The Lady Eagles of Calera made their second straight trip to the Final Four last week, only to face the same fate as last year, losing the semifinal game.

Calera head coach Scott Gafford had little to say after the team’s 54-37 loss to eventual 2A state champion, Mars Hill.

&uot;We did the same things we’ve done all year,&uot; he said. &uot;We just weren’t successful today.&uot;

Junior center Shanavia Dowdell, who dominated in many of Calera’s 25 wins this season, had a tough night, shooting only 7-of-32 from the floor.

&uot;I just had an off game,&uot; Dowdell said. &uot;The shots just weren’t falling.&uot;

The loss was the Lady Eagles’ second of the

year. Their only other defeat came against Oak Mountain in the Shelby County tournament.

Despite heavy defensive pressure, Dowdell still managed a team high 19 points and eight rebounds. She also had three blocked shots and two assists.

Jalisa Thomas had 10 points and three steals for the Lady Eagles.

The good news for Calera is that they graduate only four seniors and lose only one starter from this year’s squad.

Dawgs fall in regionals, make school history

Montevallo’s gils basketball team advanced to the finals of the Class 2A Southwest Regional tournament held in Mobile.

The Lady Bulldogs defeated Gulf Shores 42-37 in the semifinals to advance to the regional qualifier, the furthest of any team in school history.

Lakisha Brown had 13 points and 10 rebounds as MHS fell to Demopolis 55-42 in the finals.

Ashley Ebrahimi had11 points and Candice Fields added 10 for MHS.

Haley Dennis and Brown were named to the Regional all-tournament team.

&uot;I’m very proud of this team,&uot; said Montevallo coach Tena Niven. &uot;They will always be truly special to me.