Coosa Valley boys, girls win in region tournament

Published 10:24 pm Thursday, February 4, 2010

The Coosa Valley Academy boys’ and girls’ basketball teams each won quarterfinal round games Feb. 4 in the Alabama Independent Schools Association Class 1A, Region 1 tournament at Southern Union Community College in Wadley.

BOYS

Coosa Valley 54, Lighthouse Christian 52

Gage Holmes hit a driving lay-up with 1.9 seconds remaining to give Coosa Valley a 54-52 victory in the quarterfinal round.

Coosa Valley used a strong second half after trailing by five at the half and three points going into the fourth quarter. The Rebels (16-9) would use this momentum to take their first lead of the game midway through the fourth quarter.

Holmes led a balanced Rebel attack with 20 points and seven rebounds. Zaid Kayyali added a double-double, with 16 points and 16 rebounds. Sam Bullen chipped in with 10 points and four rebounds.

With the win, the Rebels advance to the semifinals to face Cornerstone Christian Friday at 7:30 p.m.

GIRLS

Coosa Valley 29, South Montgomery County 25

The Coosa Valley girls jumped out to an 18-7 halftime lead and used three late free throws to lock up a quarterfinal-round victory.

The Rebels (15-9) played short-handed because of injuries and the flu. Amanda Ripley was lost to knee surgery towards the end of the season and the next two players behind Ripley both missed the game with the flu. Ninth-grader Samantha Baker stepped up and directed the Rebel offense.

“Samantha played an excellent game for us,” Coosa Valley coach Kimbo Rutledge said. “She came in and played the whole game for us and we needed every minute she gave us.”

After jumping out to an 11-point lead at the half, Coosa Valley had to slow things down in the second half as eighth-grader Kaylan Rich fouled out at the end of the third quarter and Jordan Smiley played the whole fourth quarter with four fouls.

Lauren Archer led the Rebels with 21 points and 8 rebounds. Jordan Smiley added two points and ten rebounds. With the win, Coosa Valley advances to play Abbeville Christian at 3 p.m. Friday.

Kingwood Christian 47, Morgan Academy 17

Lauren Rozof led the Lions (15-6) with 21 points and 12 rebounds in the quarterfinal round of the AISA Class 3A, Region 2 tournament at Alabama Southern Community College in Monroeville. Casey Whitmer added 10 points and nine rebounds.