Lions score dramatic title win

Sixteen private middle-school basketball teams came together during the last week of January to crown the area champion.

On the boys' side, Augusta Christian finished the season with a 13-1 record and won the title in dramatic fashion. The Lions scored only five points in the entire first half of their semifinal game against Westminster, but came from behind to win 33-29. In the championship game, Augusta Christian defeated St. Mary's of Augusta, 47-45 in overtime.

- Four Columbia County basketball teams saw their seasons come to an end this past week in the first round of the Region 2-AAAA Tournament.

Both the Lakeside boys and girls ended their seasons on the road. The Lady Panthers fell at Greenbrier 71-37 on Tuesday night, and the Lakeside boys lost at top-seeded Baldwin.

The Lady Wolfpack advanced past the first round of the tournament, but the fourth-seeded Greenbrier boys were knocked off by No. 5 seed Wayne County at Greenbrier on Wednesday night. The loss ends the Wolfpack season at 14-12 overall.

At Evans, the Knights remained alive after the first round, but the Lady Knights' season came to an end with a loss at Effingham County on Tuesday night.

- In the Region 3-AAA Tournament, both the Harlem boys and girls advanced past the first round of the region tournament.

The Lady Bulldogs defeated Burke County 55-45 on Tuesday, with senior April Woodard leading the way with 20 points.

The Harlem boys defeated South Effingham County on Monday night, but came up short against top-seeded Liberty County on Wednesday with a 68-35 loss to end Harlem's season.