The Savannah State men’s and women’s basketball teams left Fort Valley State with victories over the Wildcats. Let’s recap both matchups as we hit the middle of the season.
Lady Tigers vs. Lady Wildcats
Amari Heard showcased her exceptional skills on the court, achieving an outstanding performance by scoring a season-high of 23 points. Ta’Quasia Lampkin also stood out, contributing 13 points and 13 rebounds, marking her fourth consecutive double-double. The Savannah State Lady Tigers displayed their dominance with an impressive 10-2 run, ultimately securing a hard-fought victory against the Fort Valley State University Wildcats with a final score of 66-59.
Mya Byrd, the junior guard, contributed 16 points and eight assists, showcasing her skills on the court. Coming off the bench, junior Jashiyah Jones made a significant impact with 11 points, five rebounds, and two assists. With this victory, SSU’s record improves to 9-3 overall and 6-2 in the SIAC conference, extending their remarkable winning streak to six consecutive games.
Shekinah Rachel, Senior forward for the Lady Wildcats, showcased her dominance on the court with a remarkable season-high of 28 points. Not only did she excel in scoring, but she also secured 12 rebounds, proving her prowess on the glass. Aaniyah Allen, a talented Freshman guard, contributed significantly to Fort Valley’s success, being their second-leading scorer with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
The Tigers got off to a rocky start, with turnovers, missed shots, and free throws. The Wildcats quickly took a 9-0 lead. The Tigers finally scored late in the first quarter, with 5:17 remaining, when Mya Byrd made a 3-pointer to make it 9-3. Fort Valley continued to extend its lead, reaching their largest lead of eleven points. At the end of the first quarter, Fort Valley held SSU to under 10 points, leading 16-9 and carrying the momentum into the 2nd quarter.
The Wildcats continued their dominance in the second quarter, capitalizing on second-chance opportunities and creating multiple scoring opportunities. Savannah struggled to find their rhythm throughout the quarter, managing to score only once with 7:24 remaining, bringing the score to 11-24. FVSU took full control of the game during this period, executing their game plan flawlessly. Shekinah Rachel played a pivotal role, contributing 8 points and helping the Wildcats secure a halftime lead of 32-20.
Savannah State started the third quarter like a shot out of a cannon, going on a 10-1 run to pull within 3 to Fort Valley 33-30. Though they never took the lead you could see a fire was lit under this Tiger’s team. Fort Valley never seemed raddled, baskets from Shekinah Rachel, Amiya Allen, and Aaniyah Allen helped extend the lead to 9 at 41-32. But there was no quit from these Tigers; they responded with a run of their own, Mya Byrd was the fire starter after she was able to score in transition and nail two free throws. Graduate student Amari Heard followed her pursuit as she scored on two back-back SSU possessions to cut the deficit down to 43-42 to start the 4th quarter.
With just 8 minutes remaining in the game, Fort Valley State held a narrow lead of 51-46. However, Savannah State quickly fought back and tied the game at 52 points, setting the stage for an intense showdown. As the game unfolded, Savannah State managed to overtake Fort Valley State with just 3 minutes and 20 seconds left on the clock. Thanks to the impressive shooting skills of guards Amari Heard and Mya Byrd, back-to-back jumpers brought the score to 56-55 in favor of Savannah State.
Fort Valley State made a valiant effort to regain the lead when Aaniyah Allen scored on a fast break opportunity, bringing the score to 57-56. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, this would be their last moment in charge. Savannah State went on a dominant 10-2 run to close out the game, securing a final score of 66-59.
The Savannah State Lady Tigers underwent a remarkable transformation in the second half. After shooting a disheartening 29 percent in the first half, their field goal percentage experienced a remarkable 25 percent surge, reaching an impressive 54 percent in the second half. The disparity in productivity between the two halves was akin to night and day, ultimately contributing to the preservation of their win streak.
The Savannah State Tigers (9-3) are aiming for their seventh consecutive victory as they hit the road to face off against the Albany State University Golden Rams (2-14) on January 15 at 2 p.m. The game will take place at the Jones Brothers HPER Complex in Albany, GA.
Meanwhile, the Fort Valley State Wildcats (5-7) are looking to bounce back as they go head-to-head against the Edward Waters University Tigers (4-10) on the same day at 3 p.m. The match will be held at the HPE Arena in Fort Valley, GA.
Tigers vs. Wildcats
The Tigers secured their inaugural road triumph, concluding the game with a score of 66-51 against the Fort Valley State Wildcats. It was a remarkable homecoming for sophomore guard Zion Davis, who made his return to Fort Valley, Georgia.
“I pretty much met expectations on what I can do on the court,” Zion said when asked about his performance. “I scored 17 points with 11 rebounds coming off the bench. We played good as a team everyone did good, some did play to their expectations but we still chopping.”
Davis notched his inaugural double-double of the season, amassing 17 points and 11 rebounds, both marking season highs. Adding to the scoreboard, junior guard Ajay Plan contributed 11 points, while junior Qua King tallied 12 for the Tigers.
After an intense first half with multiple lead changes, both teams’ benches made significant contributions and points in the paint played a crucial role. At halftime, SSU held a slim 32-30 lead. The second half showcased Savannah State’s dominance, as their bench scored 15 points and shot 50 percent from the field (13 of 26). The players had emphasized the importance of strong defense leading to effective offense, and it was evident as they embarked on a remarkable 16-2 run in the second half, ultimately securing their first road win of the season and extending their winning streak.
“It feels great”, Freshman guard Michael Swift said after the game. “Our defense and conditioning really played a part in this win. We definitely played together and it felt great to get that first W on the road.”
The Savannah State Tigers’ defense showcased their dominance once again as they relentlessly pressured Fort Valley State throughout the game. The Wildcats struggled to find their shooting rhythm, managing only a 38 percent field goal percentage, which dropped to a meager 28 percent in the second half. The Tigers’ defensive prowess was evident as they held the Wildcats scoreless for over 9 minutes in the second half. Notably, junior Myson Lowe, the leading scorer for the Wildcats, had one of his toughest shooting nights with only 7 points on a 2 for 9 shooting performance. The Tigers’ exceptional defensive display prevented any Wildcats player from reaching double figures in any statistical category.
Junior Guard Austin Lewis was very pleased about his team’s defense approach and spoke to Clutch Points about the team’s effort.
“Just played real good defense,” Lewis said. “And it was really hard for them to score and that’s something that coach preaches in practice.”
Fort Valley’s top scorer was senior Khadim Samb, who contributed 9 points and 7 rebounds.
Fort Valley State had a strong start in the first half, leading by as much as 7 points and shooting 45 percent from the field. However, things took a turn for the worse in the second half. Despite junior center Quincy Young’s layup giving Fort Valley the lead at 38-37 with 18:00 minutes remaining, they struggled to score for the next 11:19, facing a drought. It wasn’t until junior forward Jahlen Jack’s basket with 6:41 left that they managed to cut the deficit to 55-44, but they couldn’t come any closer. In the second half, the team shot 6 of 21 from the floor, resulting in a defeat for Fort Valley State and their 11th loss of the season.
The Savannah State University Tigers, with a record of 7-5, will aim to continue their winning streak as they travel to Albany, GA, to face the Albany State University Rams, who have a record of 6-8. The game will take place at the Jones Brother HPER Complex on January 15 at 4 P.M.
The Fort Valley State Wildcats, currently at 3-11, will need to quickly recover from this loss as they face the Edward Waters University Tigers, who have a record of 6-8. The game will be held at HPE Arena on January 15 at 5 P.M.