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By Fred Guarino

The Lowndes Signal

The Lowndes Academy Lady Rebels fell to Macon East 55-40 Saturday at Macon East and will be the second seed from Class AA Region 1 in the AISA Elite 8 basketball Tournament.
The Lady Rebels finished as runner-up in the AISA Class AA Region 1 Tournament played at Macon East.
Hannah Rogers scored nine points and Abby Ray scored 17 points for Lowndes.
And Rogers and Ray were named to the Class AA Region 1 All-Tournament Team.
The Lady Rebels will play Choctaw at 6 p.m. on Wednesday in the Elite 8 Tournament at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery .
Lowndes Academy Lady Rebels head basketball coach Jeff Lovell said, “We came out a little bit flat. I’m not going to blame it on officiating. I felt things didn’t go our way. We got in foul trouble early. Obviously, we’re not very deep, and I think that was part of their game plan, and it worked.”
Lovell said, “We didn’t make some shots here and there. We battled, we fought back in the ballgame. We just could never get a run. Every time we had a run, they had an answer. That’s a sign of a good team. They’re well coached. Hat’s off to them.”
He said Abby Ray being hurt handicapped the team a little. But he said her efforts to play hurt were beyond comprehension.
Lovell said, “She’s playing with a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament)…” He also said Ray will play in the Elite 8 Tournament for the state Class AA basketball championship if she can. “We’ll get it evaluated and see where she’s at.”
The ACL helps stabilize the knee joint.
Earlier Saturday, the Lowndes Academy Rebels varsity boys fell to Restoration 62-58 at Macon East Saturday and will be the fourth seed from Class AA Region 1 in the AISA Elite 8 basketball tournament.
John Taylor and Jon Johnson scored 16 points and Wade Howard scored 17 points. John Taylor was named to the Class AA Region 1 All-Tournament Team.
The Rebels will play in the Elite 8 Tournament at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.

In other Lowndes County basketball action Saturday:

The Central High varsity boys defeated Calhoun at Calhoun 87-84 in overtime Saturday night.

Keno Davis scored 23 points, Malek Hill scored 15 points, Diamonta Johnson scored 15 points, Rowonn Rasberry scored 13 points and David Baldwin scored 10 points.

Calhoun head. basketball coach Derrick Powell said of Saturday’s game with Central, “We went into overtime time at 78.” However, he said, “We had crucial turnovers, and they hit some crucial shots. We have a lot of growing to do along with learning fundamental basketball skills.”

Demarco Jiles led Calhoun with 22 points, followed by Jerdarrian Davison with 14 points, Jaren Malik Davison with 12 points and Le Darius Maull with 10 points.

The Central High Lady Lions also defeated the Calhoun Lady Tigers at Calhoun 58-35 Saturday night, as well.

Calhoun’s Toni Young scored 23 points in the game.