Thorsby on Thursday looked like a team ready to defend its county tournament title despite not having played in more than three weeks, defeating Maplesville 45-23.

The Rebels (6-5) ran their offense, crisply moved the ball around, defended well and crashed the boards on both offense and defense.

The Red Devils (2-4) fought to stay in the game with the 3-point shot. Maplesville drained three long-distance field goals in the early going, but an 0-for-5 drought at the end of the first half allowed Thorsby to go on a 7-0 run and take a 24-17 lead into the locker room.

Thorsby increased the defensive intensity in the second half, and Maplesville’s only third-quarter points came on a Lashundria Bailey trey.

Amanda Hubbard paced the Thorsby attack with 15 points, and teammate Ashlin Hilyer added 12 points.

Ebony Childers led Maplesville with 10 points.

Jemison B-team 36, Isabella 34

Jalen Hardnett scored five of Jemison’s 11 fourth-quarter points to help the Panthers overcome a deficit after three quarters and earn the win.

Jemison will next play Chilton County High in the county tournament’s B-team championship game at 5 p.m. today in a rematch from last year’s title tilt.