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Tigers start region play
BI travels to Savannah to battle Groves
JJ
Bradwell Institute's Jordan Johnson puts up an acrobatic shot during a game last season against Savannah High. Johnson is the only returning starter on this year's team. The Tigers are in Garden City tonight to take on Groves. It is both teams' Region 3-AAAAA opener. - photo by Phgoto by Patty Leon
Bradwell Institute’s girls basketball team suffered it first loss of the season on Tuesday, falling 73-70 at Coffee High School in Douglas.
Three starters fouled out for the Lady Tigers (2-1), who began the season with wins against Tattnall County and Long County.
“It was one of those losses where you were not disappointed because we saw a lot of good things that happened,” coach Faye Baker said. “Coffee has a very good team, so we have to give them credit. I thought we went in there and played well with them. “
Baker said her team got rattled a bit late in the game and made some costly turnovers. She added that foul trouble probably cost the Lady Tigers a win.
“We sent them to the line
very early, and they shot a whole lot more free throws than us,” Baker said.  “Some of the things we need to work on are our defensive pressure, and moving our feet and taking care of the ball against teams that try and pressure us.”
Bradwell will try to bounce back from its loss tonight at Groves in Garden City. It is the Region 3-AAAAA opener for both teams. The Lady Tigers and Lady Rebels split their two meetings last season.

Bradwell boys
The rumor circulating among Region 3-AAAAA coaches this season is that Groves is one of the teams to beat.
Bradwell (0-3), which is coming off a loss to Coffee on Tuesday, visits the Rebels tonight. The teams have split their two-game series the last two seasons.
 “We are anticipating a pretty competitive game against them,” Bradwell coach Pete Woodard said. “They had a decent squad last year, and with a large number of veteran players returning, I’m pretty sure they’ll be much more competitive.”
Bradwell’s last two losses came against teams that reached the quarterfinals of their respective state tournaments.
“They were definitely no slouches,” Woodard said of Long County and Coffee.
What the Tigers need to pick up a win is a consistent effort, he said.
 “For example, in our first game (against Tattnall) we had good production from the guards but there were no inside players to get the rebounds. In the second game, we improved with our post play but the guards’ production was lacking. We need to put it all together.”
Woodard added that his team faded during the last few minutes against Long and Coffee.
“As a team, we have to stay strong and play all fourth quarters,” he said.
He said Long and Coffee each had a player take over late to secure their wins. The Tigers have yet to find a go-to player.
“We only have one varsity veteran from last season, Jordan Johnson,” Woodard said. “We need to find that one player who is going to step up and take control of the game.”
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