Contributed
(Feb. 26, 2010)

BIRMINGHAM - Here is a recap from Thursday’s action in the Alabama High School Athletic Association state finals at the BJCC Arena.

Class 1A Girls Championship

J.F. Shields 56, Sunshine 43

J.F. Shields limited Sunshine to just 15 field goals Thursday night and rolled to the Class 1A girls state championship 56-43.

The victory closed out the Lady Panthers’ first-ever undefeated season at 29-0 as the only undefeated AHSAA team in the state, boys or girls, in 2009-10.

 Tyika Robinson earned MVP honors with 29 points, including 10-of-15 at the foul line. April Montgomery joined her on the All-Tourney team with 15 points and 20 rebounds for Coach Herbert Blackmon.

 Mariah Jones and Carnnisha Huff each added seven points.

 Shafontaye Myers, a senior who is heading to the University of Alabama, had 26 points to lead Sunshine (23-2). She also had 12 rebounds and was a perfect 8-of-8 at the free-throw line. Lacresha Rainer added 14 points and Tia Scott had 11 rebounds. JohnQuesha Childs also had nine boards.

The All-Tourney Team::Tyika Robinson, J.F. Shields (MVP); Cyndra Kivette, Hackleburg; Shafontaye Myers, Sunshine; April Montgomery, J.F. Shields; Tara Mullinax, Spring Garden; Lacresha Rainer, Sunshine.

Class 1A  Boys Championship

Edward Bell 66, J.F. Shields 65 (OT)

Edward Bell High School edged J.F. Shields in overtime Thursday night and claimed the Bears’ first state championship in school history with an exciting 66-65 win.

 Edward Bell (27-2) and J.F. Shields (23-6) were evenly matched all the way – tied at the half at 31-31 and at the end of regulation at 60-60.

 Eddie Webb’s layup with 54 seconds left in overtime gave the Bears a 66-63 lead. Carlos Castophney scored at the other end to cut the lead to 66-65. Then with just six ticks remaining the Panthers got one last chance to score, but a pass down low was missed and Edward Bell held on for the win.

 Senior Damien Carr scored 24 points to lead Coach Mitch Joiner’s Bears. The tourney MVP sank four 3-pointers, was 4-of-4 at the foul line and had three assists. Jamie Edwards added 18 points and eight rebounds, Armis Holloway added 13 points and 12 rebounds and Cobe Bowens had eight points and 10 boards.

  Jerterious Johnson had 27 for Shields to lead all scorers. He was 3-of-4 on treys and also had 10 rebounds. Castophney added 15 points and Christopher Rodgers 10.

The 1A All-Tourney Team: Damien Carr, Edward Bell (MVP); Jeterious Johnson, J.F. Shields; Carlos Castophney, J.F. Shields; Jamie Edwards, Edward Bell; Armis Holloway, Edward Bell; Alfred Banks, Parkway Christian.

Class 5A Girls Semifinals

Fairfield 41, LeFlore 37

 Fairfield fell behind early, 11-2, but turned up the defensive pressure to knock defending state champion LeFlore out of another finals appearance with a semifinal 41-37 win.

Kendara Watts made two free throws with 11 seconds left and Jazmine Saxton nailed three in the final 40 seconds to seal the victory.

 Saxton finished wit 10 points, eight rebounds and three assists, Watts and Krista Simmons added 10 points each. Watts was a perfect 6-of-6 and Simmons 8-of-8 at the free-throw line as Fairfield (28-8) finished a sizzling 20-of-23 at the charity stripe.

 Amber Bennett turned in a super defensive effort for Coach Tiffany Frederick’s Tigers with five steals as LeFlore turned the ball over 22 times.

 Leading the Rattlers (24-5) was Takayla Wesley with 11 points, nine rebounds and four steals. Ashley Myles and Shanece McKinney had nine points each.

With the victory, Fairfield coach Tiffany Frederick became one of the few former Final 48 participants to play in a Final 48 state final (with Fairfield in 2000) and now return as a head coach in a state final Saturday at 1 p.m. against Carver (23-7).

Class 5A Boys Semifinals

Lee-Huntsville 64, LeFlore 49

 Lee-Huntsville’s relentless defensive pressure sparked the Generals to a 64-49 win over LeFlore in the Class 5A boys first semifinal game.

 Lee (24-10), will play Carver in the championship game Saturday at 3 p.m.

 Coach Greg Brown’s Generals, who knocked off defending 5A state champion and Huntsville city rival Butler in the Northwest Regional finals last week, outscored LeFlore 25-10 in the final quarter to seal the victory.

 William Pride had 14 points, Josh Langford and Garland Robertson added 10 each in the win. Devin Langford, who had nine points, also pulled down a team-high six rebounds for Lee.

 LeFlore (29-10) did not have a player reach double figures. Danny Woodson and Freddie Dunson each had nine points and Woodson had a game high 10 rebounds.