By Fred Guarino
The Lowndes Signal

The Lowndes Academy varsity girls basketball team has a chance to take care some unfinished business this Tuesday. They will play for the AISA AA girls state basketball championship that eluded them last year.

The Lowndes Academy Lady Rebels defeated the Coosa Valley Academy Rebels 50-33 in a Final Four contest played at Huntingdon College Thursday afternoon. Last year, a young Lowndes Academy Lady Rebels basketball team could not overcome a second half shooting drought and fell to Pickens Academy finishing as runner-up at Huntingdon College for the AA state title.

Lowndes Academy Lady Rebels head basketball coach Jeff Lovell said of Thursday’s win, “It’s a great accomplishment for these girls to make it (to the state championship game) in back-to-back years.” He said, “Last year we felt like we let one slip away.”

Lovell said the Lady Rebels prided themselves on defense this year and are looking forward to whomever they play for the AISA AA girls state championship.

According to Lovell, holding Coosa Valley Academy Rebels to 33 points was big because Coosa Valley’s point guard had been averaging 33 points per game alone. He also said, “If you can hold a team that normally scores in the 70’s to half of that you’ve got a good chance to win.”

Lovell said, “I can’t say enough about our defense.” He said Abby Pitts, Sarah Anna McIntosh and Carmen Till all stepped up on the defensive side.

He also said Khaki Gaston also went to work on the inside on offense and put Coosa Valley Academy in foul trouble.

For the Lowndes Academy Rebels, Gaston scored 12 points and grabbed 12 rebounds while Abby Ray scored 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

Mallory McCurdy was on the team last year that finished second for the state title. She said of Thursday’s result, “We win as a team… I think it’s a great opportunity for all of us. We’re looking forward to it, but it’s a team game.”

The Lady Rebels improved to 17-4 and will play for the AA girls state basketball championship at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Huntingdon College.