PREP UPDATE: Catholic flag football ready for state championship game; MA sweeps Tallassee in hoops

Quarterback Jehle Dickson has led the Catholic Lady Knights to the state championship game, which will be played Wednesday at Bryant-Denny Stadium. (File Photo)

COMBINED REPORTS

Many of the key players on Catholic’s first flag football team returned for the Knight’ second season, but there was one glaring hole to fill in the lineup -- the quarterback, Andy Aiken.

Into that void stepped her backup, Jehle Dickson, a wide receiver who had filled in for Aiken in mopup roles last season. Would she be ready to handle the role of quarterback full time?

“Obviously, we had Andy and (Dickson) always played behind her,” Catholic coach Whitney Toole said. “She can throw the ball. She was young last year and has finally settled in to what we know she can do. She finally believes in herself and has some confidence.”

Dickson never thought of herself as a quarterback, not until the Knights decided to field a flag football team last year and held a tryout for potential players.

“In tryouts last year, we really just got out on the field and Coach gave us the ball to see who could throw and I was one of them,” Dickson said. “I grew up with a brother and I have all boy cousins except for one, so it (comes from) playing in the front yard as a little kid, I guess.”

But being a backup is a far cry from being the starting quarterback and the senior knew she would have to work hard in the offseason to develop into the passer and offensive leader the team needed.  

“She’s a natural passer but we worked almost every day this summer,” Toole said. “We’d work on passing -- hey, we’ve got to throw 30 good ones -- she was constantly working and I give her all the credit for that. She put in as much time as she needed to.”

Dickson remembers those workouts not as much for the physical demands the position requires but for all the mental aspects of the position. She’s not one to seek the limelight, but quarterback is a position that requires leadership.  

“It was hard, especially at first,” she said. “Especially as a quarterback, you’re the leader of the team, especially the offense. It was hard, but we just worked at practice every day and really worked on finding what we were good at and sticking to it.”

The first three games this season involved first-year programs that were no test for the Knights. As the season progressed, Dickson evolved into the type of quarterback Catholic needed to make a run at the championship. 

“She definitely has come far,” senior tailback Ann Cobb said. “Like all of us, we’ve adapted to it and gotten used to our team as a whole and she’s just throwing rockets now. She’s always been good, but she’s more comfortable now in knowing that she’s good. But it’s more of a humble confidence, it’s not cocky.” 

Dickson admits she has progressed over the course of the season “really far with the help of Coach Toole and (assistant coach) Mrs. (Christie) Binns and the help of my teammates, their support and encouragement.” As the wins piled up, Dickson went from being a quarterback that got a lot of help from the defense -- the Knights have shut out 15 of their 20 opponents -- to a leader who has transformed her offensive unit into a productive group of players.

“Jehle is a great quarterback,” said Haley Ishman, a receiver and defensive back for the Knights. “Andy was also a great quarterback, too. Having Andy leave and having another strong quarterback come makes it better. We can still be good with her on the field.”

Catholic reached the finals of the qualifying tournament last year before losing to Central-Phenix City. This year, the Alabama High School Athletic Association split the flag football programs into two classifications. Central will play Vestavia Hills for the 6A-7A title, while Catholic will play Wenonah  for the 1A-5A championship on Wednesday at the University of Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium. 

The Knights (17-3) are 11-0 against 1A-5A competition with all three losses coming in overtime to Class 7A programs. 

“At the beginning of the year, Coach Toole told us they were splitting it into two classifications and we were all excited,” Dickson said. “We were like, we know we can do this. It’s crazy to think after six months of practice we’re going to the state championship.

“It’s surreal. It’s what we’ve been working for all season. I’m hoping we can pull it off.”

BOYS BASKETBALL
Montgomery Academy 64, Tallassee 52

Playing without leading scorer Skyler Stovall due to illness, Montgomery Academy started out slow and trailed Tallassee 19-15 in the first quarter before outscoring the Tigers 37-17 over the next two quarters to pull out a 64-52 victory on Monday at Joe Mooty Court. 

DJ Vinson led a balanced Montgomery Academy attack with 16 points, 16 rebounds and two blocked shots. Freshman Jarrett Friendly stepped up in Stovall’s absence with 14 points, including three 3-pointers, six rebounds, five steals and three blocked shots. Brewer Welch was also in double figures, scoring 12 points to go along with two rebounds, 13 assists and two steals. Cole Caddell added 11 points, 10 rebounds and two assists, followed by Seth Edwards with six points, 11 rebounds and three assists.

Montgomery Academy (8-1) will travel to Millbrook to play Stanhope Elmore on Tuesday.

Evangel Christian 53, Autauga Academy 50

Will McCord hit four free throws in the final 28 seconds to give Evangel Christian the win over Autauga Academy in the Evangel gym on Monday night.

It was the Lions’ third consecutive win, all coming in the final seconds.

McCord finished with a game-high 26 points, followed by Tylon Shine with 11 points and Jordan Duncan with eight.

The Lions (4-3) will travel to Glenwood School on Tuesday, Lakeside School on Thursday and Macon East Academy on Friday.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

St. James 60, Catholic 44

Ava Card had 31 points to lead the Trojans to a 60-44 win over Catholic on Monday night in the Catholic gym. 

The Trojans led just 28-26 at the half before pulling away in the third quarter. Natalie Barton added 13 points for St. James, followed by Kaitlin Mitchell with seven and KK Corley with six.

Hannah Smith led Catholic with 19 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots. Heaven Bailey added 14 points and Joanna Marlow had 12 rebounds.

St. James (6-1) travels to Prattville Christian on Tuesday, while Catholic (1-5) remains home to play Montgomery Academy on Friday and Autaugaville on Tuesday. 

Montgomery Academy 40, Tallassee 34

Caroline Waller had 12 points and four blocked shots to lead Montgomery Academy to a 40-34 win over the 5A Tigers at Joe Mooty Court on Monday.

Kerstin Daniel added 10 points and seven rebounds and Kaci Armistead had seven steals for the Eagles. Montgomery Academy (3-5) will travel to Millbrook to play Stanhope Elmore on Tuesday.

Lee-Scott Academy 54, Lakeside School 44

EUFAULA -- The Lady Chiefs led 22-20 at the half but couldn’t hold off Lee Scott Academy and lost 54-44 in Pitts Gymnasium on Monday night.

Chloe Helms had 15 points to lead Lakeside, followed by Sophie Seaborn with 14 points, Addysen Ericksen with seven and Adalyn Helms with five. 

The Chiefs remain home to play host to Evangel Christian on Thursday.

AHSAA SUPER 7 CHAMPIONSHIPS

Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa

Wednesday

CLASS 1A-5A FLAG

Catholic vs. Wenonah, 1 p.m.

CLASS 6A-7A FLAG

Central-Phenix City vs. Vestavia Hills, 3 p.m.

CLASS 7A

Thompson (11-1) vs. Central-Phenix City (12-0), 7 p.m.

Thursday

CLASS 3A

Mobile Christian (14-0) vs. Madison Academy (14-0), 11 a.m.

CLASS 1A

Leroy (13-0) vs. Coosa Christian (9-5), 3 p.m.

CLASS 5A

Gulf Shores (14-0) vs. Ramsay (12-2), 7 p.m.

Friday

CLASS 4A

Catholic (14-0) vs. Cherokee County (13-1), 11 a.m.

CLASS 2A

Reeltown (13-0) vs. Fyffe (13-1), 3 p.m.

CLASS 6A

Saraland (14-0) vs. Clay-Chalkville (13-0), 7 p.m.