Richmond Hill got a pre-holiday peek at the region competition this past week with games against Thomson and West Laurens. The Boys cruised in the Friday night home game against Thomson 66-48, then went on the road Saturday night and lost a close game to West Laurens 48-42.

The Lady Wildcats swept their region week-end 45-21 over Thomson and 63-39 at West Laurens to help make Christmas bright as they take the holiday break off. The Boys will play a Christmas tournament at Brewton Parker College in Mount Vernon December 28, 29, and 30.

The Ladies on Friday had their defense playing well the entire game, starting in a zone defense to help keep Lady Bulldogs post play in check, then switching to man on man. Thomson couldn’t handle either one and were committing more turnovers than making points. Unfortunately so were the Lady Wildcats.

Richmond Hill turned the ball over 15 times in the first half but only five times in the second. Head Coach Elizabeth Bennett credited the turn around to the defense.

"Once we went full court, full time, they started turning it on," said Bennett of her teams offensive resurgence in the third period. One of those players turning it on was Sophomore Keisha Durham who scored all seven of her points in the second half, at one point dribbling the length of the court and spectacularly splitting two defenders in the lane for an under hand lay up.

Bennett would comment afterward that Durham and senior guard Tyler Carlson who led all scorers with 12 points are close, and under Carlson’s wing the sophomore Durham is becoming "everything we hoped she would be". An important consideration with Carlson taking her 1000 plus point career to Mars Hill College next summer.

Bennett also attributed her teams 27 rebounds as being a key factor in their win. Senior center Dajah Davis led that charge with 13 rebounds of her own. The boys game that followed also had some different faces stepping up to make key contributions.

Vernon Jackson won the opening tip off against his taller opponent standing at middle court. He would continue playing tall the entire game. The junior forward led his team with 16 points and 12 rebounds in a game that Jackson and his teammates dominated start to finish.

George Greig had 16 points also and Lorenza Ross added 13 and Robbie Bynum 12 points. DeAndre Williams led the Bulldogs with 10 points.

The Wildcats jumped to a 17-4 lead after the first period and maybe the Bulldogs were taken by surprise when Richmond Hill opened with a zone defense instead of their usual man to man. The Bulldogs were not getting good looks at the basket and not making the few good shots they did take. In the second period Thomson switched their defense from the man to a half court trap and started narrowing the gap. Richmond Hill led at the half 32-21.

In spite of Richmond Hill breaking their full court pressure time after time the Bulldogs kept going back to it. Jackson was taking advantage with some easy transition baskets in the third and then Greig and Bynum got in to the act in the fourth. The four Wildcat players in double figures was indicative of the well balanced team effort that their fans were treated to on Friday.

The Wildcats are now 5-3, 1-1 in region 3-AAA. They will play their first game in the BPC Christmas Tourney against Treutlen County on December 28 at 1:30 p.m.

The Ladies improved to 8-2, 2-0 in region 3-AAA. They will not play again until Calvary Day comes to town for a rematch on January 5. Burke County will come to town Friday January 8, both games a 6 p.m. start.