PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: Lowndes Academy girls wins third state title in four years

Catie Wallace Self accepts championship trophy from AISA director Michael McClendon after Lowndes Academy wins the Class AA state title Friday at Garrett Coliseum. (Tim Gayle)

By TIM GAYLE

After beating Clarke Prep on Thursday morning to advance to the Alabama Independent School Association state finals for the fourth consecutive year, the Lowndes Academy girls went back to the school and practiced for three hours.

They needed to work on a game plan to contain Southern Academy center Abby Sluder. And they would have to do it without one of their best players as Catie Wallace Self was suspended from the championship game after being whistled for a flagrant foul in Thursday’s game.

“We practiced for three hours, which is not good because of the leg issue, playing three games in four days,” Lowndes coach Matt Marshall said. “But Sarah Beth Murchison was amazing. She started the game as Catie Wallace’s guard, that position, and when I put A.K. (Harrell) in that position, she would drop down and play a ‘four’ (forward). To have one day, one practice, to work in that position, she did a great job and played multiple roles. Sometimes, she was the helper on (Sluder) and sometimes she’s got to guard a quick guard by herself.”

The plan worked as the Rebels won their third title in four years, defeating Southern 40-34 in the Class AA finals at Garrett Coliseum on Friday afternoon.

“It’s amazing,” senior Camryn Hess said. “I can’t even find the words to describe it, but it’s an amazing feeling. I’m just really glad to be back here again after being here four years.”

It was the 5-foot-9 Hess who drew the assignment of guarding the 6-foot-3 Sluder, who had her usual number of rebounds and blocked shots but was held to just six points by Hess and company.

“Last night, we had a two and a half hour practice, working on it, trying to see how we can guard her,” Hess said. “But in the back of my mind, I knew I could handle her. I’ve had to guard plenty of other tall girls over the last four years, so it’s just another game.”

Sluder would finish with just two field goals, one in the first quarter, another in the fourth.

“For three quarters of the game, we had two people on her,” Marshall said. “We had Camryn fronting her, trying not to let them lob in there, and we had somebody watching her from behind. We tried to make it as hard as it could be to get to her. We felt like we limit their points if we could do that.”

Lowndes (17-3) jumped out to a quick 8-0 lead and maintained that margin for much of the game until it disappeared midway through the third quarter with a 9-0 run that gave Southern a 23-21 lead.

“I think we got caught up in the emotions of the game,” Marshall said. “We felt like we had a few calls, or non calls, go against us in the game. We had to calm down and focus on what we were trying to do.”

A minute into the fourth quarter, the game was still tied but the Rebels began to build another lead. Abby Lovell slipped past Sluder for a basket and Kinlee Dismukes followed with an eight-foot jumper and the Rebels had a five-point lead with three minutes left.

That should be enough, provided the Rebels could convert at the free-throw line. Instead, they went 4 of 10, saved by two Southern misses and two Cougar turnovers on the other end of the floor.

“Being out there, being nervous, you’ve got so much pressure on you,” Hess said. “I know free throws are supposed to be easy but sometimes you can be a little nervous. But I knew we would find a way to win, like we always do.”

Lovell led the Rebels with 14 points, followed by Dismukes with 10 and Hess with nine. Anna Kate Morrison led Southern with 13 points, followed by Taylor Kyser with eight.

And in an appropriate gesture, it was Wallace who went out on behalf of the Rebels and accepted the championship trophy.

“I told them what we would do is let her take three steps and then the rest could follow,” Marshall said. “Let her put her hands on it because we wouldn’t be here without her. Catie Wallace is a leader for us and a great ballplayer, We thought it was only fitting that she touch it first.”

And after being routed by Springwood in the 2025 finals, it was only fitting that Lowndes would return a year later to grab the championship trophy.

“We talked about it in the locker room before the game,” Marshall said. “This is our expectation. The problem with it is we get complacent. You have some sophomores that might not have been a part of it before, but most of our kids have been part of this since junior high. So I worry about the complacency. Does it still give you that, hey, you’ve accomplished something great? That’s what we want to maintain. We expect it. We expect to be here. We’re not playing to get to the final four, we’re playing to play in the championship game.

“For this team this year to grow the way they’ve grown, they’re worked their tails off. I’m proud of them, especially after losing a starter the day before the championship game and being able to respond and still win against a very, very good Southern team.”

Making the all-tournament team were Drue Flint of Clarke Prep, Bethany Clayton of Jackson, Sluder and Mallory Newton of Southern and Hess, Lovell and Dismukes of Lowndes.