The Tiftarea Lady Panthers secured a decisive 39-15 victory over the Valwood Lady Valiants on January 13, 2026, showcasing their defensive prowess at home. The win improved their record to 6-9 overall and 2-0 in AAA District 3, while Valwood fell to 2-11 and remains winless in the district.
From the outset, Tiftarea established control of the game, racing to a 5-0 lead within the first two minutes. Despite encountering offensive struggles at times, the Lady Panthers’ defense proved overwhelming. They limited Valwood to just five points in the first half, setting a tone that the visiting team could not break.
Head coach Tay Mallory emphasized the importance of maintaining high standards regardless of the opponent. “I told my girls that if we want to be a championship team, we need to play hard and not worry about mistakes,” Mallory remarked. He noted that every game presents its own challenges, stating, “We just always make sure we keep the same mentality, whether it’s against an undefeated team or one struggling with their record.”
The Lady Panthers’ defense, led by standout rookie Olivia Brundage, was instrumental in their success. Brundage excelled in disrupting Valwood’s offensive flow, frequently intercepting passes and forcing turnovers. Mallory praised her performance, highlighting her exceptional defensive awareness and maturity for her age. “Her defensive prowess is at the level of a 12th grader,” he said, noting her ability to anticipate plays and read opponents’ tendencies.
Tiftarea built a commanding 13-1 lead by the end of the first quarter, with Valwood managing just a single free throw. The Lady Valiants struggled to find their rhythm, not scoring their first field goal until late in the second quarter, at which point Tiftarea had extended their lead to 17 points. The halftime score stood at 22-5.
The second half saw a brief resurgence from Valwood, who opened with a 3-1 scoring run. However, Tiftarea quickly responded with an 8-0 run to end the third quarter, increasing their advantage to 31-8. Sophomore McKenna Grace Graham contributed to the scoring surge, hitting a three-pointer to begin the fourth quarter. The Lady Panthers reached a peak lead of 37-9 before the game concluded with Valwood outscoring them 6-2 in the final minutes.
With a solid start to the region play, Mallory expressed gratitude for the team’s position but stressed the importance of focusing on each upcoming game. “We want to try to get to the big game, but we take it one game at a time,” he said. He aims to keep distractions at bay and maintain the team’s focus on the moment.
Notably, two players reached double figures for Tiftarea. Kate Coogle led the scoring with 12 points, while Kate Phillips added 11.
Looking ahead, the Lady Panthers will host the Deerfield Windsor team on January 16, 2026, at 18:15, aiming to continue their winning streak in district competition.
