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SAVANNAH, Ga. () — The Jenkins girls’ basketball team upset Calvary Day, the No. 1 seed, in the Girls Region 3-AAA Basketball Tournament Championship game, 48-39, on the campus of Calvary Day on Feb. 15.
“That’s been our go-to press all season,” head coach Brianna Brooker said. “It’s just that energy, that connection where they’re able to play off of each other. They are like a pulley system and one goes the other one moves up and feels that gap.”
Jenkins got off to a fast start in the first quarter. They led 12-3 after the first eight minutes thanks to a ferocious press that constantly caused pressure and created turnovers.
In the second quarter, Calvary Day seemed to settle down. The Lady Cavs cut the deficit to three points, but by the end of the half Jenkins led, 20-13.
In the third quarter, Calvary Day outscored Jenkins 15-9, but still trailed by one, 29-28.
In the final frame, Jenkins leaned heavily on junior Aniyah Browner. The guard came up with several steals throughout the ball game and when Jenkins needed a bucket, she drained a three to give Jenkins a 44-37 lead. Jenkins would go on to win, 48-39.
“I had to focus more on the game and put the friendly stuff aside until the game was over,” Browner said, “because it was all who wanted it more because on their end they weren’t thinking about me as a friend on the court. So I had to play the same.”
Calvary Day defeated Jenkins in the previous two matchups this season. This is the first region title for Jenkins since 2021 when they played in Class AAAA.
With the win, Jenkins will be ranked in the top eight of the state tournament when the brackets are released Sunday, Feb. 16, at 2 p.m. by the GHSA. Calvary Day will be ranked between nine and 16. Both teams will be guaranteed a home playoff game in the first round of the state playoffs.