Lady Knights Breeze Through Area 14 Tourney
Move On To Sub Regional Play Thursday

Lindsey Guess accepts Class 5A Area 14 Championship trophy as teammates celebrate
Photo by Dwight Hayes

February 11, 2007
The Arab Lady Knights advanced to the sub-regional playoffs following two solid victories in the Area 14 Tournament.  The Lady Knights rolled over the Albertville Lady Aggies by a score of 70 - 43 in the first round of the area tourney on February 8.  In the championship game Saturday night, February 10, the Lady Knights defeated the Etowah Lady Blue Devils 59 - 37.

Alli Smalley continued to set new scoring records with each game.  Smalley broke the 3000 career point mark in the second quarter of the Albertville game on Thursday eventually tossing in 15 points to end the game with 3003 career points.  Smalley was awarded the game ball at the end of the game and went on to be name as tournament MVP after the Saturday game.

The Lady Knights will face J. O. Johnson February 15 in the first round of sub-regional play.  Tip-off for the game will be Thursday night, February 15 at 7 p.m. in the Arab High School Gymnasium.  The winner of that game will move on to the North-East Sub-Regional games to be played at the Jacksonville State University Gymnasium with the first round game to be played on February 19 at 9 a.m.  The Northeast region Championship game will be February 23, at 9:00 a.m.  Winner of the North East Region will meet the Southern Region winner in the State semi-finals at the Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center at 12 Noon on March 2.  The State 5A Championship will be determined on March 3 at 5 p.m. at the BJCC arena.
Complete story.....            Photos from area championship game...     

    
Area 14 All Tournament Team - Arab Players (L-R)
Alli Smalley (5), Kate Hadkova (14), Courtney Gibson (22)
Photo by Dwight Hayes

The Lady Knights continued the dominance over opponents during the opening game against the Albertville Lady Aggies.  Arab outscored Albertville some twenty-two points in the first quarter with a 27-5 run.  In the second quarter the Knights again outscored their opponent by some nine points.  The Knights took a 44-13 lead into the locker room at half time.  Only in the third quarter did Albertville outscore the Knights.  In the third Albertville put 19 points on the scoreboard to Arab's 6 but the Knights still enjoyed a comfortable 50-32 lead at the end of the third period.  The Knights picked up the pace again in the fourth quarter with a 20-11 scoring run to win 70-43.

The Knights 63% field goal percentage, 50% three point shooting and 80% free throw scoring in the first half outpaced the 21.7% field goal and 75% free throw scoring by Albertville.  In the second half Albertville led in field goal percentages with 41.4% and three point shooting with 37.5% to Arab's 26.7% and 20% respectively.  Albertville was unable to connect on any of their tree free throw attempts in the second half while Arab hit 9 of 16 for a 56.3% shooting percentage.

Arab scored 17 points from the free throw line while Albertville managed only 3 but Albertville was doubled the Arab effort from outside the three point line.  Albertville scored 18 points to Arab's 9 points from three pointers.  Arab tossed in 50 field goal points and Albertville managed 34 two pointers.

Arab dominated under the boards as well, pulling in a total of 42 rebounds to 32 for Albertville.  Arab scored 21 points off of Albertville turnovers.  Albertville capitalized with 6 points from Arab turnovers.  Arab averaged .76 points per possession and Albertville averaged .51 points per possession.

In individual scoring, ten Arab players scored points during the game with three of the ten in double figures.  Alli Smalley led Arab with 15 points and 9 rebounds followed closely by Courtney Gibson with 14 points and 3 rebounds.  Kate Hadkova was the third Arab player to score in double digits with 12 points and 1 rebound.  Kathryn Whitlock and Angela Henderson scored 6 points each.  Henderson pulled in 5 rebounds while Whitlock accounted for 4 rebounds.  Lindsey Guess contributed 5 points and 1 rebound.  Haley Tidmore and Anna Huckaby added 4 points each with Tidmore hauling in 1 rebound.  Lydia Latham and Emily Smith rounded out the Arab scoring with 2 points each.  Both girls contributed 1 rebound each.

C. Hanson and M. Taylor led the Albertville scoring with 13 an 9 points respectively.  A. Walden added 8 points while K. Cornelius contributed 7 points.  A. Russell rounded out the Albertville scoring with 2 points.

Alli Smalley was named tournament MVP

In the championship game against Etowah the Lady Knights once again jumped out to a comfortable early lead and were never in danger.  Arab scored 16 points to Etowah's 9 points in the first quarter and added 22 more points in the second quarter while Etowah managed only 6.  The Knights went into the locker room at half time with a 38-15 lead.  In the third quarter Arab tossed in 16 points while Etowah added 10 to their score.  The Lady Blue Devils managed a 12-5 scoring run in the fourth quarter as Coach Steve Flack played many of his younger players.  Final score was Arab 59 and Etowah 37.

In first half team scoring Arab led with a 51.6% field goal shooting percentage, 75% shooting percentage for three pointers and 42.9% from the free throw line.  Etowah shot 20.8% from the short filed, 40% from three point land and 42.9% from the free throw line.  Second half scoring percentages were Arab, 33.3% field goal shooting percentage, 25% from outside the three point line and 50% at the free throw line.  Etowah had a 23.1% field goal percentage, 18.2% three point percentage and a 57.1% free throw average.

Etowah outscored Arab from the free throw line with 11 points while Arab tossed in 5 free points.  Both teams scored 12 points from outside the three point line.  From the two point field goal range Arab poured in 42 points and Etowah hit 16 field goal points.

The Lady Knights was again dominated total rebounds with 48 with Etowah controlling 36.  Arab scored 22 points from Etowah turnovers while Etowah could only manage 5 points from Arab turnovers.  Arab scored .71 points per possession to .45 per possession for Etowah.

Eight Arab players got on the scoreboard during the game.  Alli Smalley led the scoring with 19 points and 6 rebounds and 6 assists.  Kate Hadkova added 11 points and 3 rebounds.  Anna Huckaby contributed 8 points and 4 rebounds while Kathryn Whitlock tossed in 7 points and led rebounds with 7.  Courtney Gibson put 5 points on the scoreboard, captured 2 rebounds and led assists with 8.  Angela Henderson added 4 points and 3 rebounds while Haley Tidmore contributed 3 points.  Lydia Latham completed the Arab scoring with 2 points and 2 rebounds.

A. Dean led the Etowah scoring with 13 points followed by H. Reed with 10 points.  V Christopher contribute 8 points while O. J. Ortiz and L. Womack added 2 points each.  H. Qualles and K. Bowman added 1 point each.

Courtney Gibson receives All Tournament Team recognition

Kate Hadkova receives All Tournament Team recognition

Alli Smalley receives All Tournament Team recognition