Montevallo outlasts Jemison to book spot in sub-regionals, area title game
Published 8:20 pm Tuesday, February 4, 2025
- Montevallo prevailed in a defensive battle with Jemison to seal a trip to sub-regionals in the Bulldogs’ first season in Class 5A. (File)
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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor
SELMA – The Montevallo Bulldogs had to work for it, but they are heading to sub-regionals in their first season in Class 5A after a tight win over the Jemison Panthers.
Montevallo avenged a two-point loss in its regular season area finale against Jemison to defeat the Panthers 39-32 on Tuesday, Feb. 4 at Selma High School in the Class 5A, Area 5 semifinals.
The Bulldogs will now advance to face the Selma Saints in less than 24 hours on Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 6:15 p.m. at Selma High School and either Marbury or Holtville in sub-regionals on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 6 p.m.
Montevallo came out of the gate with a strong defensive effort and surrendered just two points in the first quarter. That gave the Bulldogs a chance to grab a hold of the lead and take control of the game.
Dee Cutts kicked off his night with four points while Keiston Ross and Nahjear Russell opened their scoring accounts for the night, which gave Montevallo a 9-2 lead at the end of the first quarter.
However, the Bulldogs’ offensive pace slowed down dramatically in the second quarter. A field goal from each of the Ross brothers was all they could muster from the field as they scored five points in the remaining minutes of the half.
Jemison closed the gap ahead of the halftime break, but Montevallo didn’t surrender the lead. The Panthers scored just eight points in the second as the Bulldogs led 14-10 at the halftime break.
With it just a two-possession game at the start of the second half, both teams went blow for blow on offense in the third quarter in hopes of grabbing hold of the momentum. Buck Ross scored four points during the third while his brother Keiston hit Montevallo’s first 3-pointer of the night.
Montevallo matched Jemison’s third-quarter offensive output of nine points and maintained a four-point lead going into the fourth quarter with the score at 23-19.
The Bulldogs countered the Panthers’ balanced attack with big baskets from each of their four scorers on the night: Cutts, Russell and Keiston and Buck Ross.
Montevallo kept Jemison at bay as the Ross brothers and Russell went a combined 5-for-6 from the free throw line, and that sealed the victory to put the Bulldogs in the next round for the first time in Class 5A.
The Ross brothers led Montevallo in scoring as Keiston scored 12 points and Buck had 11 points to put both in double figures. Cutts and Russell each finished with eight points to round out the offense.
Now, the Bulldogs will look to down Selma, which is undefeated in area play, and seal a home sub-regional to kick off their inaugural Class 5A playoff campaign.