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Fort Dorchester senior Kaysee Sullivan helped the Lady Patriots upset the region’s top team Tuesday.

The Fort Dorchester girls handed Colleton County its first region loss of the season Tuesday.

The Lady Patriots traveled to Walterboro and downed Colleton, the No. 6 ranked girls’ 4-A team in the state, 46-40. The night marked only the third time this season the Lady Cougars have been defeated. The Fort improved its record to 8-9, with a 2-3 mark in region play while Colleton dropped to 19-3, 4-1.

“This is a big win for us,” Fort senior Kaysee Sullivan said. “We didn’t have a good game against them the last time so this really gives us some confidence going into the last part of our schedule. We worked well together this time. We talked a lot and were able to read each other and everybody kept their head in the game.”

The Patriots jumped on Colleton early to carry a lead into the half. Then they held on for the upset.

“Our girls finally decided they could do it,” Fort coach Valerie Reese said. “Our coaching staff has always felt our team could play with the region’s top teams if we just play with confidence. They went in focused and in the second half decided they wanted to finish it. Colleton kept battling and started fouling us in the final two minutes, but we hit our free throws.”

Lady Cougar Shayla Edwards had a game-high 22 points, but it wasn’t enough as the Patriots played what Reese says is their best game of the season.

“Shayla scored a lot, but no one else scored like they did the first time we played them this year,” Reese said. “That was the difference; we played a good defensive game, which opened things up for our offense.”

Bridgette Barnett led the Patriots with 17 points and Indie Lawson added 13. Everyone else who played for the Fort also hit at least one basket.

It has been a couple of years since the Fort girls have made the playoffs but the Patriots are hoping this is the year they turn that around. The Fort hosts West Ashley Feb. 5 and closes its regular season with a game at home against Summerville Feb. 11.

The Fort boys earned a 69-40 win in Walterboro to improve to 18-2, 6-0. R.J. Slawson led all scorers with 17 points while Ariel Garrett added 12 and Laurez Matthews 10. Isa Miller led Colleton with 15 and Sheldon Elliott added 10.

The Patriots, the No. 2 ranked boys’ 4-A team in the state, would clinch at least a share of the region title with a win over West Ashley, the No. 6 ranked team, tonight.

Contact Roger Lee @ 873-9424 ext. 213 or rlee@journalscene.com.

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