Tuesday was a good night for the Long County High School basketball teams as the Blue Tide and Lady Tide picked up region wins against Bryan County in Pembroke.
The Lady Tide earned their second victory of the season by defeating the Lady Redskins in a nail-biter, 39-38, after freshman Caitlin Wingate nailed a late fourth-quarter shot to seal the win.  
Mikayla Lovett led the Tide with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while teammate Derissa Crawford added 10 points and had 11 rebounds. Both players now have two “double-doubles” on the season. Wingate also had a solid night by putting up 10 points.  
With the win, Long County improved to 2-9 overall and 2-4 in Region 2B-AA.
“Since the Christmas break, our girls have really started playing better basketball,” LCHS athletic director Karen Swindell said. “Over the last five games we have been in every game and just seemed to run out of gas at the end …Against Bryan, they were able to overcome some fourth quarter difficulties and rallied for the win.
“Coach Hires is doing an outstanding job with the players, and I think that they are beginning to understand her coaching technique and are doing a great job of executing her game plan.”
Hires believed the difference was that her team was able to “finish” this game.
In the boys’ game, the Blue Tide defeated the Redskins, 60-45, behind Jamaal Anderson’s 22 points. Also for the Tide, Josh Berry had 11 points, six rebounds and three steals, while Chris LaRochester had 11 rebounds, six points, four blocked shots and three steals.
Clay Strickland and Deonte’ Ellis each chipped in six points.
“It was a sloppy game with both teams struggling at the beginning. However, our boys were by far the better of the two teams,” Swindell said. “Coach (Deshon) Brock got some good minutes from his bench players, and I am sure that he will have his team ready for the region tournament.”
The Blue Tide and the Lady Tide are back in action tonight in another big region showdown at Vidalia. The girls’ game begins at 6 p.m., with the boys’ game to follow.