The Swainsboro Lady Tigers took care of business on their home floor last week, earning two important region victories inside The Den and continuing to build momentum as the season moves toward its final stretch.
Swainsboro opened the week on Tuesday, Jan. 28, with a strong performance against St. Vincent’s Academy, setting the tone early and maintaining control throughout a 67–51 region win. The Lady Tigers jumped out quickly, scoring 20 points in the first quarter and carrying a solid lead into halftime. They stayed poised in the second half, using defensive pressure and balanced scoring to close out the victory.
Mckinley Walden led the way with 22 points, while A’acaylah Murphy added 19. Kimiya Freeman chipped in 16 points, and Kali Brown finished with eight, highlighting Swainsboro’s ability to spread the scoring across the lineup. On the defensive end, the Lady Tigers were active all night, finishing with 18 steals and consistently turning defense into offense.
Two nights later, on Friday, Jan. 30, Swainsboro returned to The Den and delivered another region win, defeating Toombs County 49–36. Defense once again set the tone, as the Lady Tigers limited their opponent to just four points in the opening quarter and never relinquished control of the game.
Murphy led the scoring effort with 16 points, while Walden added 10 and Freeman contributed 11. Swainsboro remained steady on both ends of the floor, relying on disciplined defense and efficient offense to secure the win and further establish The Den as a tough place for visiting teams.
For head coach Alexandria Walden, the home-court advantage and the level of region competition continue to shape her team’s mindset.
“Playing in The Den means something,” Walden said. “Our kids feed off the energy here, but they also understand that every team in the region is coming in ready to challenge us. We take pride in defending our floor.”
Walden also emphasized the demands of region play. “Region games are different,” she said. “There are no nights off. You have to rebound, defend, and take care of the little things because everyone knows each other and every possession matters.”
Due to the winter storm and snow conditions that impacted the area this past weekend, Swainsboro’s games scheduled against Statesboro High School were canceled and will not be rescheduled. As a result, the Lady Tigers will return to action on Wednesday at home against Savannah Country Day, with tip-off set for 5:30 p.m. inside The Den.
Following Wednesday’s matchup, Swainsboro will travel on Friday to face Savannah Christian before returning home on Saturday for a special Senior Night game against Claxton.
The Swainsboro High School basketball program is excited to recognize its senior athletes on Saturday, February 7. The varsity girls’ game will begin at 5 p.m., with senior recognition taking place following the game. Tiger Nation is encouraged to pack out The Den to help celebrate a group of seniors who have dedicated countless hours to the program and represented Swainsboro with pride.
As region play continues to intensify, the Lady Tigers will look to carry their defensive intensity, balanced scoring, and home-court energy into a busy and meaningful stretch of the season.
