By Cinthia Rico Area play wrapped up midway through last week for teams across the state, sub-regionals followed Friday and Saturday as teams fought for a spot in regionals.
The winners of each area tournament hosted the pre-determined area runner-up in sub-regionals, with the winning teams moving on to the regional semifinals.
The regional semifinals will be played at four sites: Northwest at Wallace-Hanceville, Central at Bill Harris Arena in Birmingham, Northeast at Jacksonville State, and South at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery.
On Tuesday, Feb. 6, Plainview defeated Sylvania 66-25 to capture the girls’ Class 3A Area 14 title.
Sawyer Hulgan led the Lady Bears with a game-high 24 points, which included 4 back-to-back 3-point shots in the second half. Lauren Jimmerson added 13 points, Kami Sanders and Gracie Rowell each tallied 8, Ali Price had 4, Zanna Ferguson added 3, and Jaxon Bruce chipped in 2.
Meredith Jackson paced the Lady Rams with 7 points, Molly Weaver, Lilley Frost, and Stormie Little each added 4; Allie Murdock, Natalie Atchley, and Jaidyn Ashley each chipped in 2 for Sylvania.
Behind strong offensive pressure, Plainview built a 34–13 halftime advantage. Despite the Rams’ third-period efforts, the Bears’ defense held steady as Plainview continued extending their lead en route to a 66-25 final.
Geraldine Edges Plainview in Double-Overtime Thriller
Also on Tuesday, Geraldine bested Plainview 72-71 in a double-overtime thriller. No strangers to each other, the Bulldogs and the Bears clashed on the court once again this season.
Connor Johnson and Jaxon Colvin led Geraldine’s offense with 16 points apiece; Johnson netted four of five 3-pointers in the opening period. Redick Smith and Lucas Bryant each added 15 points, while Carlos Mann and Isaiah Dalton both chipped in 4 for the Bulldogs.
Owen Wilborn paced the Bears with a game-high 18 points, Sawyer Wilborn added 14, Cy Traylor had 12, Landon White added 9, Ty Griggs had 6, and Owen Hope and Grant Nicolson both finished with 4 points for Plainview.
Before the two overtime periods, Plainview trailed for most of the game, as Geraldine led 22-18 at the end of the first quarter and 37-28 at the half.
In a stellar second-half performance, the Bears and the Bulldogs traded shots, tying the game on various occasions. Following a series of free throws from Landon White and Cy Traylor, the two tied at 56 at the end of regulation time.
In the first overtime, Geraldine’s Jaxon Colvin netted a 3-pointer with 59 seconds left to take the lead. A few seconds later, White answered with a FT to once again tie the game at 61, triggering a second overtime.
Plainview’s Owen Wilborn and Geraldine’s Redick Smith traded free throws as the seconds ticked away in the final standoff as the Bulldogs slipped past the Bears with a 72-71 victory.
Here’s a look at the area winners from around our region: Boys 1A Area 15 at Skyline Skyline (23-4) 44, Oakwood Adventist (11-13) 42
Girls 1A Area 15 at Skyline Skyline 70, Oakwood Adventist 40
Boys 2A Area 12 at Gaston Gaston 53, Fyffe 50
Girls 2A Area 12 at Sand Rock Sand Rock (24-7) 58, Fyffe (15-12) 28
Boys 2A Area 15 at NSM Section (16-12) 58, NSM (14-14) 53
Girls 2A Area 15 at Ider Pisgah 53, Ider 44
Boys 3A Area 14 at Plainview Geraldine 72, Plainview 71
Girls 3A Area 14 at Plainview Plainview 66, Sylvania 25
Boys 5A Area 14 at Guntersville HS Scottsboro 61, Guntersville 60
Girls 5A Area 14 at Scottsboro HS Scottsboro 52, Guntersville 38
Sub-Regional Pairings/Results
Northeast Sub-Regional Round Class 1A Girls Skyline (21-7) 63, Jefferson Christian (9-6) 20
Boys Talladega County Central (15-12) at Area 15 W: Skyline (23-4)
Boys Plainview (24-7) at Area 12 W: Glencoe (19-8) Westbrook Christian (14-11) at Area 14 W: Geraldine (20-7)
Class 5A Girls Scottsboro (24-6) 64, Alexandria (13-18) 20
Mountain Valley News (MVN) is your trusted source for weekly hometown news, serving the vibrant communities of DeKalb and Jackson Counties in the heart of Alabama. We're here to bring you the latest stories, events, and happenings, all available conveniently both online and in print. At MVN, we believe that community engagement is essential. We want to hear from you, our valued readers! Share your opinions, insights, and thoughts on our articles by adding a comment below each story. Your perspective matters, and your comments contribute to the rich tapestry of discussions in our community. Together, we can foster meaningful conversations and build a stronger sense of community. Join us in shaping the narrative of DeKalb and Jackson Counties. Your voice is important, and we look forward to reading your comments. Let's make our community news a truly interactive experience! Have a story idea or a topic you'd like to see covered? Feel free to suggest it in the comments or reach out to our dedicated team. We're here to serve you, and your feedback helps us tailor our content to your interests and needs.