Final of Class 5A Girls: Scottsboro meets beyond No. 1 Ramsay for the first state title

Isabella Nelson of Scottsboro had just taken her team inside a bucket in the opening series of the final period when her teammate Morgan Perkins intercepted a pass in the resulting internal game.

Without hesitation, Perkins overturned Bree Sexton for an easy tray and a draw game.

“You look up and see that you have 8 more minutes left of the high school,” Sexton said. “Give everything because you have nothing to lose.”

The 3 Big 3 for Scottsboro would force at least one more robbery in the diminishing minutes and the second classified Wildcats took advantage of each billing to meet for a 54-53 victory over No. 1 Ramsay in the Class 5th State Championship game on Saturday at the BJC Legacy Arena de BJCC.

“I am very proud of these girls,” said Scottsboro coach Brandon Childers. “We worked very hard for this, we were so close last year and we had the opportunity to return. Everything has to fall in place. Only a roller mountain game could not be more proud of our effort. “

Ramsay fought to resume the advantage in 47-43 in consecutive baskets after Sexton had knotted the score, but Scottboro (29-5) kept the Rams in a single field goal in the last 6:26 of the game.

Sexton forced a robbery after a council of Camilyah Rowe and Perkins called home a triple to reduce the advantage to a single point. Nelson scored the advance tray in the next possession of Scottsboro and turned his own robbery into a field goal made to give the Wildcat a 50-47 advantage with 5:09 remaining.

“We got into a routine, offensively, in the third quarter, and we had to risk,” Childers said. “The presentation of the area like the crazy, risk and worked. I got some robberies and pick-2, they obtained the energy and return leadership. ”

Rowe reduced the advantage to a single point in the final goal goal made by Ramsay, but Perkins and Sexton took the advantage of Scottsboro to 54-49 with a little more than a minute to play.

Nayla Wesley and Mayliyah Green de Ramsay were a combined 3 of 4 in free throws in the final minutes, cutting the deficit at 2 points, and Nelson committed a foul with 5 remaining 5 seconds to give Breonna Williams the opportunity to tie the game on the free shock line.

“That was my main concern was extra time,” Nelson said. “I trusted the team and knew they could do anything. I just put all my confidence in them. “

Williams turned his second attempt to reduce the advantage to 54-53, but the free kick made allowed Scottsboro to take possession and ensure his first state championship in the history of the program.

Ramsay (29-8) continued during most of the first half, since Sexton and Perkins combined to score 17 of the 24 points through the 5:33 mark of the second period, but Kayden can nail a triple, followed by a couple of free throws, to attract the Rams in the mid-6 points in the middle of the quarter. McKenzie Davis caused an 8-0 race to close half and Ramsay reduced the advantage to 30-28 in half-time rest.

The Rams slowly built an advantage of 33-30 in the third period and did not allow a scottsboro field goal until they were 2:56 in the room. Ramsay responded with a 6-0 race, moving towards an advantage of 39-33, but Nelson knocked down a triple of the last second when the Wildcats reduced the advantage to 43-39 at the end of the third.

Game star: Nelson. The Senior eaves recorded a double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. He added 5 assists, 4 blocks and 3 robberies. Nelson also knocked down a triple at the end of the third period, pulling Scottsboro in a couple of possessions, and scored the advantage tray after gathering the Wildcats in the final period.

Statistics sheet: Scottsboro -Sexton finished tied for a maximum of 15 points and had 4 rebounds and 4 robberies. Perkins had 11 points, 4 assists and 4 robberies and Caroline Dawkins added 4 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists. Abigail and Tatum Shelton combined for 8 points and Mia Martin had 3 points and 2 rebounds. Ramsay -Wesley produced a double with 15 points and 10 rebounds and added 4 assists, 5 blocks and 2 robberies. Davis had 14 points, followed by Rowe with 9 points, 10 rebounds, 2 locks and 2 robberies. May had 7 points and Green contributed 5 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists.

For the numbers: Scottsboro triggered 37.9 percent in general, 24.1 percent from the 3-point arch, and exceeded the RAMS 30-22 in the painting. Ramsay was 41.3 percent in general and 50 percent from the range of 3 points, but committed 20 ball losses that resulted in 15 points for the Wildcats.

Team of the entire tournament: Nelson was appointed MVP of the 5A Class Tournament and the Sexton and Perkins teammates were named for the team of all tournaments, along with Wesley, Davis and Green de Ramsay.

Did you know? Scottsboro won his first state title in the history of the program after falling 48-44 to Jasper in the 5A championship game last year.

Coachspeak: “There was definitely a lot of pressure. There was a lot of pressure, ups and downs, and we tried to play a really difficult schedule to prepare. Mentally, we were much more prepared. Normally, you would give you a Rocky Speech, try to lift them, but they are so hard that we try to relax it. They will bring it no matter what. ” – Brandon Childers from Scottsboro

“These young women, this season, have done a wonderful job. We arrived this season, the first year here, and our motto was to recover a resurgence of excellence. Perhaps a couple of victories more than last year maybe advance a little more, but the routine and sand of these young women placed us in the Final Four and the state championship game for the first time since 2016. Ladies, they do not keep their heads down. Very, very proud of them. ” – Jarvis Wilson by Ramsay

They said it: “Very different. We won this time. My three (knitting) last year, I felt that he hit every centimeter of the edge and did not enter. When he left, your heart sank. But this year, we were awake when the time ended, so it is different this year. Definitely better.” – Sexton

“Being a senior, I wanted to put everything on the floor and leave it there. We have been saying 32 minutes and that is what we put together. ” – Perkins

“He got a little slow. We shoot a lot, but you must keep your head up and trust if you are hard to work. ” – Caroline Dawson from Scottsboro

“Everyone does not expect to lose in a great scenario like this, but I know that those who return will continue for us. We know that we are part of that and it was great. I am very grateful to be here and very grateful to be here. ” – Ramsay Wesley