A lot was on the line Thursday night as Alabama Christian and LAMP played for the 4A Area 5 championship. ACA was trying to win the title for the second year in a row, which hadn’t been done since 2010, and LAMP was shooting for its first Area championship in program history. Also, both teams were hoping to avoid the 90 minute road trip, if they lost, for the Sub-regional round.
Both teams were tight early and it took almost two minutes for either team to score a basket. Once the offense settled in, the Lady Eagles connected on four 3-pointers in the first period and took a 14-8 lead after one. Alabama Christian led by as many as thirteen points in the second quarter as Rachel Rine gave the Eagles a 30-17 lead late in the half. LAMP scored the last four points of the period and trailed 30-21 at the half.
ACA looked tired in the third quarter while LAMP had more energy coming out of the locker room. In one stretch, the Eagles did not score for over five minutes and LAMP built a 37-32 lead with 1:38 left in the quarter. The Golden Tigers took a 44-36 lead into the fourth as they outscored ACA 23-6 in the quarter. Alabama Christian’s starting five played the vast majority of the game and the fatigue showed in the second half.
The Lady Eagles still trailed by eight with 1:59 left in the game when they made a furious comeback fueled by determination and adrenaline. Rachel Rine hit one of three free throws to cut the lead to 45-52. After an Izzy Warrick steal, Annabelle Pugh was fouled with 1:38 on the clock as she tried to score after an offensive rebound. Pugh hit one of two free throws, but Jaide Newkirk rebounded the miss and scored to cut the lead to 48-52. LAMP missed the front end of a one and one with 1:13 left. Rine threw the ball the length of the court and found Warrick for a layup to make the score 50-52 with 1:05 left. The Golden Tigers missed another one and one opportunity and fouled Warrick with 38.1 seconds remaining. Warrick hit one of two and the lead was cut to one. After an Eagle foul, LAMP hit one free throw for a two point lead. Newkirk was fouled with 29.3 seconds left and hit both free throws to tie the game, 53-53. With 5.6 seconds left, ACA fouled LAMP, but the visitors missed both free throws, but the ball was knocked out of bounds with 2.2 seconds left. LAMP scored on the inbound play as the buzzer sounded and took home the title with a 55-53 win over the Eagles.
Rachel Rine scored a season high 26 points with 5 rebounds and four assists. Campbell Hammett scored 11 points with five boards while Izzy Warrick had eight points and seven rebounds and Jaide Newkirk had seven points and nine rebounds.
Alabama Christian will travel to Bibb County on Monday, February 14th, for the Sub-regional round of the playoffs.