Josey girls’ basketball teams won their second consecutive AA Region 4 Championships at Butler High School on Friday, Feb. 13.
Josey began Friday’s region tournament with a 51-42 win over Thomson.
“Back-to-Back in a region like ours is very difficult,” said Josey girls basketball Coach Nichelle Chapman.
The Eagles began the game with an 8-0 run but battled to cut the lead to 22-19 at the half.
Josey would once again push ahead, but Thomson cut the lead to 41-39 after an and-one layup by Janiya Scott in the fourth quarter.
Led by 18 points from senior Kerri Fluellen, Josey was able to walk a way victorious.
The Lady Eagles chalked up their 19th consecutive win on the season after three early losses in the regular season. This was also the third time Josey defeated Thomson, winning all three matchups on the season.
“It feels great because it shows the growth from where we came from in the beginning. Buying into the system, buying into defense and energy and effort. It feels good when they give you that trust and believe in you,” Chapman said.
Both Thomson and Josey girls will now move on to compete in the AA Georgia High School State Playoffs.
Despite already playing each other three times this season, the Eagles and Bulldogs could face off again in the state playoffs.
Last season, Josey defeated Thomson three out of four times, including a 48-43 win in the Elite Eight.
Josey will now be looking for another run at a state championship. The Eagles won the state title in 2021, but has come up short the last few seasons, losing in the final four three times and in the state championship game in 2024.
The girls AA state playoffs begin on Tuesday. Feb. 24.
Sportswriter Christopher Rickerson is an Augusta University graduate who has covered area sports for publications including Augusta University‘s Bell Ringer, The Augusta Press and Augusta Good News. Subscribe to the Augusta Good News’ free weekly newsletter here.
