Monroe girls take region lead with win over Dougherty

ALBANY – In a game between Region 1-AAA’s two top girl’s teams and with the right to host the upcoming Region 1-AAA basketball tournament on the line, the Monroe Lady Tornadoes jumped out to an early lead and cruised past the Dougherty Lady Trojans, 67-39, Saturday night at Monroe.

Dougherty had edged Monroe in a 69-67 thriller earlier in the season and entered the rematch leading the region with just one loss. But this time, the game wasn’t close.

Monroe head coach Jennifer Acree preferred this outcome. When asked about the difference between the two matchups, she credited her team—especially guard Taylor McKinzy.

“We played two halves of basketball,” Acree said. “Taylor was stroking it from behind the three-point line, and that definitely helped get our momentum going.”

McKinzy knocked down four three-pointers in the first half and added three more after the break.

Monroe built a commanding 36-15 lead by halftime, and any hopes of a Dougherty comeback took a hit when senior All-State guard Jatiana Chambers left the game with an injury early in the third quarter. By the end of the third quarter, Monroe led 56-22.

Dougherty’s D’Asia Simmons found her rhythm in the fourth quarter, hitting three three-pointers, but it wasn’t nearly enough to close the gap.

Kie’Aundria Acree led all scorers with 33 points and 16 rebounds for Monroe, while McKinzy added 27. Simmons led Dougherty with 12 points, and her sister Darionna Simmons added nine.

The win improves Monroe to 18-5 overall and 7-1 in the region. Dougherty falls to 13-10 and 6-2 in region play. With two regular-season games remaining, Monroe can lock up the top seed and the right to host the region tournament with wins over Cairo and Peach County this week.