Lady Jets advance to NJCAA Region XVII finals with win over Chattahoochee Tech
![](https://www.southgatech.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Shay_shooting-3-17.jpg)
The 16th nationally ranked South Georgia Technical College Lady Jets defeated the Chattahoochee Technical College Lady Golden Eagles 71 – 52 Friday to advance to the National Junior College Athletic Association Region XVII finals. The Lady Jets will take on Georgia Highlands College at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 4th. Georgia Highlands defeated the East Georgia Bobcats 56 – 49 to earn their berth in the finals.
The victories by South Georgia Technical College and Georgia Highlands set up a repeat match-up from last year’s National Junior College Athletic Association Region XVII Championship and the opportunity to advance to the NJCAA National Tournament in Lubbock, TX, March 20th – 25th. Last year, Georgia Highlands upset the GCAA regular season champions 65 – 63 at the final buzzer to capture the title.
“We have faced Georgia Highlands three times in the past four years,” said South Georgia Technical College Athletic Director and Lady Jets head coach James Frey. “Coach Brandon Harrell and I are good friends and it is tough to have to win or lose to a good friend year in and year out,” added Frey.
South Georgia Tech defeated Georgia Highlands in the finals two years ago and then came back and upset Darton College the next year for back-to-back championships. Coach Brandon Harrell, who started the Lady Jets program and was their first head coach, spoiled the Lady Jets opportunity to take three titles in a row on a last second shot last season.
SGTC sophomore guard Shaineequah Fluellyn was the spark plug that lifted the Lady Jets over Chattahoochee Tech in the semi-final round. She had 18 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists. Freshman forward Houlfat Mahouchiza was the only other Lady Jet in double-figures. She had 14 points and two rebounds.
The Lady Jets have been plagued with injuries and head coach James Frey started four freshman and sophomore Shaineequah Fluellyn against Chattahoochee Tech. Freshman guard Trakyra Kidd came up with nine points, six rebounds, and two assists, and then freshmen Marina Balaguer, Kanna Suzuki, Sceret Ethridge, and Esther Adenike all contributed six points each. Kidd also had six rebounds and Adenike pulled down five rebounds.
The Lady Jets led the whole game and were up by 25 points with several minutes left in the game. They finally ended up with a 71 – 52 victory.
Georgia Highlands struggled against East Georgia early on. There were a total of two lead changes and four ties in the first half. Georgia Highlands was able to pull ahead 20 – 18 at the half and stretch that lead to 16 points with the score 54 – 38. East Georgia battled back to outscore Georgia Highlands 11 – 2 in the final minutes to pull within seven points.