Spalding Lady Jags senior Shakeva Richards is not showing any fear about having to play the No. 2 state-ranked team in their gym.

Richards and her No. 10 state-ranked teammates will travel to Sandersville, Ga. today to face the Lady Golden Hawks of Washington County in second round Class AAA state playoff basketball action at 7 p.m.

Spalding defeated Crisp County 56-46 in the first round while Washington County walloped Shaw 67-27 in its first-round game.

“I believe we can beat them. We just need to handle the ball well and play good defense,” Richards said. “They’re short. There’s no one on that team over 5-foot-8.”

Richards said she will have to stay out of foul trouble and pass the ball out quickly if she’s double-teamed.

Lady Jags head coach Demetrius King said Spalding (21-6) can’t get into a track meet with Washington County (25-2).

“They are small, fast and deep. Washington County likes to press all game long and they play 10 deep,” he said. “We have to control the game and keep it at our tempo. They want to get quick steals and run up and down the court. They want to score 60-plus points.”

Spalding worked on breaking Washington County’s 2-2-1 press in practice and King stressed to his team to make good passes and take care of the ball.

“We should take the time to work our offense and make them work on defense,” King said. “We need to work the ball around until we get a shot we want.”

The Lady Jags also need to contain Washington County freshman guard Alisha Gray (#15), whom King calls “the real deal.”

A bus will be available at Spalding High for adults and school-aged children to make the 112-mile trip to Sandersville for the game. It will cost $5 to ride the bus and it will leave at 3:30 p.m. Game tickets are $7.

All bus passengers are advised to get to Spalding High School at 3 p.m.