Arab Lady Knights Fall To Ramsay Take Second In State Tourney

Arab Lady Knights receive the Runner-Up Trophy at Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center
Saturday afternoon.                                      Click Photo to Enlarge   -   Photo by Dwight Hayes

By Micah Lewter

BIRMINGHAM – Ramsay was looking for its third straight state title.  Arab was looking to make history.

On Saturday, Ramsay’s experience came through, as the Lady Rams defeated Arab 44-24 in the 5A state championship game.

Ramsay’s pressing, attacking defense forced Arab into 25 turnovers and held the Knights to 23 percent shooting from the floor. The Rams also had 17 steals.

“They are a very well-coached defense team,” said Arab head coach Steve Flack, whose team reached the finals for the first time in history. “They put five girls out there who can all play defense.”

The key to Ramsay’s defense was stopping Alli Smalley. Smalley scored 41 points in the semifinal win over Jess Lanier, but she was held to seven points on Saturday. She shot 3-for-15 from the field, struggling to break free from Jamelia Kennedy’s persistent pursuit.

“Even when I got open, I kind of felt like I had to rush the shot,” Smalley said.

Photo by Dwight Hayes

Kennedy, who asked head coach Robert Mosley to match her against Smalley, said she wanted to put pressure on her.

“Coach told us to keep pursuing her, even when she didn’t have the ball,” Kennedy said. “We did a good job of doubling, hedging when she came off screens so she was tired even if she got open.”

Smalley’s seven points tied her for the team lead with Anna Meinert. Meinert scored six of her points in the first quarter.  Tia Alexander scored four points, but she had 14 rebounds, the highest by any player.

“Someone told me she had 27 rebounds in two games down here,” Flack said. “That’s wanting to win.”

Alexander said Ramsay’s speed was something the Knights had never seen. “I’m proud of my teammates, and I think everyone gave 100 percent. But Ramsay’s fast,” Alexander said, stressing the word “fast.”

Neither team shot particularly well early on. Arab even held a 9-6 lead at the end of the first quarter after holding Ramsay scoreless for the final 5:21 of the period.

But Ramsay took control in the second. The Rams outscored Arab 15-3 in the second to build a 21-12 halftime lead.  The Knights’ lone field goal in the quarter came on Smalley’s jumper with 52 seconds left in the half.

The third quarter was not much better, as Arab managed only four points. Ramsay pushed the lead to 32-16 by the end of the third.

Monique Jefferson led all scorers with 13 points, and Kennedy added 12. Katherine Graham led Ramsay with eight steals.

Ramsay finished the season at 30-6, and Arab finished with a 29-6 record.

Despite Saturday’s disappointment, Smalley, who is only a junior, is looking forward to next year.  She was asked if the loss made her determined to get back to the state finals next season and leave with a win.  Her reply was an emphatic, “Yes.”

Smalley and teammate Tia Alexander, were named to the State All Tournament Team.

Alli Smalley (# 5) and Tia Alexander (#50) named
to State All Tournament Team

Editors Note: Thanks to Micah Lewter for this story. Micah, an Arab High School graduate, is a sports journalist for the Dothan Eagle.  Micah was in Birmingham on Thursday covering the Dothan area teams, and although those teams were eliminated from the finals, Micah returned to Birmingham Saturday to support the Lady Knights and was gracious enough to file this story.

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