“Transition is our strong suit,” Eagles coach Pina Baker said. “We have the confidence that if we can get out and run we can be successful.”

Success for Enloe came in the form of numerous Dana Brown and Mykia Jones layups. The two guards combined to score 40 points – Brown with 22 and Jones with 18.

The Jaguars had no answer defensively.

“Enloe is as good as any team we’ve played all year in transition,” Athens coach Chris Danehower said. “We were getting back, we just weren’t watching the ball and they took it to us.”

On the defensive end, the Eagles’ focus was clear as well – contain Jags center Keisha Gatling. The 6-foot-4 senior scored a career-high 27 points Wednesday in Athens’ second round win over Wakefield.

“We knew our help defense would be critical in this game,” Baker said. “It was important for us to sag in on Gatling when she got the ball, and we did that.”

Gatling still managed to score 14 against a swarm of Enloe defenders surrounding her every time she touched the ball, but she wasn’t nearly as effective as she was against the Wolverines.

Junior guard Lainey Childrey led the Jags in scoring with 19.

“You don’t shut a player like Gatling down completely,” Baker said. “We knew she would get her points. Our plan was to neutralize her and make it tough for her on every possession.”

The Eagles did just that and led by seven at halftime, before pushing their lead to 17 by the end of the third quarter.

They slowed it down with the big lead in the fourth quarter and cruised to the win.

“They beat us on both ends of the court,” Danehower said. “Maybe our legs were just dead. I don’t know. But tonight was not our night. They were more aggressive than we were. They got to every loose ball.”

The Lady Jags will lose three players to graduation – but all three were starters for the last two years.

Gatling, Rachel Collins and Brittiany Joyner won’t easily be replaced.

Gatling shot better than 70 percent from the field in her final season with Athens.

Athens lost five games this year to only three different teams – the other two being Green Hope (three times) and Southeast Raleigh, which also advanced to the 4-A girls basketball East Regional.

Despite the sun setting on the 2009-10 year, Danehower was pleased with the way his squad competed till the end.

“Our girls didn’t quit,” Danehower said. “They played hard to the end of the game. Even though they were tired they fought. I’m proud of the way they played.”