Two-time defending Class 4A state champion LaGrange looked the part as it began another playoff run with a dominant 65-39 bi-district win over Lakeshore Thursday night.

The No. 11 seed Gators advanced to play at No. 6 Ellender in the regional round. Ellender advanced with a 39-18 win over Neville.

LaGrange (16-9) wasted no time taking control, scoring the first 14 points of the game and maintaining a double-digit lead the rest of the way. Ala’Jsa Walker and Mckenzie Shaw scored four points each in the opening run, in which the Gators feasted off Lakeshore turnovers and fast-break baskets.

The sight brought back fond memories for head coach La’Keem Holmes.

“It looked like our teams from the past,” he said. “We came out with so much energy. Focus energy, excited energy, not nervous energy. We were able to turn them over, and our best offense is when we can get into transition off our defense.”

The Gators found offense off the bench in sophomore guard Katelynn Wilson, who scored a game-high 17 points.

“She’s been coming on since district play started,” Holmes said. “There were some things she needed to work on, but she is one of our best ballhandlers and can shoot the ball.”

The Gators were able to score when the game slowed down and Lakeshore (9-15) was able to set up its zone defense.

“Zones gave us trouble early in the season, but we have shot the ball better as the year has gone on,” Holmes said. “It was just a matter of the girls getting more and more shots up.”

Shaw finished with 12 points and Walker added 11.

LaGrange has won seven of its last eight games while holding each opponent to fewer than 50 points.

Regan Ziegler led Lakeshore with 10 points. Maddie Oltmanns added nine. The Titans rallied early in the second quarter to get within 20-10, but LaGrange closed the half with a 17-2 run to put the game away.

The Gators have won 11 consecutive playoff games, including a 56-34 win over Ellender in a 2020 semifinal game.