By HARVEY SIMPSON

Dispatch Sports Editor

STATESBORO — Fullington Academy’s Lady Trojans brought home not the bacon but the first place trophy from the Bulloch Academy Tip-Off Tournament that concluded Thursday night.

On the heels of their opening-round 41-23 win Tuesday over Thomas Jefferson’s Lady Jaguars, coach Mike Cason’s girls defeated David Emanuel’s Lady Eagles 37-28 in the championship contest.

“We played man-for-man defense just about the whole game and once again did a real good job,” Cason said in reflecting upon what he felt was the key to his team’s triumph. “Offensively, we struggled, but I kind of expect that in the early season.”

One Fullington player who didn’t have trouble hitting the basket was Ashlyn Reed who in scoring a game-high 20 points helped the Lady Trojans turn a low-scoring 6-5 first period deficit into leads of 20-15 and 32-22 at the next two rest breaks.

She got double digit assistance from Alex Peavy who followed up her 18-point effort against Thomas Jefferson with an 11-point performance. Her play both nights earned her tournament MVP honors.

“Ashlyn had a good night scoring and Alex again stood out, but really all 12 of our girls played well in this one as it was just a good team effort, period,” said Cason whose girls and coach Ban Bailey’s boys will launch regular season play Tuesday night at John Hancock Academy (Sparta).

Score by Quarters

Fullington Academy 5-15-12-5 — 37

David Emanuel 6-9-7-6 — 28

Scoring

Fullington (37) – Courtney Coogle 2, Brittany Bailey, Alex Peavy 11, Anna Burton 2, Taylor Faircloth, Ashley Langston 2, Julia Peavy, Rebekah Barron, Elizabeth Owens, Ashlyn Reed 20, Kayla Goodroe, Rachel Bloodworth.

Team totals: field goals 16; free throws 1 of 2 (50%); fouls 13; 3-pointers – Reed 4; fouled out – none.