Jatiana Chambers scores 39 as Dougherty upsets No. 10-ranked Monroe

ALBANY — Dougherty senior Jatiana Chambers delivered in the clutch Friday night, sinking a three-pointer with less than a minute to play to tie the game against Monroe at 67-67. With just five seconds remaining, Chambers hit a two-point basket to give the Lady Trojans a thrilling 69-67 region victory in front of a packed house at Dougherty High School.

The win avenged Dougherty’s earlier season loss to Monroe, a 61-50 defeat in the Dougherty County Tip-off Classic. The region win evened Dougherty’s record at 8-8 overall and 1-0 in region play. No. 10-ranked Monroe fell to 8-5, 0-1.

“This was a big team win for us,” said Dougherty Head Coach Khadijah Ali. “I’m so proud of the way our girls battled in the second half. We talked at halftime about staying composed, tightening up on defense, and playing our brand of basketball. The team really stepped up, showing resilience when it mattered most.”

Monroe led 40-28 at halftime, and the Lady Trojans faced an uphill battle. Early in the third quarter, D’Asia Simmons hit a three-pointer, and her sister Dariona followed with a two-point basket. Dougherty scored the first nine points of the second half, cutting the deficit to 40-37.

The teams traded baskets for much of the second half, neither gaining a significant advantage. D’Asia Simmons tied the game at 58-58 with a layup at 4:59, prompting Coach Ali to call a timeout.

When play resumed, Dougherty’s full-court press forced turnovers, resulting in a quick 62-58 lead. Monroe’s Kie’Aundria Acree responded, putting Monroe back ahead, but Chambers sealed the win with her final two shots.

“The energy in the gym was electric,” Ali said. “We’re grateful for the support from our school and community. We’ll enjoy this win tonight but stay focused as we prepare for the next game.”

The game featured standout performances from both teams’ All-State guards. Chambers poured in 39 points for Dougherty, while Acree scored 37 for Monroe. D’Asia Simmons added 13 points, and Dariona Simmons scored 12 for the Lady Trojans. Monroe’s Taylor McKinzy finished with 15 points, and Glendalys Harvey added eight.

Dougherty will travel to Peach County on Tuesday for another region matchup, while Monroe will face Cairo on the road.