CLASS 4A SE SUB-REGIONAL: LAMP girls cruise into regional while boys' comeback falls short
LAMP’s Caitlin Russell drives the lane during the Golden Tigers’ win over Dallas County on Tuesday. (Graham Dunn)
By GRAHAM DUNN
LAMP junior guard Serenity Griffin had put her team into the Southeast Sub-Regional round with a buzzer beater against Alabama Christian a few days earlier.
On Tuesday, as the final seconds ticked off the clock in a 46-15 win over Dallas County, she was on the bench with her teammates celebrating a much easier victory.
“The game winning shot was fun but this is great, too,” she said.
The Golden Tigers reached rare heights with the win over the Lady Hornets in the Class 4A Southeast Sub Regional.
It is the second time in program history that LAMP will play in the regional tournament with the previous berth coming in 2012.
“I’ve been extremely fortunate to work along side so many great coaches here,” stated coach Michael Thornton, a LAMP graduate. “So many have brought this program along and to get to this point is the work of a lot of people. We’ve come a long way.
“Back then we were happy to be close to competitive. Now we win a big playoff game and they are in the locker room wanting to watch film on Geneva (LAMP’s next opponent).”
The Tigers made quick work of the Hornets, jumping out to an eight-point advantage in the first period and they took a 28-7 lead into halftime. They forced 17 turnovers in the half and didn’t allow a field goal until more than seven minutes had passed in the first quarter.
“We had a lot of confidence,” stated guard Arianna Cannida. “We made some stops defensively and the shots were open.”
Cannida finished with 17 points and five steals to lead LAMP on a night when a couple of key scorers had foul trouble.
“That’s been a big part of our success,” Thornton said. “We’ve had games where our starters were on the bench with five fouls and we had some of that tonight so it’s been a big part of our success that we have been able to get scoring from different players.”
Caitlin Russell and Grayson Dickert each had eight points. Griffin had 10 rebounds and five steals.
The Tigers (14-13) will make their first appearance in the regional since it has been located in Montgomery. The last time they reached the region tourney, the games were played in Mobile. They also won three consecutive playoff games for the first time with Tuesday’s win.
The Tigers (13-12) will play Saturday at 9 a.m. against Geneva at Garrett Coliseum.
LAMP’s Smith Carter drives on Titus Lanier of Dallas County during the Sub-regional matchup on Tuesday. (Tim Gayle)
LAMP boys season ends
There was plenty of disappointment on the faces of the LAMP boys basketball team as they strolled out of their home gym after 52-47 defeat at the hands of Dallas County on Tuesday.
But there was a sense of satisfaction considering where the program was back in October when new coach Robb McGaughey welcomed a new team complete with very little varsity high school experience.
It made Tuesday’s loss a little easier to swallow.
“One player back from last year… no starters. That’s how this season started for us,” McGaughey said. “It has been difficult at times but you can see the improvement every time we play.”
The Golden Tigers will not play in the Class 4A Southeast Regionals after the loss to Dallas County. But they almost pulled off another epic comeback and would have with a couple of made free throws.
After earning a berth in the sub-regionals on a half-court shot at the buzzer to beat BT Washington-Magnet last week, the Tigers fought their way back from a 14-point second-half deficit with a chance to tie with less than a minute remaining.
But a couple of turnovers and two missed free throws with 34 seconds left ended the opportunity for a victory.
“Make a free throw here or there or convert after one of their turnovers and we are in position to win without those mistakes,” McGaughey said. “At the first of the season, we don’t put ourselves in position to win the game. But we have learned to fight our way back and you saw that tonight.”
LAMP began the comeback with a three pointer followed by a steal and layup by Smith Carter that cut the Hornets’ lead to six with three minutes left.
Jezreel Fishoe added a 3-pointer with 1:22 remaining that cut the Dallas County lead to 47-45.
LAMP pulled to within a point on two Fishoe free throws but the Tigers finished the game with three empty possessions that included two turnovers and two missed free throws. Tavious Hohenburger added to the Hornets’ lead making 3-of-4 free throws for the final margin.
The Tigers finished the season with a 5-20 record but McGaughey admitted that had anyone asked him prior to the season how many games his team would win, that number would be a surprise.
“You take a step back and study how this season went, it’s hard to be disappointed,” McGaughey said. “We are Area champs and you can’t tell me that’s not significant. I am proud of what this group has accomplished.”
Fishoe finished with 19 points to lead the Tigers. Carter added 11 points. Josh Davis led Dallas County (13-12) with 16 points.