The 2025 Middle School Holiday Classic commenced on December 2, 2025, at the Albany Civic Center, featuring two thrilling matches. Albany Middle School achieved a remarkable doubleheader sweep, securing a comeback victory of 38-36 in the girls’ game and edging out Terrell County with a score of 31-30 in the boys’ contest. Both games concluded dramatically in the final seconds, showcasing the competitive spirit of young athletes.
Girls’ Game: Albany Middle Stuns Terrell County
In the girls’ match, Terrell County appeared to dominate early, racing to a 12-4 lead, primarily due to the impressive nine points scored by Kymoriah Kimbrough in the first quarter. The Lady Greenwave maintained their momentum, but Albany Middle refused to back down.
As the second quarter progressed, Caliyah Perry of Terrell County sparked a late surge, but Albany’s Zy’Deriaka Harris hit a crucial three-pointer, followed by Aniya Perkins sinking two free throws to level the game at 17-17. Terrell County fought back, extending their lead to 26-19 in the third quarter. Yet, Harris and Perkins continued to rally their team, with Harris scoring on a fast break and then delivering a pivotal corner three-pointer that gave Albany Middle their first lead at 33-32 with just over two minutes remaining.
The decisive moment came when Albany’s Rashonda Butler was fouled after scoring, missing the subsequent free throw. In a surprising turn, she secured her own rebound and scored again, pushing Albany’s lead to 37-34 with only 48 seconds left. Terrell County managed to score once more but could not overcome the deficit. Harris led Albany Middle with 18 points, while Butler contributed 10. For Terrell County, Perry was the standout with 17 points, and Kimbrough finished with 16.
Boys’ Game: A Nail-Biting Finish
The boys’ game mirrored the intensity of the girls’ match, featuring numerous lead changes and even a temporary power outage late in the second quarter. Albany Middle initially led 9-8 after the first quarter, but the action was paused due to the lights going out. Once play resumed, Albany regrouped and entered halftime with a 19-14 advantage.
Terrell County began to chip away at the deficit, closing the gap to 24-22 by the end of the third quarter. In a tense finale, the score was tied in the last minute when Terrell’s McDaniel made a jumper, giving the Greenwave a 29-28 lead with just 31 seconds remaining. Albany Middle responded swiftly, with Josiah West driving to the basket for a go-ahead layup just before the buzzer.
With only one second left, Terrell County called a timeout, but Albany’s defense effectively neutralized their final play, securing a narrow victory for Albany Middle. Laminsky Clinton led the scoring for Albany with 12 points, while Jay Lindsey added 8. For Terrell County, both Cameron Callaway and Jayon Mitchell finished with 12 points each.
The excitement of the Holiday Classic opener sets a promising tone for the remainder of the tournament, with Albany Middle School showcasing resilience and skill on the court.
