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By Fred Guarino
The Lowndes Signal
Things did not turn out exactly the way Lowndes Academy hoped in the final round of the AISA Class A, Region 2 Tournament in Selma on Saturday.
The Lowndes Academy Rebels got things started avenging a 69-54 regular season loss to Patrician with a 55-49 victory in the consolation game of the regional tournament played at Wallace Community College Selma.
The win earned the Rebels the third seed in the Elite 8 AISA Class A state tournament at the Crampton Bowl multiplex in Montgomery at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
However, the Lady Rebels were unable to avenge a 56-46 loss to Patrician in the regular season for their only regional loss, falling by 2 points to Patrician 43-41 in the championship game of the regional tournament on Saturday.
The Lady Rebels finished runners-up in the regional tournament and will be the second seed in the Class A state tournament on Tuesday and will play at 12 noon.
In Saturday’s contest, the Rebels were led by David Hussey, who was named to the All Regional Tournament Team, with 19 points, John Taylor with 11 points and Wade Howard with 10 points.
Taylor made six of seven free throws for 86 percent while the team made 17 of 24 free throws for 71 percent to help secure the victory.
The Rebels enter the state tournament at 4-5 in regional play and 8-13 overall.
“It was truly a team win,” said Rebels head basketball coach Matt Marshall. “We’ve been wanting team all year… today was team. Everybody did their part,” Marshall said.
“I’m so proud of these guys,” he concluded.
The Lady Rebels placed two players on the All Regional Tournament Team, including Carmen Till and Abby Ray, and they finished as runners-up in the tournament… just two points shy of a regional title.
But tears on the faces of some of the girls Saturday, reflected their disappointment.
The Lady Rebels, who were led by Taylor King with 12 points, Ray with 8 points, and Makala Pierce and Sarah Anna McIntosh with 6 points each, will enter the AISA Class A state tournament with a 16-5 overall record and 6-2 regional record.
Lady Rebels head basketball coach Jeff Lovell said, “I thought we played our guts out. We just missed some easy shots early on.” He said Patrician also missed some shots, but they made then when it counted.
Lovell said, “Our effort was there. We played hard enough to win and sometimes it’s just not your night.” However, he acknowledged that his Lady Rebels still have a shot at a state title.
The Rebels include: Hussey, Brian Rayburn, John Franklin, Howard, Alex Thrash, Garrett Little, Tyler Huston, Daniel Callaway, Jesse Foley, Taylor, Brady Eiland, Landon Hooper and Chase Little.
The Lady Rebels include: Mattie Ann Nall, Hannah Rogers, Laiken Hussey, Madolynn Headley, Helen Oglesby, Pierce, McIntosh, Kaitie Ray, Hannah Claire Till, King, Carmen Till, Laura Jean McCurdy, Morgan Renfroe, Abby Ray and Emily Dunning.