Lady Mustangs Come Up Short Of State Title

BIRMINGHAM- The Madison Academy girl’s basketball team came close to pulling off one of the largest comebacks in the history of the Alabama High School Athletic Association State Tournament losing to Central-Tuscaloosa 68-65 in the finals of the Class 5A State Tournament. The Lady Mustangs were down as many as 22 points early in the second half only to fall just short of winning three consecutive state titles at the private school.

Central-Tuscaloosa (28-3), ranked No. 4, led 35-17 at halftime led by a 15-0 run and held on as the No. 3 Lady Mustangs outscored  the Falcons 48-33 in the second half including a fourth quarter 31-17 frenzy. Madison Academy (28-8) led the game just once at two minutes into the first quarter.

Madison Academy had 12 turnovers and hit just 30-percent from the field in the first half while shooting 39-percent for the game. Freshman sharp-shooter Libby Privett came off the bench to lead the Lady Mustangs with 17 points. All-Tournament selections Jasmine Gracie and Jaden Langford scored 12 points each while junior forward-center and All-Tournament selection Destinee McGhee, an Arkansas commit, was held to just nine points and eight rebounds after scoring 17 and pulling down 16 rebounds in the Class 5A semi-final 54-48 victory over No. 1 Ramsay.

Mary-Katherine Sanders added eight points for Madison Academy while Gracie also had 13 rebounds.

Central-Tuscaloosa had four players score in double figures during its first state title since 1996.