AISA QUARTERFINALS: Evangel boys, girls advance; Restoration advances

Evangel Christian’s Jeremiah Williams races past Jason Parker of Banks Academy in the Class A quarterfinal game at the Cramton Bowl Multiplex on Tuesday. (Tim Gayle)

By TIM GAYLE

Some things change, but the expectation for Evangel Christian Academy’s boys basketball team isn’t one of them

For the sixth consecutive year and the 10th time in the last 12 years, the Lions advanced to the semifinals of the Alabama Independent School Association’s Class A state tournament, thrashing Banks Academy 52-34 on Monday at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl.

And while most people consider the final four a logical step for Kerwin Washington’s team, a 1-7 start to the season might have created some doubts among some Evangel fans. 

“We’re playing the best teams in AISA, like we always do,” Washington explained. “Two years ago, we didn’t lose but one game and we beat Glenwood, Lee-Scott, TA (Tuscaloosa Academy), all those teams. Those teams help prepare us. Win or lose, we’re going to be better for it. Our record didn’t show the type of team we were when we were 1-7.”

The Lions built a comfortable lead in the first half but had to battle a Banks Academy team that launched shots from every part of the court at any time. 

“We want to do what we do, regardless of what the other team does,” Washington said. “They aren’t as structured as most of the other teams we play and we have to be disciplined in our principles, especially on defense. Tonight was a pretty good night. We held them to five points in the first half. It’s harder to play a team that’s a little unorthodox.”

A 14-2 run by the Lions in the second half gave them a 21-5 lead at the half and while Evangel was a little more wide-open with its offense in the second half, the Jets threatened to pull back into the contest with nine consecutive points to trim the deficit to 32-21.

Just as quickly, Cyrek Smith nailed a pair of 3 pointers that grounded the Jets. 

“I think when they went to their 1-3-1 full court trap, that forced us to be a little more aggressive,” Washington said. “We got some better looks. That third quarter, Cyrek Smith hit some big 3s and we always want to get our best player, Jeremiah Williams, some good looks and he got one in that third quarter.”

Smith led the Knights (12-8) with 14 points, followed by Nii Addy with 12, Kennedy Holland with 10 and Williams with eight.

Ja’Onnie Knight led Banks with 14 points.

Evangel plays the winner of Monday afternoon’s game between Restoration and Meadowview Christian in the Class A semifinals on Friday at 1:30 p.m.

Evangel girls top Heritage Christian

Even in warmups, as you watched the two teams practicing on the court, it was obvious Heritage Christian had no answer for Evangel Christian Academy’s 6-foot-4 center, Zaria Johnson.

The game was decided in the opening half as Johnson scored a pair of baskets in the first quarter, added four more in the second, and finished with 17 points and probably an equal amount of rebounds in the Lions’ 38-8 rout of the Eagles in the quarterfinals of the Alabama Independent School Association Class A state tournament at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl on Monday morning.

Evangel (11-8) will play Restoration Academy in the semifinals on Friday at noon, reaching the semifinals for only the second time since winning a championship in 2015.

“It feels good,” Evangel coach Haley Rosa said. “Obviously, we’ve been working toward this for a while. It’s been a goal of ours ever since we got ‘Z’ and Karley (Blankenship) as 10th graders. Now that they’re seniors, their goal is to win a state championship.”

Blankenship didn’t play last season and the Lions struggled to get the ball inside to Johnson. This year, with her return, Johnson was an offensive force in the paint early and was probably a bigger threat on the defensive end, where the Eagles managed only a field goal each from Katelyn Slane and Leah Lace in the first half.

That allowed Evangel to turn a 7-4 lead into a 22-4 cushion that ultimately extended to 31-4 before Lace hit a 3 pointer with 4:10 remaining in the third quarter. Lace finished with a team-high five points.

“We knew they were going to be smaller than us, but we also knew they were going to try and trap and take advantage of our guard play because they couldn’t defend us on the inside,” Rosa said. “What we didn’t expect was for Ky (Kysha McNeely) to have as many backside rebounds and putbacks as she did and really just clean it up.

“A lot of times, ‘Z’ gets so much focus, they lose track of the other ones and they are the ones that end up beating them.”

Blankenship hit a pair of 3 pointers in the third quarter to keep the Eagles from focusing too much on Johnson. The senior guard finished with 13 points.

“Having her with the ability to bring the ball up the court under pressure and be able to take care of it, it’s huge for our team,” Rosa said. “It’s huge for us in many ways. One, people are obviously going to focus on our inside game because of our size. With that being said, we need some kind of outside guard play that is going to bring us to the next level. In the second half, she hit a couple of 3s because they were so focused on our post players.”

Class A Boys

Restoration Academy 48, Meadowview Christian 14

Lorenzo Davis scored 14 points and Karder Pritchett added 10 as the Bulldogs rolled past the Trojans 48-14 in the Class A quarterfinals at the Multiplex on Tuesday.

Restoration will play Evangel Christian on Friday at 1:30 p.m.

Alan Holt led Meadowview with four points.

Heritage Christian 65, Abbeville Christian 37

Tobias Stoutermire scored 10 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter as the defending A state champs pulled away to a 65-37 win over the Generals in the Class A quarterfinals at the Multiplex on Tuesday.

Greyson Sanford added 18 as the Eagles advanced to the semifinals and will face Coosa Valley on Friday at 10:30 a.m.

Connor Hutto had 14 points to lead the Generals, followed by Jarvarse Turner with 10.

Coosa Valley Academy 68, Jackson Academy 53

Ray Albright scored 22 points to lead Coosa Valley past Jackson in the quarterfinals of the Class A tournament at the Multiplex on Tuesday. 

Konner Steele added 18, followed by Brycen Wilson with 16 as the Rebels advanced to the semifinals against defending state champion Heritage Christian on Friday at 10:30 a.m.

Dakota Baxter led Jackson’s balanced attack with 15 points, followed by Colton Sullivan and Nathan James with 12 points each.

Class A Girls

Restoration Academy 36, Snook Christian 14

Aja Rucker scored 14 points to lead the Bulldogs past Snook Christian in a sloppily played Class A quarterfinal at the Multiplex on Tuesday.

Restoration will face Evangel in the A semifinals on Friday at noon.

Lilly McGregor and McKenna Gabel each had four points to lead Snook.

Abbeville Christian 47, Pickens Academy 33

Caroline Armstrong scored 19 points and Amiyah Govan added 14 as the Generals held off Pickens 47-33 in the Class A quarterfinals at the Multiplex on Tuesday.

Abbeville will play Jackson in the A semifinals on Friday at 9 a.m.

Britney Fitch led Pickens with 12 points, followed by Lizzie Noland with 11.

Jackson Academy 42, Banks Academy 26

Anna Roberts had 15 points and Bryline Dailey added 14 as Jackson defeated the Jets 42-26 in the A quarterfinals at the Multiplex on Tuesday.

Jackson will play Abbeville Christian in the semifinals on Friday at 9 a.m.

Kayla Williams led Banks with 14 points, followed by Jalena Daney with nine.