Smothering defense sends Bravettes to second straight championship tilt

Mar. 4—FT. VALLEY — The live-ball turnover.

How many times did it happen? Fayette County High's girls basketball team brought the basketball to its offensive end, tried to set up, and before anyone could blink that ball is in the hands of a Baldwin High Bravette going the other way.

No throwaways. No travels. Not even a full-court press. Fayette County put little resistance in front of the No. 1 GHSA AAAA Baldwin girls, who are on their way to a second straight state championship game at the Macon Centreplex. The Bravettes had 17 steals — most in the half-court — to win Saturday's semifinal game 55-32 at Ft. Valley State University.

Even head coach Kizzi Walker was anxious to see the number of takeaways after the game.

"I just know that the defense turned it up," she said. "They did what they were supposed to do. They played the defense we've been practicing all season long."

Madison Ruff came away with six of those steals. Jasmine Williams and Kassidy Ruff each were credited with three thefts among the starters. Even Morgan Ruff off the bench took the ball away three times.

"We have practiced rotations, practiced our area. For it to manifest in the game, it was great to see," said Walker.

If there was a downside to Saturday's performance, the Bravettes scored 55 points taking 54 shots from the field for 39 percent accuracy. But when Fayette County couldn't register double-figures in three of the four quarters, Baldwin didn't need much on its end. They led 14-3 after one quarter and expanded that advantage to 20, 30-10, at halftime.

In the second half, Morgan Ruff showed some offense putting in seven points. Starter JaMya Easley scored consecutive field goals at one point as well.

"I love the team ball," said Walker. "It's what we always try to tell them to play. One person doesn't have to do it (all). We have a team full of players.

"I think we did pretty good, but (the offense) could have been better. (Fayette) did a great job trying to stop our post players. That was something we needed to see. Always when we play, we try to learn from someone."

For only the third time in the 20230-24 season, the senior Madison Ruff didn't score in double figures. She had eight points, the same total from the quarterfinal playoff win at Stockbridge High just five days prior to the Fayette game. (She also had nine in a loss to Norcross High Dec. 2, which was the last setback for the Baldwin girls.)

Janaye Walker, though, had 12 points and six rebounds plus five blocks, some of which were done in the style of a volleyball spike. Kassidy Neal scored 11 points to go with seven rebounds. Both are juniors.

The Baldwin rebounding and defensive dominance was evident early from Neal's put-back to Williams' steal and bullet-pass assist to Neal. At 4:30 of the first quarter, Madison Ruff's push from a takeaway was finished by Walker. At 3:20, it was 9-0 Baldwin.

Fayette County didn't score until there was under two minutes to play, but if it thought there was a break when Walker checked out to have her foot checked out, not quite. Walker re-entered and immediately scored on a tap-in. The first Fayette field goal of the game was at the 10-second mark.

Baldwin didn't get a field goal in the second quarter until three minutes ran off the clock. Madison Ruff then followed two missed jumpers with a third-chance lay-up for 21-7 Baldwin. The pattern of Fayette turnovers continued with a quick re-possession by the Bravettes and a quick set up from Neal to Walker.

The Bravettes ended the half on an offensive flurry with a Neal assist to back-up ZyKeria Paschal. Williams was patient with the ball and sank a 3-pointer (only three of those for BHS Saturday). She caused one final turnover, and Madison Ruff got a good bounce from the FVSU rim on a short jumper.

Walker scored on both an inside hook and a 3-pointer early in the third period. Williams caused a turnover and threw up a wild shot that went in. The Bravettes led by as much as 27, 41-14. Even when Walker blocked two shots, Fayette had its best run of the game with eight in a row to close out the period. They still trailed 43-25.

Easley had her two field goals in the final period with an assist from Neal.

When the Bravettes take the Centreplex floor for Wednesday's 5 p.m. tip-off, opposition will come from Hardaway High of Columbus. The 27-4 Lady Hawks, ranked No. 2 by Sandy's Spiel.com, defeated North Oconee 57-44 Saturday at FVSU after Baldwin's game. They lost all four of their games in November, including one to Norcross.

All the coach Walker could think about, though, was one more game after last season's championship loss to Griffin High.

"I'm nervous every single time we step on the floor," she said. "One more win and we are state champions."