By Kevin Eckleberry

kevin.eckleberry@lagrangenews.com

CARROLLTON – LaGrange High’s basketball teams got their region schedules started in winning fashion on Tuesday at Central-Carroll.

In the girls’ game, it was LaGrange holding on for a 67-63 win over Central-Carroll, while LaGrange won the boys’ game 79-64.

It was a nice way for both teams to kick off their Region 5-AAAA schedules.

The Lady Grangers, who have now won three straight games overall, got a combined 53 points from Aryan Dozier, Chnaireia Strozier and Shania Woodard.

Dozier, who was 11-of-15 from the free-throw line, led the way with 23 points, while Woodard got it done inside with 18 points.

Strozier, who teams with Dozier to give LaGrange a formidable one-two punch at the guard position, added 12 points.

The Lady Grangers started quickly, out-scoring the Lady Lions 21-8 in the opening quarter.

Dozier scored 11 points in the first period, while Woodard had eight points.

LaGrange maintained that offensive pace in the second period, scoring 20 points to take a 41-28 lead at the break.

The Lady Grangers were outscored 20-16 in the third period, and their lead was 57-48 as the final quarter began.

Dozier made 5-of-6 attempts from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter as LaGrange held off a hard-charging Central squad.

In the boys’ game, LaGrange enjoyed one of its most successful offensive efforts of the season en route to the 79-64 win.

LaPerion Perry led LaGrange with 23 points, and he did a lot of his damage from the free-throw line where he made 10-of-12 attempts.

Bo Russell contributed 14 points and was 4-of-4 from the line, Kenan Gray contributed 11 points, and Jarious Freeman added 10 points.

Josh McClendon had a big night for Central-Carroll with 29 points, and 21 of those points came in the second half.

With Russell and Perry combining for 14 points in the first quarter, the Grangers surged to a 21-18 lead, and they were ahead 36-29 at the half.

The Grangers exploded for 25 points in the third period, and they were ahead 61-48 as the final quarter began.

Perry was 7-of-10 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter to help LaGrange maintain the lead.

Gray, a senior post player, had six of his points in the fourth period.