SOUTHSIDE — Friday night’s game between Class 6A, No. 4 Southside and 3A, No. 8 Glencoe had no implications, but both teams played like the Etowah County girls basketball tournament title was up for grabs again.
Just like in the county finals 13 days ago, the Panthers (22-1) held off the Yellow Jackets (20-8) for a 52-44 win on senior night.
“I knew it was going to be a rematch of the county tournament (finals),” Southside coach Kim Nails said. “It was a really good game.”
It was the regular-season finalé for both schools as the area tournament is next.
Though his team came out with the loss, Glencoe coach Daniel Cook feels the Southside game was big to help prepare the Jackets for the postseason.
“I’m a firm believer that when you play good teams, it makes you better,” Cook said. “We are 20-8. Every loss was against a team that was ranked in the state. Of our 20 wins, only three of them were against teams with losing records.”
Southside swept Glencoe in its three regular-season meetings, but just like the first two, it didn’t come easy.
Southside never trailed, but each time it looked like it might be on the way to grabbing a double-digit lead, the Jackets made a few baskets to stay within striking distance.
The Panthers led 12-4 after the opening period, 27-20 at the half and 37-32 through three quarters. Glencoe got within four points twice in the fourth, but the Panthers were able to hold the Jackets off.
Adrianna Jones led the Panthers with 13 points. Lauren Hunt totaled 12 points and Alexis Thompson added 11 points. Harley Simmons, who was honored along with Emilee Coker for senior night, contributed nine points.
Breia Little paced Glencoe with 13 points, including four 3-pointers. Anna Beth Giles added 10 points. Aubrey Gray helped with out eight points.
The Yellow Jackets play the winner of Pleasant Valley and Piedmont at 6 p.m. Thursday in the 3A, Area 10 title game. The Panthers will go up against the winner of Oxford and Pell City in the 6A, Area 13 title game at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Boys: Southside cruises past Glencoe
Southside used a big second half in its 66-38 win over Glencoe in boys high school hoops Friday.
The Panthers took a narrow 32-25 lead at the half, then Southside held the Jackets to 13 points in the final two quarters to run away with it.
“Senior night is a very emotional night,” Southside coach Chad Holderfield said. “We have seven guys on the team that are seniors. These guys have really been invested in this for a long time."
Myles Hendrick, Gavin Orr, Tristan Riggan, John Mark Weaver, Colby Smith, Dawson Nunn and Seth Tunstall were the Panthers’ seniors honored Friday night.
Smith and Riggan led Southside with 10 points each. Blake Habyan scored nine points while Hendrick and Orr each added eight points. Nunn tallied six points.
Cade McCarver paced the Jackets with nine points. Brandon Bishop added eight points.
Southside and Glencoe both next play in their respective area tournaments. The Panthers travel to Oxford, the host of the 6A, Area 13 boys tournament to face Pell City at 6 p.m. Tuesday. The Yellow Jackets visit Piedmont to play Pleasant Valley at the same time Tuesday in the 3A, Area 10 tourney.