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PAGE 6A October 2023 PAGE 7 March 2024
Geraldine Falls in Class 3A State Semi-finals
By Brandon K. Pierce The Sports Ledger The Plainview Lady Bears advanced to the 2024 Final Four, where the program finished as the Class 3A State Runner-up. Plainview reached the championship game by defeating Susan Moore 63-55 in the Northeast Regional Tournament and earning an 81-24 state semifinal victory over Cottage Hill. In the State Finals, the Lady Bears fell to the Trinity Wildcats 48-40. Trinity built a 27-17 advantage at halftime and Plainview had a slow start to the second half. Plainview’s Gracie Rowell hit a 3-pointer with 2:26 left in the second quarter, and the Lady Bears (31-6) did not score again until Rowell made another 3-pointer with 2:23 to go in the third quarter. At that point, Trinity led 40-20. Plainview, coached by Luke Griggs, cut the lead to eight points in the fourth quarter, at 42-34, but could not get any closer, as Trinity held on to win the Class 3A Girls State Title. The Hillcrest Evergreen varsity boys basketball team defeated Geraldine 62-49 in the Class 3A state semifinals on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 at the BJCC’s Legacy Arena in Birmingham. Geraldine, coached by Jeremy Smith, was trying to win its first state basketball title since 1933. "We turned it over 15 times and they beat us on the boards,” Smith said. "It’s going to be difficult for us to win when that’s the case.” Jaxon Colvin led Geraldine with 15 points and eight rebounds. Connor Johnson added 13 points and Redick Smith had 10 points. Lucas Bryant and Carlos Mann scored four points each. Cooper Johnson chipped in two points and Parker Conley had one point. Hillcreast went on the win the 2024 Class 3A State Crown with a 52-28 victory over Midfield in the state championship game.
Photo by Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
3A Boys Northeast Regional Champions The Geraldine Varsity Boys Basketball program posed for a team picture after winning the 2024 Class 3A Northeast Regional Tournament at Jacksonville State University. Geraldine battled for a 53-49 overtime victory over the Plainview Bears. The match-up marked the sixth time this season that the DeKalb County foes played, and with the win Geraldine evened the record at 3-3 this year.
Plainview Finishes as Class 3A State Runner-up
Photo By Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger The Plainview Varsity Girls Basketball program posed for a team picture after winning the 2024 Class 3A Northeast Regional Tournament at Jacksonville State University. With the win, the Lady Bears advanced to the state finals. However, Plainview fell to Trinity 48-40 in the Championship game to finish as the Class 3A Girls State Runner-up. 3A Girls Northeast Regional Champions
Lady Bears' teammate Lauren Jimmerson had 17 points in the semifinals, but was limited to only three points in the Championship game by the Trinity defense.
Hulgan finished the state championship game with only four points. However, in the semifinal game against Cottage Hill, Hulgan scored 28 points.
Rowell finished with 19 points for Plainview. She was 5-of-9 from 3-point range. Kami Sanders had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
“I looked up and we were down by 20, and I didn’t want it to end like that,” Rowell said. “I was doing everything I could. We lost by eight,
but that’s better than 20," added Rowell. Sanders and Sawyer Kate Hulgan both made the Class 3A Girls State All- tournament team.
Photo By Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
Guntersville's Jackson Porch (#14) scored 26 points for the Wildcats in the Class 5A State Semifinals. Jackson scored 18 of his points on six 3-pointers. Defensively, he had four steals. However despite his efforts, and those of his teammates, Guntersville finished the 2024 season with a 75-70 loss to Vigor in the AHSAA State Basketball Tournament. Guntersville Falls In 5A State Semifinals
Photo By Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
Plainview's (L-R) Sawyer Kate Hulgan, Lauren Jimmerson, and Kami Sanders (Regional MVP) were named to the 2024 Northeast Regional All-Tournament team. Sanders and Hulgan also both made the Class 3A State All-tournament team. Additionally, Hulgan has earned First Team All-State honors Jimmerson has been named to the North Girls All-Star Team roster. Earning Statewide Recognition
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