Thomasville’s Aaliyah Powell (1) splits the East Laurens defense as she gets by Jakiyah Hollingsworth during the fourth quarter of their Class AA state playoff game Friday night. Powell had 17 points in Thomasville’s loss.

THOMASVILLE — The East Laurens Lady Falcons made enough clutch plays at the end to hold off Thomasville 50-41 in the Class AA girls state basketball playoffs’ first round Friday night.

The Lady Falcons, now 16-11, never let the Lady Bulldogs within six points throughout the second half.

With the win, East Laurens advances to meet the winner of the Rockmart-Callaway game in the second round. Thomasville’s season ends at 11-16.

Thomasvlle, which trailed 32-33 at the half, got within seven points, 46-39, on a Sanaa White free throw.

East Laurens’ Scotteria Rozier stole an inbounds pass and drove for a layup with 45 seconds left, and two free throws from Kristen Hubbard sealed the win.

Ikeria Hamilton’s basket pushed the Lady Falcons’ lead to 40-26, tying their biggest lead of the half, before Herbreyia Diggs buried a 3-pointer. White’s layup off a steal brought the Lady Bulldogs within 42-33 early in the fourth.

Another Diggs 3 cut the lead to eight points, 46-38, with 2:06 to go. 

Behind Aaliyah Powell’s strong first quarter, the Lady Bulldogs grabbed a 13-11 in the first period. Hubbard, though, led the Lady Falcons to a 21-9 advantage in the second quarter, giving East Laurens the lead for good.

Powell had nine points in the first quarter and led Thomasville with 17 points. Diggs added 12. De’Asia Troutman had six points, Dontaevia Johnson scored four and White chipped in two.

Hubbard, who had nine points in the second quarter, led East Laurens with 17 points. Hamilton had 11 and Rozier added eight. De’Asia Lowther scored seven points for East Laurens.