MA, BJHS to face off in Classic finals
Lydia McGee scored 11 of the Mustangs' final 13 points to lead Madison Academy to the come-from-behind victory over Carver-Montgomery, while also nailing the game-winning basket over Austin in the semifinals.
The Times Ladies Classic basketball tournament finals will have an All-Madison feel Thursday as the Bob Jones Patriots and the Madison Academy Mustangs advanced to championship game.
Bob Jones plowed through its competition en route to the final, while Madison Academy took the more dramatic route.
Bob Jones downed previously unbeaten Jeff Davis in the semifinals and one-loss Erwin in the quarterfinals.
Madison Academy came from behind to defeat Carver-Montgomery in the quarterfinals, and then Lydia McGee came up big again for the Mustangs in the semifinals, hitting the game-winning basket at the buzzer.
The two teams met in last year’s Classic semifinals, with the Patriots emerging victorious in overtime.
Thursday’s final is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. in the Bob Jones High main gym.
BOB JONES 69
JEFF DAVIS 42
Three players scored in double digits as the Patriots advanced to the finals with a 69-42 victory over previously unbeaten Jeff Davis.
Rikeyah McKinnon led the Patriots with 14 points, followed by Jasmine Jones with 13 points and eight rebounds.
Junior Katie Colson also had a big game, finishing with 12 points and nine rebounds.
“She’s one of those steady players,” Bob Jones head coach Tim Miller said of Colson. “She does what she does.”
For Jeff Davis, Jatoria Carter had a team-high 12 points, followed by Samantha Thomas with 11 points.
MADISON ACADEMY 45
AUSTIN 43
Lydia McGee nailed a jumper at the buzzer to lift Madison Academy to victory over Austin, 45-43, and to the finals of the Classic tournament.
“KeKe (Fletcher) made a good block,” McGee said. “I was just thinking ‘get to the rim and put it in.’”
Earlier in the day, McGee scored 11 of the Mustangs’ final 13 points to advance Madison Academy to the semifinals.
“It’s been a breakthrough day for her,” Madison Academy head coach Brian Privett said. “She’s beginning to do things we’ve known she was capable of all along.”
McGee finished with 15 points and six rebounds, followed by Amara Mayers with 12 points and Nyla Johnson with nine points.
QUARTERFINALS
BOB JONES 52
ERWIN 21
Nine players scored as Bob Jones took advantage of a 14-2 second quarter to cruised to victory over Erwin, 52-21.
After playing to a tight 13-9 first quarter, the Patriots opened the lead in the second quarter before pulling away with a 15-4 run in the third quarter.
Jasmine Jones led the way for the Patriots, scoring a game-high 12 points. Tierra Jones was next for the Patriots with eight points, followed by DeAsha Campbell with seven.
For Erwin, Keonna Farmer had a team-high 10 points.
MADISON ACADEMY 63
CARVER-MONTGOMERY 59
Madison Academy junior Lydia McGee scored 11 of the team’s final 13 points Tuesday to lead the Mustangs to a come-from-behind victory over Carver-Montgomery, 63-59.
“Lydia has turned up her focus on what she wants to be for this team,” Madison Academy head coach Brian Privett said.
McGee avoided her fifth and final foul to lead the comeback, starting with a lay-up to give the Mustangs their first lead of the half with 6:16 remaining in the game.
McGee drained a three with 2:28 remaining and then nailed a bank shot moments later.
But it was her four free throws that followed that sealed the game.
The Mustangs scored in double digits, led by Nyla Johnson with a game-high 21 points, McGee with 18 points and eight assists and KeKe Fletcher with 10 points.
Carver also had three player in double digits, including Taja-wana Russell with 16 points, Kiara Calhoun with 14 points and Pamela Allen and Shatavia Farris with 10 points apiece.
IN OTHER GAMES…
AUSTIN 57
HARTSELLE 21
BUCKHORN 54
LEE 41
LINCOLN CO. 43
ATHENS 38
BUCKHORN 46
GRISSOM 37
LEE 53
JOHNSON 47
ATHENS 44
HUNTSVILLE 30
LINCOLN CO. 63
RAMSAY 50
