All local basketball teams eliminated from playoffs

Published 12:44 pm Saturday, February 9, 2013

Chilton County's Nicholas Looney blocks out Shelby County's Brandon McKinney in the Tigers' 80-38 loss to the Wildcats at the Class 5A, Area 8 tournament Feb. 8 at Shelby County High School. (Shelby County Reporter/Mickel Ponthieux)

Basketball season is over for all Chilton County area teams.

Every local boys and girls team has been eliminated from the playoffs in the area tournament round.

In girls action, Billingsley defeated Ellwood Christian, 39-26, in the Class 1A, Area 5 tournament at Keith High School.

Maplesville fell to Autaugaville, 57-48, in the same tournament, and then Keith topped Billingsley, 62-32.

Verbena defeated Wadley, 39-35, in the Class 1A, Area 6 tournament at Notasulga. The Red Devils were knocked out by Notasulga, 50-32.

Isabella fell to Class 2A, Area 8 tournament host Prattville Christian, 61-29; Thorsby fell to Class 3A, Area 5 tournament host Trinity Presbyterian, 88-19; Jemison lost to Bibb County, 36-21, in the Class 4A, Area 7 tournament at Calera; and Chilton County lost to Class 5A, Area 8 tournament host Sylacauga, 84-28.

Maplesville’s boys defeated Billingsley, 54-49, in the Class 1A, Area 5 tournament at Keith High School but then fell to Keith, 84-29.

Verbena defeated Wadley, 63-56, in the Class 1A, Area 6 tournament at St. Jude High School but then lost to St. Jude, 76-26.

Isabella lost to Class 2A, Area 8 tournament host Prattville Christian, 97-36; Thorsby lost to Class 3A, Area 5 tournament host Central-Coosa, 78-41; Jemison lost to Calera, 80-47, in the Class 4A, Area 7 tournament at Bibb County High School; and Chilton County High School lost to Class 5A, Area 8 tournament host Shelby County, 80-38.

Shelby County’s duo of Tyler Madison and Brandon McKinney led the Wildcats on an 8-0 run to start the game. After a free throw by Chilton’s Raquaez Cora, Shelby County went on a 12-1 run to extend their lead to 22-5 heading into the second quarter.

McKinney scored half of his game-high 20 points in the first quarter.

The Wildcats really began to pull away in the second when they went on a 14-0 run in the first three minutes to take a 36-5 lead.

After leading 42-12 at the half, Shelby County opened the second half with a 14-2 run in a span of more than three minutes to take a 56-17 advantage midway through the third. The Wildcats closed the third on a 7-0 run to capture a 63-21 lead in the fourth.

In addition to his 20 points, McKinney added a team-high 20 rebounds. Madison finished with 19 points while Josh Pennington added 10 points, including a pair of 3-pointers in the fourth. Emmanuel Hall and Kenny each scored eight points for Shelby County.

Cora led Chilton County with nine points while Vadall Morrow scored eight points for the Tigers.

Mickel Ponthieux with the Shelby County Reporter contributed to this report.