THURSDAY PREPS: Lanier rolls over JAG; Pike Road volleyball gets Washington 200th win

The Sidney Lanier Poets defeated the JAG Jaguars, 47-12, in an intra-city game at Cramton Bowl on Thursday. (Photos by Tim Gayle)

COMBINED REPORTS

The Sidney Lanier Poets raced out to a 27-0 first-half lead on the way to their first victory of the season, winning 47-12 over the Jaguars of JAG High School at Cramton Bowl on Thursday.

Quarterback Jacques Thompson threw for 165 yards and three touchdowns and added a finishing touch with a 38 yard scamper for a score with 13 seconds remaining in the game to lead the Poets to the win, completing the final contest between the two schools.

Lanier will be closed following the end of the 2023-24 school year and merged with G.W. Carver High School.

Jamarcus Howard was on the receiving end of all three touchdown passes with the first coming with 7:51 left in the opening quarter, a 27-yard strike. Trevon Gilmer-Berry added touchdown runs of 4 and 60 yards before Howard struck again with a 35-yard grab for a score with 9:35 left in the first half.

Howard’s third touchdown catch came in the fourth quarter from 21 yards out that gave Lanier a 40-12 lead at the 8:25 mark.

Jimmy King had the other touchdown for the Poets (1-1), a 15-yard run in the third quarter.

JAG (formerly Jeff Davis High School) got both of its touchdowns in the third quarter, the first on an 82-yard kickoff return by Quintavious Rogers.Moments later Jerome Johnson scored on an 18-yard run that pulled the Jags to within 15 at the time, 27-12.

JAG suffered five turnovers in the game, two of which led to Lanier scores. The Jaguars were also penalized 14 times for a total of 112 yards.

Gilmer-Berry finished with 149 yards on nine carries.

Tormon LaPrade and Kendarius Reynolds each had interceptions for the Poets.

Donavan Caldwell had 50 yards on 10 carries for JAG (1-2).

Lanier opens Class 6A, Region 2 play next week at Pike Road while JAG is home on Friday to face Auburn in Class 7A, Region 2 action.

VOLLEYBALL

Pike Road loses to Alexandria, defeats Sylacauga and Oxford

SYLACAUGA -- The Patriots had their nine-game winning streak snapped with a loss to Alexandria, but rebounded with wins over Sylacauga and Oxford in a dual match on Thursday.

Pike Road lost to Alexandria 18-25 and 16-25, but bounced back against Sylacauga 25-9, 21-25 and 15-6, then edged Oxford 25-19, 27-29 and 15-13.

Head coach Joi Washington picked up her 200th career win in the process.

For the Patriots, Allie Lovrich had 24 kills, 13 digs, two aces and a pair of blocks, Taylor Robinson had 19 kills and three digs, Rylie Fureigh had five kills, 35 assists, two aces and nine digs and Carolie Davis had 24 assists, five digs and four aces. Emma Davis added eight kills, a block and two digs, Brely Dees had 21 digs and six assists, Kat Wilson had 10 kills and three digs, Jada Gresham had eight kills and two blocks, Marley Gorman had seven kills, a pair of aces and a pair of digs, Lola Gorman had 12 digs and eight aces and Sydney Carr had six kills and two blocks.

Pike Road (11-2) will participate in the annual Mayor’s Cup at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl on Friday and Saturday.

Prattville Christian 3, Elmore County 0

PRATTVILLE -- Prattville Christian swept its volleyball match with the Panthers on Thursday, winning 25-22, 25-19 and 27-25 in the PCA gym.

For the Panthers, Baylee Rogers had 23 assists, two kills, four digs and six aces, Leah Cate Wilson had 10 kills, a pair of blocks and three digs and Emma Cate Carter had 10 kills, five digs and an ace. Jenna McClendon added four kills, a block and two digs, Natalee Wheeler had 16 digs and a pair of aces, Kyra Sims had two blocks and four digs, Aiden Williams had eight digs, Baileigh Seale had two assists, four digs and two aces, Paysley Bayer had a kill, a block and a dig and Brylee Byrd had four digs and an ace.

PCA (7-4) will travel to Montgomery to play in the annual Mayor’s Cup on Friday and Saturday at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl.

Edgewood Academy 3, Abbeville Christian 0

ELMORE -- Edgewood remained unbeaten with a region victory over Abbeville Christian on Thursday, sweeping the Generals 25-7, 25-15 and 25-14 in the Edgewood gym.

Haidynn Cotterill had seven kills, Lindsey Brown had 13 aces and 11 assists and Madison Martin had eight kills.

Edgewood improved to 3-0 in AA Region 1 play and will play host to Lakeside School on Monday before traveling to Macon East on Tuesday.

St. James 3, Park Crossing 0

Tatiana Shuford recorded 15 aces to help the Trojans breeze to a sweep of Park Crossing, defeating the Thunderbirds 25-0, 25-12 and 25-4 in a 6A Area 4 match in the Park Crossing gym on Thursday.

Shuford also had 10 assists and a dig as St. James won its ninth consecutive match, improving to 11-1 and 2-0 in area play.

Kaylin Corley added six aces, five kills and three assists, Ava Card had four aces, seven kills, an assist and two digs, Arden Green had three aces, two kills, five assists and a dig, Brea Ledford had an ace and a dig, Alex Mendel had two kills and an assist, Olive Maddox had a kill and a dig, Charleigh-Kate Harper had three kills and a dig, Sydney Johnston had two aces and three digs and Sana Shuford had a pair of kills.

St. James will participate in the annual Mayor’s Cup on Friday and Saturday at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl.

Hooper Academy 3, Lee-Scott Academy 0

HOPE HULL -- The Colts improved to 2-1 in AAA Region 1 play after sweeping Lee-Scott in a volleyball match at Darrell Self Gym on Thursday. 

For the Colts, Libby Bressler had 31 assists, four digs and a kill, Kaylee Midkiff had 13 kills and a block, Grace Seale had 10 kills, six aces and 10 digs, Annie Bressler had 12 kills, three digs and an assist, Henlee Garvin had nine digs, three aces, a kill and an assist, KG Taylor had six digs, a pair of aces, two assists and a kill and Victoria Hagemann had three aces, two kills and two blocks.

Hooper Academy (7-1) will play host to Lowndes Academy on Tuesday.