Kell girls advance to state semifinals

Gilbert leads Longhorns to 52-41 win over Dalton

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Maliyah Gilbert scored 17 points to lead the Kell High School girls basketball team to a 52-41 victory over Dalton in the Class AAAA state quarterfinals. The Longhorns (24-5) advanced to the state semifinals, where they will face Jones County on Saturday.

Why it matters

Kell's semifinal appearance marks the team's first trip to the state semifinals since the 2023 season, showcasing the program's continued success and competitiveness in Georgia high school basketball.

The details

In addition to Gilbert's 17 points, Lyric Watson had 11 points and five rebounds, while Asia Thompson also scored 11 points. McKenzie Green added 8 points for Kell. Aubriyana Camp led Dalton with 19 points in the losing effort.

  • The quarterfinal game was played on Tuesday, March 5, 2026.
  • The semifinal game against Jones County is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m.

The players

Maliyah Gilbert

A key player for the Kell High School girls basketball team, scoring 17 points in the quarterfinal win.

Lyric Watson

A Kell High School player who contributed 11 points and 5 rebounds in the quarterfinal victory.

Asia Thompson

A Kell High School player who also scored 11 points in the quarterfinal game.

McKenzie Green

A Kell High School player who added 8 points to the team's quarterfinal win.

Aubriyana Camp

A Dalton High School player who led her team with 19 points in the quarterfinal loss.

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What’s next

The Kell High School girls basketball team will face Jones County in the Class AAAA state semifinals on Saturday at 1 p.m.

The takeaway

Kell High School's girls basketball team has continued its strong performance, advancing to the state semifinals for the first time since 2023 and showcasing the program's sustained competitiveness in Georgia high school basketball.