Foley, Daphne set for rematch in girls’ basketball regional finals

Fairhope Pirates advance to Elite Eight with a 51-43 win over the Auburn Tigers

By Cole McNanna
Sports Editor
cole@gulfcoastmedia.com
Posted 2/15/23

With wins Wednesday in Birmingham, girls’ basketball teams from Foley and Daphne as well as Fairhope’s boys’ team advanced to the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s …

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Foley, Daphne set for rematch in girls’ basketball regional finals

Fairhope Pirates advance to Elite Eight with a 51-43 win over the Auburn Tigers

Posted

With wins Wednesday in Birmingham, girls’ basketball teams from Foley and Daphne as well as Fairhope’s boys’ team advanced to the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s Class 7A central regional finals.

The Lions took down Central Phenix City 56-40 and the Trojans dismantled Auburn 58-48 to set up a fourth matchup between the Area 2 rivals from Baldwin County for Feb. 22. Foley has won the previous three with scores of 49-36, 48-42 and 61-45.

The Pirates’ 51-43 win over the Auburn Tigers enacted some revenge after it was Auburn who ended Fairhope’s season the last time it made the Elite Eight in 2021. Now, the Pirates are one step closer to their first trip to the state semifinals since 2020 and will face Central Phenix City in the Central regional final Feb. 22.

Also in the boys’ bracket, the Daphne Trojans found the end of the road with a 73-52 loss to Central Phenix City Wednesday morning. It was Daphne’s deepest playoff run since its 2017 trip to the Class 6A South regional finals.

Daphne's La’Merrica Johnson was the local scoring leader on the day with a double-double behind 30 points and 17 rebounds to go along with three steals, a block and an assist and Fairhope’s McRae Taul was not far behind with 21 points to complement eight rebounds and a block.

Both Jestiny Dixon from Foley and Randy Williams from Daphne recorded 20-point efforts where Dixon added seven rebounds, three assists and two steals and Williams also contributed five rebounds and a pair of assists.

Below are stats from the AHSAA state basketball tournament in Birmingham.

GIRLS

Daphne 58, Auburn 48

Daphne Trojan team totals: 58 points (19-42 FGs), 41 rebounds, 10 steals, 9 assists, 1 block

La’Merrica Johnson: 30 points (8-15 FGs), 17 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 assist, 1 block
Abby Johnson: 13 points (5-9 FGs), 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal
Addison Luker: 7 points (3-6 FGs), 3 rebounds
Nyla Firle: 4 points (2-5 FGs), 5 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 assist
Victoria Moten: 3 points (1-3 FGs), 3 rebounds, 2 steals
Dasia Matt: 1 point (1-4 FTs), 3 rebounds, 1 assist
Kiera Watson: 2 rebounds, 2 assists
Tierra Bradley: 1 rebound, 1 steal
Alaysia Pickett, Janiyah King: 1 rebound

Foley 56, Central Phenix City 40

Foley Lion team totals: 56 points (23-43 FGs), 22 rebounds, 11 assists, 7 steals, 2 blocks
Jestiny Dixon: 20 points (8-13 FGs), 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
Ashauntee Hobbs: 12 points (4-5 FGs), 3 assists, 1 steal
Ja’Kovia Barnett: 12 points (6-8 FGs), 1 rebound, 1 assist
Keiyonla Knight: 7 points (3-7 FGs), 4 steals, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks

Amiyah Carvin: 5 points (2-7 FGs), 5 rebounds, 2 assists
Azhya Prim, Desinty Holmes: 1 rebound

BOYS

Fairhope 51, Auburn 43

Fairhope Pirate team totals: 51 points (19-37 FGs), 32 rebounds, 10 assists, 4 steals, 3 blocks

McRae Taul: 21 points (9-13 FGs), 8 rebounds, 1 block
Spence Sims: 10 points (4-9 FGs), 4 rebounds, 1 steal
Caden Creel: 10 points (2-5 FGs), 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 steals
Zeb Gafford: 3 points (1-5 FGs), 4 rebounds
Daniel Martin: 3 points (1-1 FGs), 1 rebound
Andrew Taylor: 2 points (1-2 FGs), 7 rebounds, 4 assists
Collin Miller: 2 points (1-2 FGs), 1 rebound
Sanders Daniell: 1 rebound

Central Phenix City 73, Daphne 52

Daphne Trojan team totals: 52 points (17-47 FGs), 28 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 steals

Randy Williams: 20 points (6-14 FGs), 5 rebounds, 2 assists
Donovan Wilson: 18 points (6-16 FGs), 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal
Nathan Thompson: 4 points (2-2 FGs), 1 rebound
Cherriez Gardner: 3 points (1-5 FGs), 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
Alexander Woodard: 3 points (1-1 FGs), 3 rebounds
Jakoby Lee: 2 points (1-1 FGs), 1 rebound
Andrew Lightcap: 2 points (2-2 FTs)
Javion Edwards: 3 rebounds, 1 steal
Stacey Boyins: 2 rebounds, 1 assist
Kameron Watson: 1 rebound