Both Morgan Academy basketball teams are three wins away from winning state championships.

The Lady Senators will face Northside Methodist at 6 p.m. Wednesday night, followed by the Senators clash against Pike Liberal Arts at 7:30 p.m. Both Elite Eight games will be played at the Cramton Bowl Multi-Plex in Montgomery.

The Lady Senators are enjoying their deepest postseason run in years. Abigail Lane is the team’s leading scorer.

“I am extremely proud of this group of girls for making the Elite 8,” Lady Senators coach Lebo Jones said. “It’s been quite a while since Morgan has gone this far in Girls Basketball. The girls have worked very hard and it has paid off.”

Morgan Academy reached the Final Four last season. Dione Allen said the Senators aren’t satisfied with reaching the state tournament.

Senators coach Mark Knight said the team’s success goes to the six seniors: Allen, Gunnar Henderson, Ed Williams, Hayden Bruner, Brayton Brown and Mason Perkins. Henderson, an Auburn baseball signee, is averaging 17 points 11 rebounds and 3 steals a game.

“We started working last summer to reach this point,” Knight said.  “We have a lot of leadership from our senior class which is paying dividends right now.  I have a great assistant coach in Luke Hutcheson who’s going to be an elite head coach.  Our parents and fans have been wonderful to support us and to help with anything that we might need.”

Jones expects a hard-fought contest.

“We play a very good Northside team,” Jones said. “They are big and strong. They will be tough to beat, but if we play well and execute we will be fine.”