PREP UPDATE: Trinity, STJ Girls earn easy wins in Sub-Regionals
Trinity’s Kaitlynne Keller sets up for a shot in the Lady Wildcats win over Randolph County in Monday’s Sub-regional round. (Dylan Hurst)
By DYLAN HURST
The Trinity Lady Wildcats cruised past the Randolph County Tigers, 73-16, in a Class 3A Central Sub-regional round at Captain Jack Court on Monday, advancing the Wildcats to Birmingham.
Trinity (28-2) will face Sumter Central in the Central Regional semifinals on Monday afternoon at the Bill Harris Arena.
The Wildcats picked up their 15th consecutive victory in the process and will advance to the regionals for the fourth time in the last five years. Despite the relative success, Trinity hasn’t advanced to the state tournament since 2014, a drought the Wildcats hope to snap this year.
“I think we are physically and mentally stronger than we’ve been in the past, and these girls believe in themselves,” Trinity coach Blake Smith said. “They know the teams out there that can beat us, but we feel like we can win the moment we step on the floor.”
Trinity had no trouble advancing past the sub-regional round for the fourth time in the past five years, cruising out to a 46-point lead (52-6) at the half. Francie Morris and Maddie Smith each had 15 points to lead the Wildcats, with Morris adding seven rebounds, seven assists and four steals and Smith contributing seven assists and four steals.
Emma Kate Smith added 13 points and six assists -- giving her 2,226 career points -- with Mya Moskowitz, Lilly Smith and Anna Moore each scoring six points and grabbing six rebounds. Camron Stanley, Holland Williams, Sally Ann Lumpkin and Kaitlynne Keller all scored for the Wildcats.
Blake Smith credits last year’s team and seniors with helping to build a new future for the program.
“The team from last year laid the foundation for this group and they created a winning tradition,” he said. “But more than that, it was a work-hard-and-compete tradition, so I think it’s building off the back of that team and just taking it to the next level.”
St. James 77, Beulah 28
BEULAH -- Ava Card scored 34 points and KK Hall drilled seven 3-pointers to lead the Trojans to the regionals for the third consecutive year with a 49-point win over Beulah in a 3A sub-regional matchup on Monday night.
St. James (22-9) advances to the Central Regional at Birmingham’s Bill Harris Arena and will play Southside-Selma in a regional semifinal on Monday at either 3 p.m. or 6 p.m.
Hall finished with 21 points, followed by Hope McCain with eight points.
BOYS SOCCER
Trinity 1, Pike Road 0
Jackson Champion scored the game’s lone goal with an assist by Harrison Johnson as the Wildcats edged the Patriots in the Capital of Dreams Tournament at the Emory Folmar Soccer Complex on Saturday.
BOYS TENNIS
Trinity 7, Houston Academy 2
The Wildcats won four of the singles matches and swept the doubles to score an impressive 7-2 victory over Houston Academy at Lagoon Park Tennis Center on Monday.
In singles, No. 1 Timothy Hornsby defeated Houston Academy’s Mitchell Piedra (6-4, 2-6, 10-8), while No. 2 Samuel Treadwell beat Brody Williams (3-6, 6-1, 10-5) and No. 3 James Treadwell defeated Jason Mun (6-0, 6-2). At No. 6, Charlie Franklin defeated Landon King (6-3, 1-6, 10-5).
Houston Academy singles’ winners were Wills McRae at No. 4 and Thomas Buntin at No. 5.
In doubles, No. 1 Samuel and James Treadwell defeated Piedra and Williams 9-7, No. 2 Hornsby and Hudson Cornett edged Mun and McRae 8-6 and No. 3 Trevor Wilson and Grant Speagle beat Buntin and King 8-5.