The Selma Times-Journal

Morgan Lady Senators’ coach Robert Andress had to shake his head a bit after seeing that his girls drew Cottage Hill in the first round of the AISA state tournament.

Especially after the Lady Senators fell to the Lady Warriors 62-46 the last time they played. But that was then. This is now.

Now the Lady Senators (15-7) are basking in the glow of their AISA 3A Region 1, Area 2 championship over rival Fort Dale Academy, and know they have what it takes.

“We are a good bit better now than we were then,” Andress said. “We’re starting to handle the ball a little better. We still don’t shoot the ball very well, but we’re doing better with our free-throw shooting, something that really helped us during the area tournament.”

Cottage Hill utilized a press defense that led the Lady Senators to turn the ball over and get the win last time, but Andress feels good about drawing them in the first round.

“Of the teams we could have drawn, this is probably our best chance if we don’t turn the ball over,” he said. “The press gave us some problems last time, but if we can break the press we stand a better chance.”

Another key, Andress said, is getting consistent play from his four seniors.

“They take turns having a good game. Hopefully they’ll all have a good game at the same time,” he said with a smile.

Tipoff for the third-seeded Lady Senators and the sixth-seeded Cottage Hill Lady Warriors is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday at Faulkner University in Montgomery.