Sparkman Falls In Semi-Finals of State Basketball Tournament In Both Boys And Girls

BIRMINGHAM- The Sparkman Senators took a one-two punch and were knocked out by McGill-Toolen of Mobile in both boys and girls semi-final games in Class 7A of the AHSAA State Tournament in Birmingham.

The boys went to overtime in a hard-fought 64-61 loss to the Yellow Jackets (25-6) who came back from a 12-point deficit at halftime. Sparkman took a six point lead into the fourth quarter and held that lead until 1:34 remaining. Senior Darron Howard missed what could have been the winning shot at the end of regulation, but instead the two teams went to overtime. In the extra period, McGill-Toolen took control and a last second three-point shot by Howard to tie the game hit the back of the rim and bounced out.

“We had a great look at a 15-footer at the end of regulation that spun around the rim and went halfway down the rim and came out and I still don’t see how that ball did not go in,” said Jamie Coggins head coach of Sparkman. “It was a thrilling game and some at the game said it was one of the best games ever at the State Tournament in Birmingham. There was a four-point surge by McGill-Toolen right before halftime, which gave them the momentum and changed the complexity of the game.”

Malik Tyson led Sparkman with 14 points followed by Ellis Lee who had 13 in just 12 minutes of playing time and Howard with 11. As a team, the Senators shot a dismal 36-percent from the field compared to McGillen-Toolen’s 51-percent. Sparkman ends the season with a 30-5 record and have yet to own a state championship title in the school’s long history, though the school has posted runner-up spots in 1977, 1981 and 1997.

“We usually hit around 50-percent of our shots and we were a little off in this game,” added Coggins. “I told our players one game does not define our team, as it’s the body of work for the season and we were tremendous. We gave it our best shot.”

The Sparkman Lady Senators also built a huge lead of 11 points at halftime only to see the Lady Yellow Jackets of McGill-Toolen outscore the Senators 28-16 in the second to post a 50-49 victory over the squad from Harvest.

“They kept fighting and got the momentum, but we had our opportunities and just didn’t take advantage of those opportunities,” said Patrick Delay head coach of Sparkman. “In the fourth quarter I kept telling the girls to keep attacking the basket. McGill-Toolen made a couple more plays than we did.”

Sparkman went the last 4:26 of the game without making a field goal going one for 12 in the fourth quarter and 0 for 7 in their last attempts. The game was nip and tuck down to the final seconds when McGill-Toolen hit some crucial free throws. T.J. Webster tried a desperation three-point at the buzzer that did not go in. Derienne Black led Sparkman in scoring with 15 and Sierra McCullough added 13 points along with 10 rebounds.

This was the second consecutive year the Lady Senators lost in the semi-finals losing last year by one point to Hoover. Delay added, “The last two seasons our final games we lost by a combined total of two points. That shows our girls can make it to the Final Four, which was our goal all season long.”

Sparkman finished the season at 29-6 and just missed their attempt to get back to the finals for the first time since 2014. The Lady Senators have won three state championships in 2002, 2003 and 2007.