BASKETBALL

JACKETS BACK ON TOP

Glencoe edges Southside in girls county tourney final

Teddy Couch Times Staff Writer

SARDIS CITY — Glencoe is back on top of Etowah County.

The Class 3A, No. 8 Yellow Jackets held off 5A, No. 8 Southside 42-39 to win the 2019 county tournament championship Friday night at Sardis High School.

Glencoe was up at the end of each quarter but never led by more than nine points.

The Yellow Jackets went into the fourth period with a 29-20 lead after two 3-pointers in the final 30 seconds of the third. Cami Zahorscak made a three before Lauren Cole ended the quarter with a 3-pointer of her own to stretch the Jackets’ lead to nine points.

The Panthers battled back, though, and cut the deficit to 32-29 after a layup and free throw by Sydney Yancey with 3:59 left in the game.

Glencoe answered with a layup by Ashley Morgan and another three by Cole to extend the lead to eight.

Southside refused to go away and cut Glencoe’s lead to 37-34 with 1:54 left after a Kaylee Brown layup and Savannah Nunn 3-pointer.

Anna Grace Goodwin made two free throws and Morgan later came down with an offensive rebound and a putback to extend the Jackets’ lead to 41-34 with under a minute remaining.

Southside continued to battle, including a layup and free throw off a steal by Kenzi Duncan, but the Jackets held on.

By the Numbers

8 — Glencoe last won the county championship eight years ago in 2011, which also was against Southside. … 9 — The Panthers have been in the county title game the last nine years. Southside has won one title over that span, which was last year against the Yellow Jackets. … 1:21 — Southside lost its last lead with 1:21 left in the first quarter.

They Said It

“Ever since I was in eighth grade and came up to varsity, we’ve been talking about winning it. We haven’t won it in so long. I’m really proud of my team.” — Morgan

Coachspeak

“I talked with the girls last year about taking that next step to the next level. Being that team to reach the next level. Last year we were able to make it to the elite eight and runner-up in our regional. We talked about doing it again this year, but with the county. … It was a chance to take that next step and see if we got better since last year. It was a battle from the first minute and I didn’t expect anything different.” — Glencoe coach Daniel Cook

Glencoe Stat Sheet

Morgan and Abby Vice each had a game-high 10 points. Zahorscak added nine points.

Southside Stat Sheet

Macie Williams totaled nine points. Nunn scored eight points. Brown added seven points while Alexis Thompson, who fouled out with 1:19 left, tallied six points.

All-Tournament Team

Glencoe: Ashley Morgan (MVP), Lauren Cole, Anna Beth Giles, Anna Grace Goodwin, Aubrey Gray. Southside: Alexis Thompson, Savannah Nunn, Macie Williams, Kaylee Brown. Sardis: Kaitlyn Morris, Madison Langley, Kaylee Harraid. Hokes Bluff: Kristen Shields. Gaston: Sidney Oliver. West End: Madison Parker.

Up Next

Glencoe (14-7) travels to Gadsden City on Tuesday. Southside (15-4) hosts Etowah on Friday in a 5A, Area 12 matchup.