Tuscaloosa Academy outscored Morgan Academy 13-2 in the third quarter and pulled away to win the Alabama Independent School Association’s junior varsity boys’ basketball championship Saturday night at Morgan Academy.

The Knights and Senators went into halftime tied 23-23, but the third quarter was all Tuscaloosa. Tuscaloosa went on a 13-0 run to end the quarter and used the momentum to pull away in a 55-48 win.

Dae Dae Russell scored nine points in the final quarter and Ed Williams made a 3-pointer to get the Senators within 10, but Tuscaloosa held Morgan off to win the title. The loss ended the Senators (11-2) eleven game winning streak. Morgan began the year with a loss to Tuscaloosa too, but the Senators season won’t end with the loss.

Morgan still has games next week.

“Life isn’t all wins and the big ones like this hurt the worst when you drop them,” said Morgan Academy head coach Lee Tate. “But this is a tough team. They are resilient and they have three games next week, and they’ll show up for all three of them.”

Tuscsaloosa’s William Hamiter was named the tournament MVP after scoring 21 points in the championship game. Hamiter scored eight of his points in the final quarter, including back-to-back layups that pushed the lead to 50-37 with just over two minutes to play.

Morgan’s Hardin Utsey, who scored 12 points in the championship game, and Mason Perkins, who scored six points, were named to the all-tournament team.

The Senators won games against Lee-Scott and Autauga Academy to get to the championship game. Here are the results from those games:

 

Morgan 43, Lee-Scott 41 (Boys)

After a back and forth game, Morgan Academy rallied late to open the AISA state tournament with a 43-41 victory over Lee-Scott.

Morgan’s Dae Dae Russell made a layup with 28 seconds left to give the Senators a 42-41 lead. Two steals and a free throw by Micah Pitts helped seal the day for the Senators, who advanced to the semifinals of the tournament.

The Senators trailed late 41-40 after Lee-Scott’s Tyler Barnes made a 3-pointer on an inbounds play with only 48 seconds left. Morgan didn’t panic and Russell, who scored all eight of his points in the second half, made the game’s biggest play in the final minute.

“That was fun to watch,” said Morgan Academy head coach Lee Tate. “I would’ve paid money to watch that one.”

The game was back and forth the entire way, with neither team leading by more than five at any point. Lee-Scott’s Sam Aldridge scored 21 to keep his team in it, including tying the game up three times in the fourth quarter after Morgan had gained control.

“They weren’t going to get beat. They never felt like they were going to get beat,” Tate said. “They weren’t going to quit fighting and played harder every quarter.”

Mason Perkins led the Senators in scoring with 11 points and Micha Pitts had seven points. Hardin Utsey scored all five of his points in the first quarter, but did most of his work on the boards.

 

Morgan 54, Autauga 43 (Boys)

Morgan Academy had an easier time Saturday in the tournament semifinal against Autauga Academy.

Ed Williams exploded for 24 points in the game as the Senators blew out Autauga 54-43 and moved on to the state championship game against Tuscaloosa. Hardin Utsey scored 13 points for the Senators, who led by as much as 16 in the third quarter before the Generals made a late run.

 

Tuscaloosa 30, Morgan 24 (Girls)

Morgan Academy’s girls lost in the first ronud of the tournament to Tuscaloosa Academy 30-24.

No stats were available for this game.