Pickens Co., Edward Bell, J.F.Shields Win State Titles
BIRMINGHAM—The Pickens County and Edward Bell boys won their first-ever state basketball titles and the J.F.Shields girls completed their first-ever undefeated season en route to a state crown here Thursday to highlight the third day of the 2010 Final 48 State Basketball Championships at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex.
The Class 5A semifinals took the court for the first session Thursday.
Game summaries:
Class 2A Boys Championship
Pickens County 88, Houston County 86 (3 OT)
Nicholas Stewart’s steal with two seconds left in the third overtime led to the winning bucket as he sank a 15-foot jumper just before the buzzer to lift Pickens County to its first state basketball title, 88-86 over Houston County.
The Class 2A state championship contest was one for the history books as the two teams were tied at 65 at the end of regulation, 72-72 after one overtime and 78-78 after the second extra period.
The game was still tied at 86 with the final seconds ticking down when Stewart came up with the steal and winning bucket.
Stewart finished with 17 points to earn All-Tourney honors. Deion Curry was named MVP for the Tornadoes (27-2) with 31 points on 4-of-6 3-point goals and 10-of-16 shooting overall for Coach Russ Wallace. All-Tourney selection Lajuan Doss added 20 points and five assists and Markeithton Hall had 11 points before fouling out.
Houston County (26-10) placed six players in double figures, including All-Tourney selections Tyreek Granger with 20 and Jeremy Robinson with 17. Each also had 10 rebounds. Jazerek Peterson added 12 points, Andrew Bolden had 11, Desmond Warren and Earnest Tyson 10 each.
The All-Tourney Team: Deion Curry, Pickens County (MVP); Jeremy Robinson, Houston County; Jake Mitchell, Mars Hill Bible; Brandon Burt, Sand Rock; LaJuan Doss, Pickens County; Tyreek Granger, Houston County; and Nicholas Stewart, Pickens County.
Class 1A Boys Championship
Edward Bell 66, J.F. Shields 65 (OT)
Edward Bell High School edged J.F. Shields in overtime Thursday night and claimed the Bears’ first state championship in school history with an exciting 66-65 win.
Edward Bell (27-2) and J.F. Shields (23-6) were evenly matched all the way – tied at the half at 31-31 and at the end of regulation at 60-60.
Eddie Webb’s layup with 54 seconds left in overtime gave the Bears a 66-63 lead. Carlos Castophney scored at the other end to cut the lead to 66-65. Then with just six ticks remaining the Panthers got one last chance to score, but a pass down low was missed and Edward Bell held on for the win.
Senior Damien Carr scored 24 points to lead Coach Mitch Joiner’s Bears. The tourney MVP sank four 3-pointers, was 4-of-4 at the foul line and had three assists. Jamie Edwards added 18 points and eight rebounds, Armis Holloway added 13 points and 12 rebounds and Cobe Bowens had eight points and 10 boards.
Jerterious Johnson had 27 for Shields to lead all scorers. He was 3-of-4 on treys and also had 10 rebounds. Castophney added 15 points and Christopher Rodgers 10.
The 1A All-Tourney Team: Damien Carr, Edward Bell (MVP); Jeterious Johnson, J.F. Shields; Carlos Castophney, J.F. Shields; Jamie Edwards, Edward Bell; Armis Holloway, Edward Bell; Alfred Banks, Parkway Christian.
Class 1A Girls Championship
J.F. Shields 56, Sunshine 43
J.F. Shields limited Sunshine to just 15 field goals Thursday night and rolled to the Class 1A girls state championship 56-43.
The victory closed out the Lady Panthers’ first-ever undefeated season at 29-0 as the only undefeated AHSAA team in the state, boys or girls, in 2009-10.
Tyika Robinson earned MVP honors with 29 points, including 10-of-15 at the foul line. April Montgomery joined her on the All-Tourney team with 15 points and 20 rebounds for Coach Herbert Blackmon.
Mariah Jones and Carnnisha Huff each added seven points.
