 win over Savannah Christian.
Junior Rashad Brown, who was named to the Region 3A First Team, led the way for the Indians with 11 points for the Indians, who improved to 20-6 on the year.
All Region
Two Vidalia Seniors have been selected as Player of the Year in Region 3A. Both Hannah Nichols and Jayon Coleman were chosen as the top players in the Region by the coaches across the Region.
Nichols, a four-year starter for the Lady Indians, is averaging 13 points per game with four rebounds and two assists and was also selected to the First Team along with teammate Cori Warner, who is averaging 7 points per game with 7 rebounds and 4 assists.
Coleman, a three-year starter for Tommy Dalley’s Indians, averages 21 points per game with two assists and averages 78.6% from the free-throw line. Coleman, along with fellow Indian Rashad Brown, was named to the first team. Brown, a junior, is averaging 13.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.
Vidalia Lady Indian junior Takaiyah Bacon was named to the Region 3A 2nd team, while freshman Tori Polke and junior Jordyn Goings were named Honorable Mention.
Three Indians were named Honorable Mention on the boys’ side, juniors Alton Boles, DJ Wallace, and freshman Brycen Burns.
State Tournament
This week the Indians will start play in the GHSA State Tournament. The Lady Indians are the #4 seed in the tournament and hosted Swainsboro on Tuesday after presstime. If they win that game, they will take on the winner of Elbert County vs. Chattooga on Friday of this week.
The boys are heading into the tournament as the #13 seed and will host Towers on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. if they win that game, they will play again on Saturday against the winner of the Washington County vs. Worth County game.
