By Kevin Eckleberry

kevin.eckleberry@lagrangenews.com

AUGUSTA – A stellar season came to a close for the LaGrange Lady Grangers on Wednesday with a 44-35 loss to Cross Creek in the second round of the Class AAAA state tournament.

It was a tough matchup for LaGrange against a Cross Creek team that is ranked first in Class AAAA according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution poll.

The Lady Grangers hung in there for most of the way, though, and they were within four heading to the fourth period.

Cross Creek outscored LaGrange 18-13 in the final period to secure the win and advance to the elite eight.

Aryan Dozier led LaGrange with 14 points, Chnaireia Strozier added nine points, and Shania Woodard scored seven points in her final high-school game.

LaGrange struggled to get anything going offensively early on, and it trailed 8-2 after the first quarter.

The Lady Grangers were down 18-12 at the half, and by the time the third quarter end, their deficit had been trimmed to 26-22.

LaGrange, the second-place team from Region 5-AAAA, finished with an 18-13 record.

In the first round of the GISA state tournament, the season ended for the LaGrange Academy Warriors with an 86-42 loss to First Presbyterian.

It was a difficult matchup for LaGrange Academy against a First Presbyterian that won the Class AA state championship a year ago.