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  • Austin’s Markelle Griffin just barely gets a shot off over the outstretched arms of Minor’s Jacorie Archer Tuesday at the Tom Drake Coliseum. The Black Bears will play Hazel Green for the Northwest Regional Championship Friday at 10:40 p.m. Contributed

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February 21, 2012

(UPDATED) NORTHWEST REGIONAL (CLASS 6A): Black, Bessemer City girls open tourney with thriller over Bucks

Cothren free throws send Hazel Green boys to Regional Finals

By Rob Ketcham The Cullman Times

HANCEVILLE — Chelsee Black went crazy for 32 points to lead No. 7 Bessemer City (23-10) to a thrilling 73-70 victory over Buckhorn (20-12) Tuesday morning in the opening game of the Northwest Regional Tournament at Wallace State.

The Class 6A Bucks took a 66-65 lead late in the fourth quarter when Janelle Odionu, who finished with a team-high 23 points, capped off a three-point play by swishing a free-throw attempt. 

Naportia Morgan put the Purple Tigers back on top, though, after cleaning up an offensive rebound, and Bessemer City made enough free throws down the stretch to advance to the Regional Final. 

Both teams were frequent visitors at the charity stripe. The Purple Tigers were 33-of-41 from the gimme distance, while Buckhorn made 12 of its 17 attempts.

Morgan had a double-double, scoring 16 points and pulling down 22 rebounds for Bessemer City. Jamarra Taylor added 12 points and Syrenthia Dean was good for nine. 

Jacquelyn Thompson scored 21 points for the Bucks.

 

Bob Jones 53, Northridge 44: After trailing by one at halftime, the Patriots (34-2) remembered they were the state's No. 1 team in 6A and turned up the heat in the second half to earn a spot in the Northwest Regional Final.

Bob Jones, who extended its winning streak to 19 games, advances to play Bessemer City Friday at 9 a.m.

Joidon Jennings hit 10-of-11 free throws for the Patriots en route to a game-high 22-point performance. Tennessee signee Jasmine Jones had an impressive double-double, scoring 13 points and snagging 20 rebounds.

The Jaguars' (25-8) Sarah Stuart, an elusive point guard who had no problem finding ways to get to the basket, finished with a team-high 19 points. Faith Lancaster added 10 points, and Kiana Johnson tallied nine.

 

Boys

Hazel Green 53, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa 52: After being fouled hard with his Trojans down one and 1.1 seconds remaining in the game, Parker Cothren lay on his back — sprawled out with arms and legs fully extended like he was about to make a snow angel.

The 6-foot-4 junior center then got to his feet, went to the line and sank both of the biggest free throws of his life to help Hazel Green (20-12) upset the defending state champs.

Both of Cothren's attempts hit the front of the rim and bounced off the back of it before finding the bottom of the net. Once the last one went through, the center pumped his fist and unleashed a celebratory yell while the Trojans' student section and fanbase let out a chorus of cheers that echoed throughout the Tom Drake Coliseum.

Austin Dempsey led the way for Hazel Green with 19 points. He scored six straight points to give the Trojans a four-point lead during the third quarter and rattled in a floater with 37 seconds left in the ballgame to put his team up by one.

Cothren scored 13 points, and Lewis Sullivan pitched in 12.

The No. 9 Patriots (24-7) got 18 points from Perrin Buford and 10 from James Thomas.

 

 

Austin 42, Minor 37: Malique Elliott scored five of his seven points in the last 3 1/2 minutes to give the Black Bears just enough to advance to the Northwest Regional Final.

They will now face Hazel Green Friday at 10:40 a.m. for the right to move on to Birmingham.

In the fourth quarter, the 6-foot-3 forward slammed home a rebound that bounced high off the rim and later completed a three-point play at the line to give No. 6 Austin (23-7) a 39-29 advantage.

Jatorey Williams rattled in two late treys, and Quinton Maclin contributed two points to pull the Tigers (24-12) within three, but time ran out before they could complete the comeback. 

Black Bear junior phenom Detrick Mostella, who has already received offers from 14 major colleges, scored 14 of his 17 points in the second half. Elliott had seven rebounds to go with his seven points, and Sedrick Mitchell pitched in five points and nine rebounds. 

Austin's Josh Kiel was 2-of-4 from behind the arc, including a game-tying 3 midway through the fourth quarter. The senior guard wound up with a team-high 11 points.

Williams scored eight points, and Macklin was responsible for six points and eight rebounds.

Rob Ketcham can be reached at 256-734-2131, ext. 257 or at robk@cullmantimes.com.

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