Story and photos by Kevin Eckleberry with Bee TV Sports
On Tuesday, The LaFayette High Bulldogs kept their season alive with a 79-63 win over Pleasant Valley in the first round of the AHSAA Class AA state tournament.
Deaundra Vines led LaFayette with 16 points, Branaviyun Story added 15 points, Tamarion Harrington scored 13 points, and Martavian Dunn contributed eight points.
Next up for LaFayette is a matchup with the Pisgah Eagles in the Northeast Regional semifinals. Two more wins and LaFayette would reach the state semifinals.
As for other local schools vying for a state championship, it was the Lanett Lady Panthers with a dominating 62-40 win over Ranburne. 62-40
Lanett (21-2), which has won 17 consecutive games, will face Pisgah in the Northeast Regional semifinal at Jacksonville State University.
Two more wins and Lanett will reach the state semifinals for the third straight season.
In the win over Ranburne, freshman guard Nakeriona Heard had a big game for Lanett with 25 points, including 13 points in the fourth quarter. Ameria Truitt-Zeigler and Laila Lancaster added eight points apiece, Samahria Davidson scored six points, and Ariel Hall added five points.
As for the Lanett Boy’s Basketball team, the Panthers advanced to the round of 16 in the Class AA state tournament with a convincing 61-39 home win over Ranburne on Tuesday.
Lanett will play Sand Rock on Friday at Jacksonville State University in the Northeast Regional Semifinal.
With two more wins, the Panthers would reach the semifinals of the state tournament for a fourth straight season, and they’re one step closer to a fourth state championship since 2016.
Lanett won three straight state titles beginning in 2016. Shamar Patterson led Lanett with 17 points while making two 3-pointers, Elijah Whitfield added 12 points, and Jarrious Goodman scored 11 points.
Now the undefeated. On Tuesday, the Valley Boys team Basketball continued their winning ways as they ran away from Sylacauga 77-40 to advance in the Class AAAAA state tournament.
Next up for Valley is the Central Regional Semifinal in Birmingham, and two more wins would secure a spot in the semifinals.
Four more victories and Valley (29-0) would complete a perfect season and capture a state championship.
Denali Dooley led Valley with 18 points, Cam’ron Dooley made three 3-pointers and scored 15 points, Jamarious Martin knocked down two 3-pointers and added 13 points, Ian Crim-Davis scored 12 points, and Brandon Thomas and Jay Harper had eight and seven points, respectively.
