PREP RECAP: Valiant Cross falls in first-ever trip to regional; Prattville girls lose in final
COMBINED REPORTS
The first-ever trip to the Alabama Independent School Association AAA quarterfinals didn’t end well for Valiant Cross, but first-year head coach Torrey Duster wasn’t complaining.
The Warriors (5-11) are in their third year with their third head coach and still looking for their first gym, alternating practice between the West End Boy’s Club and the city’s facility at the Sheridan Heights Community Center.
“The way we progress the program, first off, is by having facilities,” Duster said. “We’ve made it this far without facilities. Just imagine how much farther we could make it with facilities. We have a good partnership with those facilities, but if we had our own and were able to spend four or five hours getting practice reps, we’d be unstoppable.”
The program pieced together a program in 2020 during a COVID year, played their first AISA season in 2021 and reached the first round of the state tournament, then advanced to the quarterfinals this year under Duster.
In its first-ever quarterfinal matchup, Valiant Cross jumped out to an early lead, fell behind, rallied late and finally dropped a 45-44 decision to Morgan Academy.
Morgan (12-9) will face Bessemer Academy on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in the Multiplex.
The Warriors took advantage of several Morgan turnovers to grab a 14-7 lead at the end of the first quarter, but the Senators scored the first eight points of the second quarter to take the lead as both teams traded baskets for the remainder of the first half.
In the third quarter, Morgan settled down and took advantage of some poor shots by the Warriors to take a 37-25 lead into the final period but Valiant Cross would make some defensive adjustments to pull back into the contest.
“We always play four quarters of basketball,” Duster said. “We’ve got some guys who just don’t have quit in them. We made a few adjustments. Instead of going with our press, we went to ‘man’ and that kept our guys from missing out with misalignments in the zone. It worked out for us.”
A Morgan turnover translated to a quick Isaac Harris basket and the Warriors’ first lead since the second quarter at 42-41 with 2:10 remaining. Andrew Thomas answered for the Senators with 1:29 left before the next two possessions for both teams ended with turnovers.
Corey Brown finally connected on a short jumper with 43 seconds left to give Valiant Cross a 44-43 lead but Rhyne Williams drove the lane for a basket to give Morgan the lead with 17.3 seconds remaining.
The Warriors then turned the ball over but got one last chance after a pair of missed free-throw attempts with 9.3 seconds left. The Warriors called a timeout with 7.5 seconds left, but struggled to get off a final play.
“At the end, as a coach, I should have better communicated that timeout,” Duster said. “I think one ref heard it, the other one didn’t.”
The loss of two seconds proved crucial as Brown was pressured on the inbounds pass and nearly lost it, taking valuable time to regain possession and pass to Harris, who tried to initiate contact with two Morgan defenders at the buzzer as he launched a wild 24-foot shot that never had a chance.
“That was a questionable call,” Duster said, “but we didn’t get it. It’s over now. It’s in the past.”
Brown led the Warriors with 11 points, followed by Antavious Jackson with 10 and Xavier Dunn with eight.
Williams led Morgan with 13 points, followed by Thomas with eight.
Tuscaloosa Academy 47, Glenwood School 45 (OT)
Walker McKee hit a crucial 3 pointer in overtime to propel the Knights to a 47-45 win over the Gators in the AAA quarterfinals at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl on Thursday.
Navelle Dean and Jaron Keaton each made a pair of free throws for Glenwood to send the game into overtime, where Lukas Holman’s 3 pointer gave Glenwood a 45-44 lead before McKee launched the game winner.
Wilson King’s basket, along with McKee’s 3 pointer, were the only points scored by the Knights in overtime.
Landon Stell led TA with 16 points, hitting 8 of 8 free-throw attempts, while King added 10.
Glenwood (18-8) was led by Keaton with 17 points.
Tuscaloosa (17-4) will face Pike Lib in the AAA semifinals on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.
Pike Liberal Arts 65, Monroe Academy 32
Darryl Lee led a balanced attack with 15 points as the defending state champions blasted Monroe in the AAA quarterfinals at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl on Thursday.
Mario Davenport added 13 points for the Patriots, followed by Cody Cross with 10 as Pike Lib advanced to the AAA semifinals against Tuscaloosa on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.
Austin Dean led Monroe with nine points, followed by Ty Busby with eight.
Bessemer Academy 43, Lee-Scott Academy 40
Samad Muhammad scored 20 points to lead the Rebels past the Warriors in the AAA quarterfinals on Thurday at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl.
The senior guard scored in just about every way imaginable, staking the Rebels to an early lead with four 3 pointers, then going 6 for 8 at the free-throw line for all of his points in the fourth quarter to keep the Warriors at bay.
Bessemer Academy will play Morgan Academy on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in the AAA semifinals.
Joseph Horne led Lee-Scott with 11 points.
GIRLS
Glenwood School 52, Monroe Academy 30
Takayla Davis scored 20 points to lead the Gators past Monroe Acdemy 52-30 on Thursday morning in the AAA quarterfinals at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl.
Glenwood will play Fort Dale in the AAA semifinals on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Anna Grace Griggs added 16 points to help the Gators, followed by Jasmyn Burts with 10.
Eve Dees led Monroe with 15 points.
Fort Dale Academy 51, Springwood School 37
The Eagles hit seven of their eight free-throw attempts in the final period to hold off Springwood 51-37 in the AAA quarterfinals at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl on Thursday afternoon.
Cahley Acreman had 13 points to lead a balanced attack, followed by Eden Skipper with 11 and Avery Royal with 10.
The Eagles play Glenwood in the AAA semifinals on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Ashlea Fuller led Springwood with 11 points.
Tuscaloosa Academy 49, Lee-Scott Academy 28
Carly King scored seven of her 12 points in the final period and Alex Brownlee added six as the Knights pulled away from Lee-Scott in the final eight minutes to win Thursday’s AAA quarterfinal matchup at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl.
Tuscaloosa will play Clarke Prep in the AAA semifinals on Saturday at 10 a.m.
A strong second quarter propelled the Knights to a seven-point halftime lead and TA still led by eight heading into the final quarter, but shifted gears and pulled away with a 19-point quarter.
Rachel Harris led Tuscaloosa with 18 points, followed by King and Brownlee with 12 each.
Mary Kathryn Harris and Sterling Tucker each had eight points to lead Lee-Scott.
Clarke Prep School 46, Pike Liberal Arts 19
Grace Davis scored 18 points and Maggie Childs added 14 as the Gators rolled to an easy 46-19 win in the AAA quarterfinals on Thursday at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl.
Clarke Prep will face Tuscaloosa in the AAA semifinals on Saturday at 10 a.m.
Lakin Harrell led Pike Lib with 14 points.
CLASS 7A, AREA 3: Dothan 45, Prattville 42
ENTERPRISE - The Lady Wolves won their first-ever area tournament behind Jayla Franklin’s 17 points. The Lions got 12 points from DeJaria Lewis in a losing effort.
Both teams advance to the Southeast Regional on Wednesday at Garrett Coliseum. Tip off times to be announced.