Shafontaye Myers, a senior who is heading to the University of Alabama, had 26 points to lead Sunshine (23-2). She also had 12 rebounds and was a perfect 8-of-8 at the free-throw line. Lacresha Rainer added 14 points and Tia Scott had 11 rebounds. JohnQuesha Childs also had nine boards.
The All-Tourney Team:
Tyika Robinson, J.F. Shields (MVP); Cyndra Kivette, Hackleburg; Shafontaye Myers, Sunshine; April Montgomery, J.F. Shields; Tara Mullinax, Spring Garden; Lacresha Rainer, Sunshine.
Class 5A Girls Semifinals
Fairfield 41, LeFlore 37
Fairfield fell behind early, 11-2, but turned up the defensive pressure to knock defending state champion LeFlore out of another finals appearance with a semifinal 41-37 win.
Kendara Watts made two free throws with 11 seconds left and Jazmine Saxton nailed three in the final 40 seconds to seal the victory.
Saxton finished wit 10 points, eight rebounds and three assists, Watts and Krista Simmons added 10 points each. Watts was a perfect 6-of-6 and Simmons 8-of-8 at the free-throw line as Fairfield (28-8) finished a sizzling 20-of-23 at the charity stripe.
Amber Bennett turned in a super defensive effort for Coach Tiffany Frederick’s Tigers with five steals as LeFlore turned the ball over 22 times.
Leading the Rattlers (24-5) was Takayla Wesley with 11 points, nine rebounds and four steals. Ashley Myles and Shanece McKinney had nine points each.
With the victory, Fairfield coach Tiffany Frederick became one of the few former Final 48 participants to play in a Final 48 state final (with Fairfield in 2000) and now return as a head coach in a state final Saturday at 1 p.m. against Carver-Montgomery (23-7).
Carver-Montgomery 54, Erwin 51
Carver-Montgomery survived its 14-of-32 free-throw shooting performance Thursday in the Class 5A girls semifinals to beat Erwin 54-51.
The Wolverines (23-7) advanced to play Fairfield (28-8) in the finals Saturday at 1 p.m.
Coach Michelle Simmons’s Wolverines rode the strong first-half effort of leading scorer Shatavia Farris to build a 27-20 lead by halftime. Farris had 21 by intermission but was limited to just three points in the second half. She also finished with a game-high 21 rebounds.
Alondra Gray chipped in 15 points.
Erwin (23-8), making its first Final 48 appearance, was led by University of Alabama signee Khristian Lee’s 18 points and 10 rebounds. She was 8-of-11 at the foul line and also had three steals before fouling out in the final minute of play.
Dominique Patrick added 12 points and Briana Shepherd had seven points and a team-high 11 rebounds.
Class 5A Boys Semifinals
Lee-Huntsville 64, LeFlore 49
Lee-Huntsville’s relentless defensive pressure sparked the Generals to a 64-49 win over LeFlore in the Class 5A boys first semifinal game.
Lee (24-10), will play Carver-Montgomery in the championship game Saturday at 3 p.m.
Coach Greg Brown’s Generals, who knocked off defending 5A state champion and Huntsville city rival Butler in the Northwest Regional finals last week, outscored LeFlore 25-10 in the final quarter to seal the victory.
William Pride had 14 points, Josh Langford and Garland Robertson added 10 each in the win. Devin Langford, who had nine points, also pulled down a team-high six rebounds for Lee.
LeFlore (29-10) did not have a player reach double figures. Danny Woodson and Freddie Dunson each had nine points and Woodson had a game high 10 rebounds.
Carver-Montgomery 54, Wenonah 51
Carver-Montgomery (23-1) advanced to the Class 5A boys state basketball finals with a narrow 54-51 win over Wenonah Thursday in the semifinals.
The victory sets up the championship game between Lee-Huntsville and the Wolverines Saturday at 3 p.m.
Craig Sword led Carver with 18 points while Roquez Johnson had 15 points and 12 rebounds.
Wenonah (28-8) stayed close by forcing 29 Carver turnovers. Antuan Riggs led the Dragons with 19 points and Greg Henry added 10 with four steals.
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