By Robert Griffin

Sports Writer

The LaGrange Grangers are getting their fill of tight ballgames.

The Grangers’ past three game

s have all been tied at the end of regulation, including Wednesday’s home showdown against Auburn High (Ala.).

The previous two overtime games against Troup and Northside each were decided on penalty kicks, with the Grangers winning both games.

Since Auburn isn’t a region foe, Wednesday’s game didn’t go to overtime, so it ended in a scoreless tie.

“The kids at this point in time are playing at an extremely high level,” Granger head coach Keita Placide said. ” It’s actually now starting to come together for us, and I believe that right now with the type of team that I have right now, we believe we have a chance in the state playoffs.”

The Grangers did have their chances to score, but it was not to be.

Three times during the second half the Grangers had breakaway scoring opportunities, only to see their shots rejected by different parts of the goalposts.

“These kids are generating all of their opportunities,” said Placide. “You can’t deny that we are playing well, we just have to learn to do the correct things when we are in front of the goal, the fundamentals, and finish off the goals. We are playing phenomenally, and at a very high caliber.”

The Grangers secured the region’s second see with Tuesday’s win over Northside.

The game was tied after regulation and two overtime periods, and the Grangers won it 3-1 on penalty kicks.

In regulation, James Hutton scored the first goal, and Paul Hutton scored the second one.

The Grangers will have a few days of rest and practice to perfect their game before starting the Class AAA state playoffs next week.

Thanks to their second-place finish in Region 2-AAA, they’ll be at home for that first-round test.

The Lady Grangers didn’t have quite the outing that they were looking for as they faced off against Region 2-AAA foe Columbus Lady Blue Devils.

The Lady Blue Devils kept the tempo of the game with great ball movement and passing, and at the end of the first half the Lady Grangers found themselves down 1-0.

In the second half, the Lady Grangers gave up four goals and lost 5-0.

“We started out pretty good,” Lady Granger head coach Rusty Cook said. “We came out hard, and really thought that we could play a good game against them, and come out and have a chance to win. It was one to nothing at the end of the half, and then we just lost it at the end.”

The loss is the second region loss for the Lady Grangers and puts them at third place in Region 2-AAA going into to next week’s state playoffs.

The Lady Grangers will be on the road for the first round.