PREP ROUNDUP: Smith, Jones sign scholarships; LAMP girls, Lanier boys win in hoops
Kylee Smith signed a scholarship to play softball at Alabama Huntsville on Wednesday. (Contributed)
COMBINED REPORTS
Macon East’s Smith signs with UAH
CECIL -- Macon East Academy two-sport star Kylee Smith elected to continue her softball career at the collegiate level, signing with the University of Alabama at Huntsville Chargers on Wednesday.
Smith helped the Knights to postseason appearances in both volleyball and softball, serving as the Knights’ ace the last two years.
In 2020, she emerged as the starting shortstop as a freshman, but the Knights’ promising season was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic. The past two seasons, she has posted a batting average of .455 with 16 home runs while alternating between shortstop and pitcher.
In the circle, she has 39 wins over that two-year span, along with 405 strikeouts.
She plays travel ball with the Birmingham Vipers.
She will continue her collegiate career for the Chargers and NFCA Hall of Fame coach Les Stuedeman.
PCA’s Hannah Jones signed a Letter of Intent to play volleyball at Memphis on Wednesday. (Photo courtesy of Rebecca Thomas)
PCA’s Jones signs volleyball scholarship with Memphis
PRATTVILLE -- Prattville Christian Academy two-sport standout Hannah Jones became the school’s first-ever NCAA Division I-A signee on Wednesday when she signed a letter of intent to play volleyball with the University of Memphis.
Jones has been an integral part of the Panthers’ championship run in girls’ basketball in 2021 and 2022 and in volleyball in 2022.
The outside hitter on the volleyball team and a power forward on the basketball team, she was chosen to play both sports at the Alabama All-Stars Sports Week in Montgomery in July and won most valuable player honors in the girls’ basketball game between the North and South all-stars.
PCA volleyball coach Kaylon Cantrell said Jones has also proved to be invaluable in her leadership qualities on and off the court.
“She is always working to improve her skills, not only in practice but on her own time too with extra reps,” Cantrell said. “She always encourages her teammates and pushes them to work hard in practice and in games.”
Jones went over the 1,000-kill mark early in her senior season and played her best volleyball in the 3A state tournament to lead the Panthers to their first-ever championship. This season, Jones has 638 kills, 364 digs, 74 serving aces, 45 blocked shots and 37 assists.
For her career, she had 1,475 kills, 631 digs, 109 aces, 279 blocked shots and 102 assists.
“Hannah has been such an important part of our program for the past six years, helping the program to grow and compete at the highest level,” Cantrell said. “The time and effort she put into her play, this program, and her team is appreciated more than she will ever know. She definitely leaves a legacy on campus and we are excited for her as she starts this next journey. We know she will continue to do big things at Memphis.”
Girls Basketball
LAMP 43, Tallassee 33
Serenity Griffin had 19 points and eight steals to lead the LAMP girls to a 43-33 win over Tallassee on Wednesday night.
LAMP (3-2) plays at Beulah Friday night.
Edgewood Academy 52, Macon East Academy 15
ELMORE -- Jaylyn Strength scored 13 points as the Wildcats roared out to an 18-3 lead and cruised past the Knights on Tuesday night.
Lindsey Brown added 12 points, followed by Avery White with 10 for Edgewood (2-0), which travels to Abbeville Christian on Friday.
Anna Glynn Lott led Macon East with six points. The Knights travel to Auburn to play in a tournament at Lee-Scott Academy this weekend.
Boys basketball
Sidney Lanier 71, Prattville 70
Terrance Davis scored 20 points as the Poets hung on to defeat Prattville 71-70 at Walker-Joiner Gym on Tuesday night.
Trey Berry added 17, followed by Javontae Thomas with 13 for Lanier, which edged the Lions for the second time in a week, this time with the help of a fast start and a 19-11 lead heading into the second quarter.
Tavious Hohenberger led Prattville with 20 points, followed by Kam Shanks with 19. Zion Small had six of his nine points in the second half as a Lion rally fell short.
Prattville (1-2) returns home to play host to Jeff Davis on Thursday in a 7A Area 3 contest at Powell Gym.
Macon East Academy 51, Edgewood Academy 45
ELMORE -- Jacob Wilson scored 16 points to help the Knights hold off Edgewood 51-45 on Tuesday night.
Deonte Powell added 11 for Macon East, followed by Keagan Roney with nine. The Knights travel to Lee-Scott this weekend for a tournament.
Austin Champion led Edgewood with 21 points, including five 3-pointers. Cooper Hall added 11 points, followed by Thomas Justiss with 10.
Edgewood (1-1) travels to Abbeville Christian on Friday.
Autaugaville 67, Prattville Christian 54
PRATTVILLE -- Conner Williams led the Panthers with 19 points and 13 rebounds as Autaugaville earned a 67-54 win in the Prattville Christian gym on Tuesday night.
Carson Roberson added 13 points for the Panthers, followed by Cade Segars with nine points and four rebounds, PJ Evans with seven points, seven rebounds and six assists and Collier Connell with six points and four rebounds. Brady Roberson dished out four assists.
PCA (0-2) will play host to Sylacauga on Friday night.