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By Fred Guarino
The Lowndes Signal

The Lowndes Academy Rebels and Lady Rebels took it on the chin in the finals of the Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) Class AA Region 1 Tournament, Saturday night, Jan. 27, but both teams earned second seed status in the AISA Class AA Elite 8 Tournament salted to start in Montgomery on Wednesday, Jan. 31.

The Lowndes Academy Rebels fell to Macon East Montgomery Academy 63-34.
The Rebels were led by Kason Williams with 11 points, Jon Johnson with 9 points, Garrett Little with 7 points, Moseley Higgins with 4 points and Jesse Foley with 3 points.
Named to the Boys All-Tournament Team were: Emmanuel, Andrew Marcum; Autauga, Kendrick Rogers; Lowndes, Jon Johnson and Moseley Higgins; Macon East, Kyle Edwards, Logan Goree and MVP Mike Murry.
The Lady Rebels, who fell to Autauga 42-22, were led by Hannah Till with 9 points, Madolynn Headley with 6 points, Hannah Rogers and Laiken Hussey with 3 points each.
The Girls All-Tournament Team included: Emmanuel, Carley Cook; Macon East ,Madisyn Kennedy; Lowndes, Laiken Hussey and Madolynn Headley; Autauga Faith Petrunic, Tae Washington and MVP Katie White.
The Lowndes Academy Lady Rebels will play at 6 p.m. and the Rebels will play at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the AISA Class AA Elite 8 Tournament.
Lowndes Academy Lady Rebels head basketball coach Jeff Lovell said his team stated this season 1-8 and rolled off about eight straight wins.
But he said in the finals of the Class AA Region 1 Tournament Saturday, his team ran up against a team in Autauga that played harder and was a little more prepared.
But he said, “I like our chances going into the Elite 8.” He said, “One game doesn’t define you, and I think this helps us.”
He said his team was blessed to be where it is with two seniors and having lost 75 percent of its scoring last year in Abby Ray.
But he said, “I’m proud of this team… where they’ve come and what they accomplished.”
While he said his team has several players who score, he said Madolynn Headley and Laiken Hussey stood out.
Lowndes Academy Rebels head basketball coach Matt Marshall said his team’s season is not over yet.
He said he wouldn’t say his team played its best against Macon East, but did a good job defensively. “They’re a good team (Macon East)… absolutely a good team.”
He said, “We’ve had a great season, in my opinion, and we’ll see what we do next Wednesday.”

In other Lowndes County basketball action:

The Central High School varsity boys fell to Calhoun at home Saturday, Jan. 27 by a score of 88-82. However, the Central varsity girls defeated the Calhoun Lady Tigers 61-57.

In an epic battle, according to Calhoun head basketball Ervin Starr, the Calhoun varsity boys jumped out to 26-18 first period. But the Lions batted back to tie the game 41-41 at the half.
With Calhoun leading 69-63 after three periods, the Tigers held on for the 88-82 victory.

Starr said Calhoun is 4-1 in area play followed by Central and Goshen at 3-2 and Luverne is 0-5.
Central will travel to Goshen on Tuesday, Jan. 30.
Calhoun will travel to Luverne on Tuesday, Jan. 30.