Gordo Girls Win Back-to-Back County Championships

By Brian Hamilton, Sports Correspondent

Gordo defeated Aliceville to win their second consecutive county championship, as senior Keionnie Prude went over 1,000 points scoring in the 50-48 win. The two rivals battled closely throughout, as neither team led by more than three points through the entire fourth quarter, however, the Lady Wave did just enough to come away with the win.

First year Gordo head coach Casey Fox believes it is a giant step for Gordo basketball for the Lady Wave to win back-to-back county championships.

“It’s huge. I think it was good that we were able to play a (close) game like that just to see our composure,” Fox said. “The gym was fun and the atmosphere was fun. It was even better to get them to buy into the coaching that we’ve been preaching. They did a good job of just keeping their composure.”

Both teams started slowly, as Gordo led just 7-4 at the end of the first quarter and held a 19-15 lead at the half. Each team began shooting better in the second half, however, as the teams matched one another shot for shot down the stretch.

Aliceville managed to tie the game at 23-23 with 3:32 left in the third quarter before two free throws and a layup by Prude made the score 27-23, in favor of Gordo. Valerie Wilkins made a layup to pull the Lady Jackets to within 27-25, but Aliceville would trail 29-25 at the end of the third quarter.

The Lady Jackets would not go away, however, as a Castella Sherrod layup and a steal and basket by Desiree Hawkins tied the game at 29-29. The Lady Wave answered on their next possession, as Areanna Brewer nailed a three-point basket for a 32-29 lead. A free throw and a layup by Sherrod would again tie the game at 32-32 with 5:40 left in the game.

A three-point basket by Hawkins would give Aliceville its first lead of the second half at 35-34 with 5:05 remaining, but Anna Kate Dykes would then bank a layup to put Gordo back ahead 37-35.