Terrell Academy takes second straight region title

THOMASVILLE — For the second straight season, Terrell Academy made Region 3-AAA feel less like a race and more like a conclusion.

The Lady Eagles captured their second consecutive region basketball championship Thursday night, rolling past Tiftarea Academy 68–24 in a title game that was decided long before the final horn. The win lifted Terrell Academy to 20–5 on the season and sent the Lady Eagles into a waiting game as the Georgia Independent Athletic Association prepares to release its final state rankings Sunday.

Terrell Academy entered the region tournament as the No. 3-ranked team in the state, trailing only Frederica and Westfield, and did nothing to suggest that position was inflated. The Lady Eagles were unbeaten in region play, went 8–0 against Region 3-AAA competition, and followed that up by dismantling host Brookwood 53–24 in the semifinals before Thursday’s emphatic championship performance.

“I’m super proud of these girls, now having won the region title back-to-back,” Terrell Academy coach Eric Israel said. “I love them to death and love coaching them. Our success starts with our senior leadership from Sally Masters and Annalea Massey. We get our spark from our defense and play off that energy.”

That defensive spark was evident from the opening tip. Terrell Academy raced to a 10–1 lead, setting the tone with ball pressure and transition offense. Natalie Oliver knocked down a pair of corner 3-pointers as the Lady Eagles stretched the margin to 21–9 after one quarter.

If there was any doubt remaining, it vanished in the second quarter.

Terrell Academy outscored Tiftarea 21–0 in the period, turning steals into layups and perimeter looks into points. Oliver added another 3-pointer, Hadley Webb connected from deep, and Masters repeatedly ignited fast breaks that buried the Lady Panthers by halftime.

Though Tiftarea mounted a brief 10–2 run in the third quarter, the outcome was already sealed. Terrell Academy still led 55–22 after three quarters, prompting officials to shorten the fourth quarter to six minutes.

Masters led all scorers with 21 points, setting the pace on both ends of the floor. Oliver finished with 14 points, Webb added 14, and Massey chipped in eight, underscoring the balance that has defined the Lady Eagles’ season.

“We have girls that can really shoot, and we have girls that can get to the rim as well,” Israel said. “That makes my job easier. This is not the finish line for us.”

That perspective has shaped Terrell Academy’s approach all winter. While the Lady Eagles dominated Region 3-AAA, the broader picture has always loomed. They split their regular-season meetings with Westfield and have kept a close eye on top-ranked Frederica, two programs that have set the standard in the GIAA postseason.

“We split with Westfield during the regular season, and I think we’ll match up well against Frederica,” Israel said. “I’m looking forward to seeing where we can take this.”

Sunday’s rankings will assign Terrell Academy a seed and a destination. The Lady Eagles have already answered the more important question — who they are when the stakes rise.