THOMASVILLE- The Thomasville Lady Bulldogs grabbed their third consecutive win on Thursday night, securing a 49-39 victory over the Pelham Lady Hornets.

The win got Thomasville back to a 3-3 record, while Pelham’s defeat dropped their record down to 5-3.

The Lady Dogs were hot early on the court, scoring 13 points in the first quarter.

A’naijah Thurman, Rhaniya Wilson, Ma’Khia Banks, and Harmony Bryant all put two points on the board, while Jayla Brooks drained a three to put the team ahead.

Heading into the second quarter, both offense and defense ran on all cylinders, holding the Lady Hornets to six points, while scoring 17.

Brooks drained another three, as Bryant had her best quarter, adding six points to the board. Banks and Ni’Shyah Duncan also got in on the action scoring two points each. Jaleah Brown went two-for-two at the free throw line, grabbing an easy two points to take the team into halftime.

Coming out of the half, the Lady Hornets put the pressure on the Dogs, holding them to five points.

Wilson and Bryant struggled at the free throw line, with Wilson going two-for-six, leaving four points on the floor. Bryant went one-for-four. Thurman found the basket to close out the quarter, with Thomasville still in the lead, 35-20.

After a slow third quarter, the team found their rhythm again in the fourth, scoring 14 points. However, the Lady Hornets were also playing their best quarter yet, fighting back a 15-point deficit.

Bryant had a great final quarter, redeeming herself at the free throw line, going three-for-four and grabbing two baskets.

Brown drained a three to give the Dogs the final minutes of momentum they needed before some of the younger players were able to take to the court.

As the final buzzer went off, freshman Emma Reichert made a basket, and while it was seconds too short, her team celebrated the exciting moment with her, chanting her name.

Head Coach Jeray Randall Sr. was proud of the team but said he would’ve liked to see a better finish from the team.

“The young ladies found a way to win,” he said. “I expected them to really push and play hard, but tonight was a night where we didn’t rebound when I wanted us to, but we got the win.”

The Lady Dogs will have to put up a fight in their next battle on the court, when they play Cairo at home on January 4, as Wilson left the game injured.

Wilson went down in the fourth quarter, with an apparent injury in her leg.

Randall Sr. is hopeful Wilson just banged up her leg and that it is nothing serious.

“She should be fine in a couple of weeks or two, but we plan on getting her checked out,” he said. “Hopefully everything is alright.”

With or without Wilson, Randall Sr. said the team has to continue finishing the game.

“We have to finish games,” he said. “We can’t just start out hard and play hard, we have to finish strong.”

Randall Sr. explained finishing strong and not becoming complacent is part of the standard he has created for the girls.

“That’s what this team is about,” he said. “I want to see the defense and playing together.”

While it may not have been the finish Randall Sr. was hoping for, he said he sees the light at the end of the tunnel and the Lady Dogs have yet to play their best game.

“We have a lot of bright spots on this team, and I believe they are just getting better as the days go on,” he concluded.