CLASS 2A BOYS’ SEMIFINALS
Lanett 75, Aliceville 64
BIRMINGHAM –
Two-time defending Class 2A state basketball champion Lanett edged a stubborn Aliceville squad 75-64 Monday night in the semifinals of the 96th AHSAA State Basketball Championship tournament at the BJCC Legacy Arena to move into Friday’s state finals.
Coach Richard Carter’s Panthers (25-5) will face St.Luke’s Episcopal of Mobile in the championship game at 10:45 Friday morning. Lanett, which won the Class 2A state football title last December, also won the 2017 and 2016 Class 2A state boys’ basketball titles.
The Panthers needed all their weapons to dispose of Aliceville (20-3). Lanett’s tall inside presence of 6-foot-7 Emmanuel Littles and 6-7 Anquavious Pollard was complemented by the quickness of guard Terrion Truitt. Pollard finished with 22 points and nine rebounds, Truitt had 21 points and three 3-point goals and Littles scored 15 points with several strong dunks and also cleared a game-high 11 rebounds.
Still, Aliceville, coached by Chris Walker, was down just five points at one point in the fourth quarter. Jaquan Lee and TyQuane Wright had 18 and 12 points, respectively, combining for seven 3-pointers – most of them coming in an exciting stretch run that closed the gap in the second half. Wright had four treys and Lee had three. Edward Weston added 16 points with two 3-pointers as the Bears finished with 11 on 32 tries. Walker’s team was also 13-of-14 at the foul line but lost the rebound battle 44-27 to the taller Panthers.