Junior guard Chabria Tate led Laney with 24 points in a 55-47 AA Georgia High School State Playoff first round win over Sumter County on Tuesday, Feb. 24.
A strong force all season, Tate averages 24.5 points per game and 7.3 assists, putting her first in the state in assists per game and 26th in the nation. Tate also ranks fifth in points per game in Georgia and first in the AA division.
Tuesday’s matchup was tight as Sumter continued to fight back throughout the game.
Two forced turnovers in the third quarter pushed the Wildcats ahead 38-32 after three quarters.
Laney would hang on to the lead in the fourth quarter and are headed to the second round of the playoffs for first time since the 2022-23 season.
The Wildcats look to get back to their previous successes. They won back-to-back state championships in 2017 and 2018, holding a record of 63-1 over two seasons.
Laney is currently 20-7, which is the team’s best record since the 2019-20 season.
Laney will now travel to play 23-4 Murray County on Friday, Feb. 27, at 6 p.m.
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.
