By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Lady Mustangs drop tourney finale in heartbreaking fashion
web
Lady Mustangs coach Jenifer Hall huddles with her team, including (from left) Jillian Pelote, Maleece Newbill and Mallori Jenkins, during Friday's game against Sayre School. - photo by Mark Lastinger/staff
Mark Lastinger
Updated: Dec 22, 2017, 9:02 PM
Published: Dec 22, 2017, 10:02 PM

SAVANNAH -- South Effingham's girls didn't get any wins to put in their Savannah Country Day Christmas Classic stocking.

Kentucky's Sayre School snatched a 48-47 victory from the Lady Mustangs on Friday morning, sending them to their third loss in the three-day event. This setback was more painful than the others.

"We didn't play well the last couple of days, but I thought we did today," South Effingham coach Jenifer Hall said. "We just didn't have enough points."

After leading by as many as 13 points in the first half, the Lady Mustangs surrendered the advantage for good with 22 seconds left when DeeDee Wheeler canned a three.

"Can you believe (Wheeler) made that last shot?" Hall asked. "What's so bad is we got beat just like that (52-51 on Nov. 28) by Metter except (the shot) was a little farther down."

South Effingham had a chance to forge a 48-48 tie with five seconds left but Cheyenne Bosewell missed the second of two free throws to leave it one point short. Overall, the Lady Mustangs connected on 10 of 19 free throws.

Hall chalked up the narrow defeat as part of "a learning process."

"We've need to learn how to win, and we need to take pride in winning," she said.

See the Dec. 27 edition of the Effingham Herald for more details.

 

 
Effingham Step-Grandmother Gets Life for Crocker Children Murders
Crocker Case
Elwyn Crocker Jr. and Mary Crocker were discovered buried behind their family’s home in Effingham County in 2018.
Updated: Sep 16, 2025, 6:41 PM
Published: Sep 16, 2025, 6:42 PM

GUYTON, Ga. — The step-grandmother of two Effingham County children whose bodies were found buried in the family’s backyard has pleaded guilty and was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Kim Wright admitted to multiple charges, including two counts of malice murder, aggravated sexual battery, cruelty to children, concealing a death and false imprisonment.

The case drew national attention in December 2018, when investigators acting on a tip discovered the bodies of 14-year-old Mary Crocker and her brother, Elwyn Crocker Jr., who had disappeared two years earlier at age 14. Authorities later revealed the children suffered severe abuse, including beatings, confinement and neglect.

Wright is the fourth of five defendants in the case to plead guilty. Her son, Mark Anthony Wright; her daughter, Candice Crocker; and Candice’s boyfriend, Roy Prater, are all serving life without parole. The children’s father, Elwyn Crocker Sr., is the only suspect who has not entered a plea.