A big second quarter lifts Peach County to easy win
FORT VALLEY -- Nausia Woolfolk figured that with the postseason would come a new batch of, well, playoff-caliber competition.
After all, Peach County had won games by 68, 60, 55, 50, 54 and 48 points this season, winning only five games by fewer than 20.
She figured wrong.
Peach County actually trailed 4-0 but took complete control late in the second quarter for an 83-48 win Tuesday over Josey in a GHSA Class AAA first-round playoff game.
The 24-2 Trojans scored a season-high total in a playoff game against a team that fell to 19-8 and had wins over Class AAAAA programs and quality Class AAA programs. Before Tuesday, Josey hadn't surrendered 50 or more points only six times.
FOUR WHO MATTERED
Woolfolk: The Florida-State bound senior scored 27 points and added seven rebounds, five assists and three steals.
Deja Holland: The Trojans' fourth-leading scorer this season had only three points but had five assists and two steals.
Janiah Williams: One of Josey's top players, who has battled injuries late in the season, managed 10 points despite being the focus of Peach County's defense.
Danasia Shaw: The Peach County freshman scored nine points to go with four assists and two steals.
TURNING POINT
Josey, which displayed no shyness in shooting from almost anywhere, was within five late in the first quarter, but Shaw's 3 at the buzzer made the lead seven and gave the Trojans momentum. Jordan Davis opened the second with a 3 and then Woolfolk scored off an inbounds pass for a 10-point lead. The Trojans then blew out the Eagles by finishing the second quarter with a 14-0 run.
OBSERVATION
Woolfolk is obviously one of the state's top players in any classification, but Peach County is not a one-player team. Senior Alexia Green also makes the Trojans go, and they have four other players averaging at least 5.6 points per game. On Tuesday, six Trojans had at least five points.
THEY SAID IT
Woolfolk: "We played pretty good. We started off slow, we picked it up toward the end. We came in at halftime in the locker room and just talked to each other, 'We've got to push harder.' "
Peach County head coach Maxine Cherry: "When they jumped out 4-0, it was like, 'Wow, what's going on?' So we got back in to speed the game up so we could play our style of game. ... We had a film, but it didn't really show us anything. We didn't know what to expect."
Woolfolk on the blowout: "I didn't (expect that). I thought we'd have a little competition. I thought it would be a little like Kendrick, tougher."
Cherry: "The outside shooting, we didn't really see that coming. A couple of them got some outside shots on us. I told that girl she better get her tail out there and get on them."
WHAT'S NEXT?
Peach County hosts Ringgold, a 69-50 winner over East Hall, at 6 p.m. on Friday.
This story was originally published February 16, 2016 at 9:21 PM with the headline "A big second quarter lifts Peach County to easy win ."