BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — On Tuesday, five teams from the Tennessee Valley tried to punch their ticket to the AHSAA State Finals with wins in the semifinals at the BJCC.
Trinity advances past Clements in Semifinal Rematch of 2023 Finals
Montgomery's Trinity Presbyterian High School held off Clements' fourth-quarter rally, including two potentially game-tying 3-pointers in the final 10 seconds, to earn a 41-39 victory in Tuesday's 104th AHSAA State Basketball State Championships Class 3A girls' semifinals at the BJCC's Legacy Arena.
Trinity's Francie Morris fouled out midway through the fourth quarter with 12 points, including 3-of-4 shooting from the 3-point arc, with the Wildcats nursing a five-point lead as both teams struggled to score. Trinity's Maddie Smith scored a three-point play with a buckrt and free throw with 2:16 to go to make it 39-32. The Wildcats held Clements' final effort just enough to squeak out the semifinal win. "That play, that was all her," Trinity coach Blake Smith said of his daughter Maddie's play. "Yeah, I think that was the play of the game."
Trinity (25-6) advances to Friday's championship game at 12:30 p.m., with the Wildcats hoping to claim a second straight state title. Trinity defeated Clements 52-48 in last year's championship game. Trinity led Tuesday's battle 41-38 after Mya Moskowitz made 1-of-2 free throws with 16.3 seconds to go. Clements point guard Leah Childress took the inbounds pass, dribbled up court and fired a 3-pointer. It missed, but the Colts corralled the rebound and got it back to her. She tried again, but missed, and Tay Tay Farrar rebounded and got fouled with 1 second remaining. She made the first throw, but intentionally missed the second.
"We didn't have a timeout, so there really wasn't a plan," Leah Childress said. "It was a ball screen. The first look was not a look I really wanted. I got it back and it as one I could definitely make."
Smith led Trinity with 15 points, and Morris added 12, five rebounds and two steals. Moskowitz had 12 points and five rebounds. Farrar led Clements with 13 points, and Leah Childress added eight points, four assists, and three steals.
Plainview runs past Cottage Hill in Girls' Class 3A Semifinals
Plainview High School's Lady Bears didn't waste any time taking control of Tuesday's Class 3A girls' state semifinal at the BJCC's Legacy Arena versus Cottage Hill Christian. Sawyer Kate Hulgan completed a 3-point play just 41 seconds into the game, as Plainview (31-5) opened with a 12-0 run and pushed the advantage to 28-2 at end of the first quarter and 46-11 at halftime and breezed to an 81-24 win to capture a berth in Friday's Class 3A girls' state finals as the 104th AHSAA State Basketball Championships tourney continued Tuesday.
"We just wanted to make a big statement," Plainview's Lauren Jimmerson said of her team's fast start. "We didn't want to give the other team any chance."
Plainview, coached by Luke Griggs, cruised through the second half, sending the Bears into Friday's championship game against defending champion Trinity Presbyterian. Plainview will be going for its first AHSAA girls' basketball state title.
Hulgan scored the game's first nine points – two 3-pointers to go with her three-point play – on the way to a game-high 28 points. "I was just on today," she said. Plainview's Jimmerson started the second half by making a 3-pointer, getting fouled and making the free throw for a four-point play. Jimmerson finished with 17 points. Taylor Davidson led Cottage Hill Christian (15-14), coached by Brad Newton, with nine points and seven rebounds. Penny Luna added six points.
Newton noted the Warriors had never won a regional game before this season. "I'm super proud of these girls and what they accomplished," Newton said.
Plainview is trying for a rare triple championship in girls' sports, having won the 3A softball title last spring and the 3A volleyball state championship last fall. "The girls work their butts off on whatever sport they play," Griggs said.
Hillcrest-Evergreen beats Geraldine to Set up 3A Rematch with Midfield
Hillcrest-Evergreen High School boys' basketball coach Tereance Pinkney made a bold prediction after his Jaguars lost to Midfield in the 2023 state semifinals: His team would be back this season. He was right, and the Jaguars (27-3) are heading to the championship game this time.
Hillcrest defeated Geraldine 62-49 in Tuesday's Class 3A state semifinals at the BJCC's Legacy Arena, sending the Jaguars into Friday's AHSAA State Basketball Championship Class 3A title game against – you guessed it! – Midfield. The Patriots beat Sumter-Central in the other 3A semifinal Tuesday.
"We're just ready to get the job done," said Hillcrest senior Jermonte Stallworth, who scored 16 points. "It's not over yet." Added Pinkney, "It won't be over until we hoist that blue trophy."
Hillcrest won its only state title in 2006 and finished runner-up to Plainview in 2018 falling in overtime.Against Geraldine (24-8), J.T. Barlow scored 10 of his 13 points in the first half, and 6-foot-7 Trey Simpson scored 13 of his 17 points in the second half. He also had a game-high 11 rebounds, four steals and five blocked shots. Hillcrest took the lead in the second quarter and led the rest of the way.
Geraldine, coached by Jeremy Smith, was trying to win its first state basketball title since 1933. "We turned it over 15 times and they beat us on the boards," Smith said. "It's going to be difficult for us to win when that's the case." Jaxon Colvin led Geraldine with 15 points and eight rebounds and Connor Johnson added 13 points. Redick Smith had 10 points.
Play continues Tuesday at the Legacy Arena with the remaining boys' 3A semifinals and the Class 4A girls' and boys' semifinals. Classes 6A and 5A open their tourneys Wednesday, and Class 7A plays Thursday morning. Championship games will begin Thursday in Class 1A. Finals for Classes 2A, 3A and 4A will be Friday, and Classes 5A, 6A and 7A close out the 2024 state tourney on Saturday.
Deshler falls to American Christian, 58-54
American Christian Academy senior Hunter Bates made the most of his opportunity, and the Patriots will now play for a state title for the first time in school history.
Bates turn a fourth-quarter steal into a breakaway layup with 1:46 remaining in Tuesday’s Class 4A boys’ state semifinal at the BJCC’s Legacy Arena. The bucket staked the Patriots to 55-53 lead, and ACA held on for a 58-54 victory over Deshler.
“I knew the pass was coming,” Bates said. “When I stole it, all I was thinking about was making the layup. I knew (a defender) was behind me.”
American Christian (28-7), led by interim coach Austin Grammer, advances to the 104th AHSAA State Basketball Championships Class 4A finals Friday to play the winner of the DAR-Jackson semifinal scheduled for the last game of the night. It’s the first AHSAA basketball championship-game appearance in ACA school history.
The victory was especially sweet for the Patriots, as head coach Blake Thrasher watched from the stands. He was diagnosed with leukemia in late 2023, which sidelined him from his coaching duties early in the season to concentrate on his cancer battle.
“He’s a part of us and what we do,” Grammer said. “This is really what he’s built. I want us to honor him with that, highlight him in that.” ACA guard Davis Dare added. “We’re going to do it for him.” Deshler, coached by Brian Pounders, was playing in the state semifinals for the first time since 2008. Getting to the semifinals was quite an accomplishment for a team that started the season 1-6.
“We didn’t lose because we didn’t play hard,” Pounders said of the semifinal four-point loss. “The ball just didn’t bounce our way. … Maybe the next time we get down here we can punch the door down and get to the championship game.”
Eric Hines led American Christian with 17 points and 19 rebounds, while Bates and Dare added 12 points apiece. Samuel Holt scored 10 points. For Deshler (22-12), Garrett Reid tallied 20 points, two assists and two steals, and Jay Murner added 10 points and 10 rebounds. Khalil Bland had 12 points, six rebounds and five assists.