FRIDAY PREPS: Luverne eliminated from regional; PCA splITS IN SOFTBALL

Luverne's Khashya Richardson and the Tigers fell to Abbeville in the 2A girls semis on Friday. (Tim Gayle)

Combined Reports

Abbeville rallied in the third quarter to take a hard-fought lead, then held off Luverne down the stretch to defeat the Tigers 35-32 in the South Regional 2A semifinals at Garrett Coliseum on Friday night.

 It was the first loss of the season for the Luverne girls (31-1), which overcame a sluggish start to grab a 13-11 halftime lead but never appeared in sync. Abbeville (22-6) advanced to the South Regional finals against Geneva County on Tuesday at 12:30 p.m.  

Abbeville’s 6-foot center, junior Jamya Glover, had 10 points and 16 rebounds in her battle with Luverne’s 5-foot-11 center, freshman Nakayla Melton, who had eight points and 11 rebounds.

Bree Hardamon led Abbeville with 17 points, while Khashya Richardson led Luverne with 13.

Geneva County girls 48, Highland Home 31

Geneva County used its command of the glass to outscore Highland Home 26-8 in the second half to roll to a 17-point win in the South Regional 2A semifinals at Garrett Coliseum on Friday.

Geneva County (26-6) will play Abbeville in the South Regional finals on Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. Highland Home ends the season at 15-9.

Jordyn Alston had 25 points and 11 rebounds and Jayden Williams had 11 points and 16 rebounds to help Geneva County win the rebounding battle 45-29.

Quintasia June led Highland Home with 17 points.

St. Luke’s 51, Geneva County 37

Brandon Cooks scored 15 points and Kamerion Chambers added 11 at St. Lukes defeated Geneva County 51-37 in the South Regional 2A semifinals at Garrett Coliseum on Friday night.

St. Lukes (12-12) will play Ariton in the South Regional finals on Tuesday at 2:15 p.m. Geneva County ends the season at 19-12.

Omari Holmes led Geneva County with 11 points and nine rebounds.

Ariton 48, Highland Home 40

Andyn Garris had 13 points to lead Ariton to a 48-40 win over Highland Home in the South Regional 2A semifinals on Friday at Garrett Coliseum.

Ariton (21-9) will play St. Lukes in the South Regional finals on Tuesday at 2:15 p.m. Highland Home ends the season at 17-9.

Lawson Leger added 12 points for Ariton, followed by Isaiah Johnson with 10.

Jakaleb Faulk and Brice McKenzie each had 12 points to lead Highland Home, followed by Latregan Cooper with 10 points.  

SOFTBALL

Macon East Academy 4, Jackson Academy 2

GROVE HILL -- Miya Tatum’s two-run single gave the Knights the lead for good and Casey Stengell shut the door on Jackson to give Macon East a season-opening win in the Clarke Prep Gator Classic on Friday.

Tatum’s single in the top of the second erased a 2-1lead by Jackson. The sophomore also started the game in the circle, going 3.2 innings while allowing two runs on five hits while striking out two.

Stengell came on in relief in the fourth inning, allowing no runs on no hits while walking none.

Macon East (1-0) returned to action later in the day against Patrician.

Macon East Academy 4, Patrician Academy 0

GROVE HILL -- Casey Stengell allowed just two hits over 4.2 innings, striking out seven and walking none in a 4-0 win over the Saints in the Clarke Prep Gator Classic.

Miya Tatum, Stengell, Jamya Powell and Lathan Johnson all had a hit for the Knights (2-0), which played Clarke Prep later in the day.

Macon East Academy 8, Clarke Prep 1

GROVE HILL -- The Knights closed out play in the Clarke Prep Gator Classic by defeating the host team 8-1 on Friday night.

Kylee Smith picked up the win in the circle, allowing just three hits.

Macon East (3-0) returns to action on Monday at Fort Dale Academy.

Wicksburg 6, Prattville Christian 5

PRATTVILLE -- Payson Hanson and Sara Payton Schmidt homered but the Panthers fell late to Wicksburg in the Prattville Lions Classic at Mac Gray Park on Friday.

Alivia Messick took the loss in the circle for the Panthers (0-1).  

Brylee Byrd was 2 for 2 for PCA, while Hanson added a two-run home run and Schmidt had a solo home run. Sarah Williams was 1 for 3 with a double.

Prattville Christian 8, Highland Home 0

PRATTVILLE -- Brinkley Sailors hit three home runs and drove in six runs to help PCA to an easy win over Highland Home in the Prattville Lions Classic at Mac Gray Park on Friday.

Sarah Williams went 1 for 2 and drove in a run and Payson Hanson went 2 for 3 for PCA.

Laura Beth NeSmith picked up the win in the circle.

PCA (1-1) returns to action in the tournament on Saturday against Beauregard at 9:45 a.m.

BOYS SOCCER

Catholic 7, Dale County 0

MIDLAND CITY -- Todd Bonell scored three goals to lead the Knights to a 4A Area 2 victory on the road Friday night.

Max Barranco, Ben Chitlik, Will Belsterling and Matt Russo each added a goal. Joe Reeves had two assists in the win, while Barranco, Russo, Belsterling and Henry Skala each had an assist.

Catholic will travel to Alabama Christian on Tuesday.

Trinity 7, Andalusia 0

ANDALUSIA -- Jackson Champion scored four goals to lead the Wildcats to a 4A Area 2 win on the road Friday night.

Kirby Lumpkin, Tillman Clements and Cal Bennett also had goals for Trinity, with assists by Lawson Roth, Will Owen and Till Clements.

Goalkeeper Carter Younger got the shutout. 

Trinity (3-4-1) improved to 1-0 in area play and will travel to Houston Academy on Thursday.

Montgomery Academy 3, Enterprise 2

Lucas Rizzo scored a pair of goals to lead the Eagles past Class 7A Enterprise 3-2 on Friday night.

Rizzo scored the game’s first goal with an assist from Bobby Eskridge. Braxton Welch scored the Eagles’ second goal and assisted Rizzo on the third goal.

Montgomery Academy, competing in 6A this year based on Competitive Balance Factor, will face 7A Prattville at home on Tuesday.

GIRLS TENNIS

Montgomery Academy 5, St. Paul’s Episcopal 4

Montgomery Academy picked up three singles wins and a pair of doubles victories to edge St. Paul’s Episcopal 5-4 in a hard-fought match at Montgomery Academy on Friday.

Winning singles matches came from No. 1 Gabby Barrera, No. 4 Kareena Singh and No. 6 Marianna Lassner.

Winning doubles matches were the No. 1 team of Barrera and Jenna Chandler and the No. 3 team of Lola Campbell and Lassner.

Montgomery Academy improved to 4-1 with the win.