The script was very different on Friday night for the Coffee Lady Trojans. After defeating the Winder-Barrow Lady Bulldogs by 62 in the first round of the state playoffs Tuesday, the Lady Trojans ran into a buzzsaw in the form of the New Manchester Lady Jaguars. The 23-4 Jaguars from Douglasville ended Coffee’s season in the second round of the playoffs with a 63-48 win over the Lady Trojans at the Coffee High School gym. New Manchester improved to 24-4 while Coffee finished the season with a 27-2 record.
The Lady Trojans jumped out to a very early lead that soon vaporized. Once the Lady Jaguars took over, they never relinquished their advantage. The best Coffee could do was hit three quick shots to start the game and take a 6-4 lead. The Lady Trojans wouldn’t have the lead again for the rest of the night.
After trailing by as many as 15 in the first half, Coffee fought back to narrow New Manchester’s lead to 35-27 at the half. Early in the third quarter, the Lady Trojans clawed their way to get within two points, 40-38.
Then a problem that plagued them all game reared its ugly head again. Coffee had multiple intervals of time in which they did not score. While they were in those scoring droughts, the Lady Jaguars consistently poured shots into the basket. They also out-rebounded the Lady Trojans on both ends of the court and beat Coffee back on defense.
The Lady Trojans were exposed and left vulnerable all night long. They struggled at the free throw line and did not make a three-point shot all night long. In the end, New Manchester was just too tough.
Jasmine Porter led Coffee with 20 points. She was the only Lady Trojan in double-digits. Lexie Bradford scored nine, Aria Paulk scored seven, and Tyrianna Woodgett added five. Iryonnia Lewis (four) and Paris Riley (three) rounded out the scoring for Coffee.
The Lady Trojans finish the season as the Region 2-5A champions with a 27-2 record. Coffee only has one senior on this year’s team and should be in excellent shape moving forward.