By Blake Deshazo

The Selma Times-Journal

Morgan Academy’s Sawyer Hopkins blocked a last attempt shot from Lowndes Academy to tie the game and send it into a second overtime, giving the Senators their third win of the season and a 3-3 record.

“That’s the best defensive effort that we’ve given all year, and that’s what ended up winning us the game,” said Jacob Lyon, head coach of Morgan Academy. “We drill defense every day, and that’s what it turned into. It turned into a real half court game, and that’s not the way I would like it to be, but we had confidence in our guys.”

Nine points in the first quarter from Morgan’s Harrison Adams helped put the Senators in a rhythm, but critical shots from Lowndes’ Wade Howard and Cody Harrell gave the Rebels a 12-9 lead to end the first.

With the Rebels only scoring seven points in the second quarter, the Senators would take a 22-19 lead into the locker room thanks to big shots from Adams and Woodham Kemmer.

“I had a ton of confidence in our guys,” Lyon said. “We have not worked a ton of in-game stuff, but I knew that they were going to be able to handle it because they’re so tough, and we play so hard.”

Lowndes opened up the third quarter with a five-point run that put them up 24-22 with under five minutes remaining in the period.

Hopkins ended a third quarter drought for the Senators with a two-point shot that tied the game at 24.

“It was a game of runs, and they made some shots down the stretch that they needed to make,” said Matt Marshall, Lowndes Academy head coach. “I don’t feel like they beat us, as much as I think we gave the game away.”

The Senators were down for most of the fourth quarter until John Ross Bones was fouled in three-point territory. Bone made two of three free throws to tie the game once again. Free throws balanced the scoreboard back and fourth until David Hussey missed a shot and the game went into overtime. Coach Lyon said it was time for his guys to tough it out.

“We broke [the huddle] on tough because were knew we were tough,” Lyon said. “We had been playing nine guys, and they had only been playing six, so I had confidence that if it came down to the end, our guys were going to make the play.”

With the Morgan Academy student section chanting, “I believe that we will win,” the Senators pulled it off. Woodham Kemmer scored the final two points that put the Senators on top 46-44, and Hopkins blocked Lowndes Academy’s only hope of keeping the game alive.

 

Lowndes 55, Morgan 

Academy 33 (Girls)

The Lowndes Academy girls’ team remained unbeaten after a 55-33 victory over Morgan Academy.

“We’re starting to come around and gel a little bit,” said Jeff Lovell, head coach of Lowndes. “It’s still early, so we definitely don’t want to be playing our best basketball, but overall a good win.”

Six points in the first quarter from Morgan’s Emily Sherrer kept the Senators in the game early, but the Rebels would lead 12-10 after the first period.

“I told them that we’re going to play four quarters no matter what and see how it turns out,” said Jeremy Carter, Morgan Academy’s head coach. “I like the enthusiasm. The kids are playing hard, and that’s what we want.”

A combined twelve points in the second quarter stretched the Lowndes lead to 24-15.

“We played really good defense, and that’s the backbone of this team,” Lovell said. “We can play offense well when we want to, but we really rely on our defense to get turnovers to help us get some of those cheap baskets.”

Lowndes Academy’s offense exploded for 15 points in the third quarter to give the Rebels a 39-15 lead, while Morgan’s struggled to put up points. Khaki Saston would score 11 of the Rebels’ 15 in the third. The Lady Senators continued to fight back, but the post game from Saston and Abbi Ray proved to be too much.

The two combined for 12 points in the fourth quarter to give Lowndes Academy an easy victory, 55-33.