By Stephen Dawkins | Assistant Managing Editor

Three teams on Thursday advanced to their respective championship games in the Chilton County Basketball Tournament.

Verbena’s girls, Jemison’s boys and Maplesville’s junior varsity won and now await the winners of Friday’s games to see who they will play Saturday.

Hands up: Jemison’s Shayna Robinson, left, is defended by Verbena’s Jameshia Green on Thursday.

The varsity squads—both of which were top seeds in their divisions—won easily.

Jemison’s boys topped Thorsby, 84-47, behind 22 points from Jeremiah Gates and 20 points from Trey Bryant.

Aaron Thornton had 16 points for No. 5 seed Thorsby, and teammate Parker Bryan had 15 points.

The Panthers on Saturday will play the winner of Friday’s Maplesville-Chilton County game.

Verbena’s girls defeated Jemison, 46-30.

The Red Devils raced to a 12-4 lead at the end of the first quarter and never looked back, thanks largely to Marqueska Deramus’ 29 points.

Shayna Robinson led No. 5 seed JHS with 13 points.

Verbena on Saturday plays the winner of Friday’s Thorsby-Maplesville game.

The first significant upset of the Chilton County Basketball Tournament was No. 4 seed Maplesville’s junior varsity 38-36 win over No. 1 seed Jemison on Thursday.

The Panthers were trying for their third consecutive county title.

Jemison held a slight lead throughout the first half, but Devonta Morrow drained two free throws with just over 1 minute left to play to break a late tie and produce the final score.

Jemison committed a couple of costly turnovers with chances to tie the game, but Maplesville had its chances, too, missing four free throws late that could have clinched the game and prevented Jemison’s last-second shot attempt from being for overtime.

Morrow led all scorers with 17 points. Jemison’s John Underwood had 11 points.

Maplesville will play the winner of Friday’s Chilton County-Verbena game at 4 p.m. Saturday for the county championship.