For the first time in school history, the Foley Lion girls’ basketball team has qualified for the state semifinals as one of four remaining teams in their classification.

Wednesday morning in Birmingham, Foley took down area rival Daphne 68-46 in the Class 7A Central Region championship game. The Lions move onto a meeting against the Sparkman Senators with a trip to the state championship on the line March 2 at noon.

Keiyonla Knight (20 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block), Jestiny Dixon (18 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals) and Ashauntee Hobbs (12 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal) led Foley scorers Wednesday and all represented the Lions on the all-tournament team.

Dixon was named the Central Region Tournament MVP after she finished the two games averaging 19 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2.5 steals per game.

Two Trojans named to all-tournament team

The Trojans also had three scorers record double digits in the regional title game. Led by La’Merrica Johnson (19 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals), both Abby Johnson (3 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist) and Addison Luker (2 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist) registered 10 points.

Additionally, La’Merrica Johnson and Abby Johnson were named to the all-tournament team along with Syriah Daniels from Auburn.

Fairhope falls to Central-Phenix City

Also in action Wednesday were the Fairhope Pirates, who were playing in the boys’ Central Region title game and also found the end of the road with a 53-46 loss to the Central-Phenix City Red Devils. It was only Fairhope’s third loss of the season where the campaign ended with a 27-3 overall record.

Pirate junior Spence Sims (17 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist, 1 block) and senior McRae Taul (14 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block) led Fairhope’s scoring efforts and played all 32 minutes of the championship game. The pair also represented the Pirates on the all-tournament team with 62 total points scored and 31 total rebounds pulled down over the two games.

Up next

Foley will play in its first-ever state semifinal contest next Thursday at noon against the Sparkman Senators, winners of Area 7. Sparkman beat Chelsea 61-41 in the regional semifinal and topped Hewitt-Trussville 55-44 yesterday in the Northeast Region final.

Stat sheet from Wednesday’s regional championship games

Foley Lions

Keiyonla Knight: 20 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block

Jestiny Dixon: 18 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals
Ashauntee Hobbs: 12 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal
Amiyah Carvin: 8 points, 4 rebounds, 4 steals, 1 assist, 1 block
Ja’Kovia Barnett: 6 points, 4 rebounds
Carlicia Odom: 2 points, 3 rebounds
Destiny Holmes: 2 points, 1 rebound
Azhya Prim: 2 rebounds

Daphne Trojans

La’Merrica Johnson: 19 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals
Abby Johnson: 10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist

Addison Luker: 10 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist
Nyla Firle: 4 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist
Kamorya Johnson: 3 points, 2 rebounds
Tierra Bradley: 2 rebounds, 1 steal
Victoria Moten: 2 rebounds
Alaysia Pickett, Kiera Watson: 1 rebound

Fairhope Pirates

Spence Sims: 17 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist, 1 block
McRae Taul: 14 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block
Andrew Taylor: 6 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist
Caden Creel: 4 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist
Collin Miller: 3 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist
Daniel Martin: 2 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals
Zeb Gafford: 1 rebound, 1 block