Lanett was led by Jalen Washington and Tyizswain Jones with 19 points each and Justice Jackson with 13 points.

The Rams saw their great shooting in the first half fall to 32 percent from the floor and 16.7 percent from the free throw line.

Lanett improved to 65.4 percent from the floor and to 53.3 percent from the free throw line.

 

Central-Hayneville 62, R.C. Hatch 49 (B0ys)

The Central High School Lions of Hayneville defeated the R.C. Hatch Bobcats of Uniontown 62-49 at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome in Montgomery in the Class 2A Central Regional semifinal.

After leading 15-12 at the end of the first period, it appeared as if the Lions would run away with this one leading 35-20 at the half. But the Bobcats made a run to make it a 46-41 game at the end of three periods.

The Lions were able to regroup and pull away at the end 62-49.

“We played a great team tonight,” Central Coach Toriano Baker said. He also called the Bobcats traditional 2A winners.

“We knew they were going to go on a run during the game. So in the second half we wanted to be ready for the run, and sure enough they did,” Baker said. “We had enough gas to withstand the run and secure the victory.”

Baker said he thought his team’s guard play was better this year than last year.

 

R.C. Hatch 57, Central-Hayneville 53 (Girls)

The Central High School Lady Lions of Hayneville and Lady Bobcats of R.C. Hatch High School in Uniontown battled in what proved to be a disappointing end to Central’s season, as they fell 57-53 in Montgomery on Wednesday.

The Lady Lions (17-8) fell to the Lady Bobcats (15-9) in the Class 2A Central Regional held at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome.

Central coach Trent Woodley said his team was hurt by a couple of errors, bad shot selection and turnovers.

“Other than that we were in the game,” Woodley said. “But we missed one too many free throws.”

Woodley said he only loses one senior from this year’s squad, and everyone else will be back.

“That’s a real good sign for next year,” Woodley said.

While the Lady Lions won their area and a sub-regional match, Woodley said he wanted to go further.

R.C. Hatch coach Willie Morgan said the whole season has been “rocky” but believing is what kept his team in the game.

“The only thing I’ve got to say is my girls believed,” Morgan said.

Morgan said Alnecia Abraham, who led the Lady Bobcats with 24 points, was a key part of the team’s success.

“She’s our true leader; she’s our senior; she’s our warrior,” Morgan said.

Kendriuna McPherson led the Lady Lions with a 27-point performance while Latasha Coleman and Tia Thicklin paced the Lions with 11 points each.

The Lady Bobcats were led by Abraham with 24 points, followed by Shamonica Ward, Narcissie Howard and Marqueisha Howard with 8 points each.

The Lady Lions and Lady Bobcats fought to one-point margins in the first and second periods to set up an tight second half.

Central led 13-12 at the end of the first period, and R.C. Hatch led 22-21 at the half.

Both Central and R.C. Hatch were 4-12 at the free throw line in the first half, but the Lady Bobcats were 15-27 from the line in the second half to 6-15 for the Lady Lions.

The Lady Lions pulled out to an 8-point lead in the third period, but the lead was 41-37 and the end of the quarter.

McPherson and LaBrittany McCall each picked up their fourth personal fouls with about seven minutes left in the game for the Lady Lions, and the Lady Bobcats closed the lead to 44-42 with 5:26 left in the contest.

Abraham put the Lady Bobcats on her back and scored four straight points and a free throw to put them up 52-46 with 2:25 left.

Central’s McPherson stepped up to help cut the Lady Bobcat lead to 53-49 with 1:54 left in the game.

And with 13.2 ticks left on the clock thanks to McPherson, the Lions trailed 56-53 with a fighting chance to pull out the victory, but McPherson also fouled out.

The Lady Lions season ended with a tied up ball at the buzzer 57-53.