Only eight teams remain in each of the seven classifications of the Alabama High School Athletic Association and three quarterfinal matchups will feature two Baldwin County squads.

St. Michael and Orange Beach will battle for the girls’ Class 4A regional final in what will be each team’s first Elite Eight berth in its eighth and fifth varsity season, respectively. Similarly, the Mako boys’ team punched its first-ever regional championship ticket and will clash with defending 4A champion Jackson.

Both Daphne teams will have a shot at a trip to the Class 7A Final Four where the Trojan girls’ team will square off with Foley and the boys’ squad will meet with Fairhope just two wins away from the title game.

Below are more details on Baldwin County’s Elite Eight representatives, follow @GCMSportsAL on social media for immediate updates and visit gulfcoastmedia.com/sports for full coverage.

Class 4A

A fourth meeting between St. Michael and Orange Beach this season will determine the southwest region champion and which Class 4A Region 1 representative moves one step closer to the championship.

The stage was set when the Cardinals beat Geneva 42-29 and the Makos took down Straughn 40-32 in the second round of the state tournament. The regional final tip-off is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 4 p.m.

Samantha Kokoska delivered an impressive performance to lead St. Michael with a 21-point, 21-rebound double-double to go along with 3 steals, 2 assists and 1 block. Molly McDonald collected 8 points, 2 rebounds and 1 steal and Carolina Callahan registered 5 points and 7 rebounds for the Cardinals.

Jayde Palmer (15) and Monroe Richtmyer (14) both poured in double-digit points for Orange Beach where Palmer added 8 rebounds, 3 steals and 1 assist and Richtmyer also recorded 5 rebounds and 2 steals. Evia Spencer scored 7 points on top of 3 rebounds and 2 steals for the Makos.

While St. Michael has won the previous three meetings with Orange Beach this season, all were only by single digits where the Cardinals have won six-, two- and nine-point decisions over the Makos.

St. Michael’s Sweet 16 victory helped extend a winning streak to 13 games where the Cardinals last loss came to Saraland on Dec. 13, 2024. With a 22-3 overall record, nine wins have come where St. Michael limited its opponent to 30 points or less.

The Orange Beach boys’ team rewrote the record book with a 51-43 win over Dale County for its first Elite Eight appearance in Chris Laatsch’s first season at the helm. The Makos used their seventh-straight victory to set up a meeting with the defending Class 4A champion Jackson Aggies in the regional championship scheduled for Tuesday at 5:45 p.m.

Lee Steele finished as Orange Beach’s leading scorer with 16 points in addition to 3 assists and 2 rebounds. William Pugh was not far behind with 14 points to go along with 2 rebounds and 2 steals while Matthew Steele (4 assists, 2 rebounds) and Mason Dowling (5 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 assists, 1 block) both scored 9 points.

Class 7A

The Fairhope boys’ squad delivered one of the more dramatic victories of the Sweet 16 as Marc Howard registered a game-winning layup that just beat the buzzer for a 67-65 win over Baker.

Jackson Robertson caught a pass around midcourt and dribbled to the near three-point line only to deliver a pass to the opposite corner. Although Howard stumbled as he caught the pass, he was able to put up a shot that banked off the backboard and in as the buzzer sounded.

It served as Howard’s 14th points of the game to go along with 4 rebounds and 2 assists and it was Robertson’s 3rd assist of the night on top of 13 points, 2 rebounds and 1 steal. Jaden Champion led the Pirates’ scoring department with 15 points in addition to 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.

A pair of 22-point efforts helped Daphne lock up a 68-40 win over Mary G. Montgomery in the Sweet 16. Javion Dailey poured in 22 points on top of 9 rebounds and 5 assists as Antoine Sledge used a trio of three-pointers to reach 22 points and complement 2 rebounds and 2 assists. CJ Gardner logged 4 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists for the Trojans.

With Fairhope victories in two of the previous three meetings this season, the fourth and final matchup is set for Wednesday, Feb. 19, at 10:45 a.m.

Following Sweet 16 victories, girls’ teams from Daphne and Foley earned a fourth meeting this season. The Trojans took down Davidson 56-47 and the Lions beat Alma-Bryant 62-51 to ensure an Area 2 representative will make the Final Four. The Elite Eight tip-off is set for Wednesday, Feb. 19, at 9 a.m.

Foley won two of three matchups with Daphne this season as well as the previous Elite Eight clash from 2023 when the Lions secured a 68-46 victory that locked in the program’s first trip to the state semifinals.

In the Sweet 16, Abby J. Johnson led the Trojans with 22 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals. Fredayshia Goodwin (12 points, 3 rebounds) and Victoria Moten (10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists) also hit double digits as Sophia Hunt grabbed a team-high 9 rebounds to complement 8 points.

Keiyonla Knight served as one of Foley’s catalysts and finished with 24 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals with Amiyah Carvin not far behind with 16 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds. Carlicia Odom pulled down 10 rebounds to go along with 6 points and 4 steals.

Class 3A

With a 57-37 loss to Wilcox Central, Bayside Academy found the end of the road in the Class 3A Sweet 16. The Admirals made their first regional semifinal appearance since 2016 and finished 12-14 overall.

Miles Uter led the way for Bayside Academy with 21 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block and 1 assist. Hudson Wilmott registered 7 points and 1 steal, Monroe Partin pulled down 6 rebounds and 2 blocks and Eli Williams recorded 4 rebounds and 2 assists.