BIRMINGHAM – Trademarks for Locust Fork are shooting well from 3-point range and playing good defense.
Those were the key ingredients Friday afternoon for the Lady Hornets to claim their first ever Alabama High School Athletic Association basketball state title, a 72-62 triumph over Pisgah at Legacy Arena inside the BJCC.
Locust Fork had a solid start shooting the ball, hitting 11-of-18 for the first quarter for 61 percent with plenty of scoring from a variety of weapons.
The Horton sisters, Kimberly and Carissa, were combined 8-of-9 after the opening quarter for 20 points, igniting the Lady Hornets to a 28-18 lead.
Wallace State signee Ashlyn Adkins overcame a slow start by hitting a three early in the second stanza with the Locust Fork lead growing to 34-22 with 5:20 remaining.
Locust Fork's defense began to make things difficult for Pisgah from the field. Through 4:00 of the second, the Lady Eagles were only 25 percent (2-of-8) while the Lady Hornets were connecting on 60 percent of their attempts (3-of-5).
An offensive rebound led to an open look for Carissa Horton and a trey was scored that raised the Locust Fork lead to 39-23 with less than 4:00 to play until halftime.
Pisgah made a run and trimmed the deficit to 42-32 around a minute remaining in the period.
Adkins tried to regain momentum for her team by hitting a pair that raised the margin to 44-32. She went to the bench for the final 40 seconds with two personal fouls.
Locust Fork took a 44-34 lead to the locker room for halftime.
At the half, the Lady Hornets were 15 of 28 for 53 percent and six of 13 in three-point field goals for 46 percent. But a half remained and Locust Fork knew they had to be ready for Pisgah to come at them, full circle.
Pisgah got two baskets in a minute to start the third and trailed 46-38. A steal and a layup seconds later by Presley Higdon got the team much closer at 46-40. Higdon drove baseline and hit a runner that closed the deficit to 46-42. Locust Fork got a needed three by Rachel Baker in their first bucket since early in the third and the margin was at 49-42 near the 5:00 mark.
Adkins landed a three to give the Lady Hornets breathing room at 58-44 with 2:30 to play in the third. Still, Pisgah never surrendered.
The Lady Eagles went on a 7-0 run and had the margin under 10 points with less than a minute to go. The third ended with the Lady Hornets holding on to a 58-51 advantage.
Baskets by Baker, Kimberly Horton and Cater in a span of just more than a minute ignited Locust Fork to move the lead to 64-51 with less than 4:00 to play.
Annie Hughes scored with a 3-point play and Pisgah was down 64-58 with 2:08 remaining.
The title was secured by Locust Fork when Kimberly Horton got a layup with 32 seconds to go, putting the lead at 69-62.
Pisgah was unable to score any more points with a steal and layup by Adkins sealing the victory with 17 seconds to play.
Kimberly Horton led four double-figure scorers for Locust Fork with 21 points and was named the Final Four MVP. Adkins scored 15 in her final game for the Lady Hornets with Carissa Horton tossing in 16. Adkins and Carissa Horton earned all-tournament honors.
Rachel Baker scored 11 to give Locust Fork four in double figures. Cater just missed making it a starting lineup of double-figure scorers as she finished the title game with nine points.
Locust Fork shot 46 percent for the game on 25-of-54 attempts. The Lady Hornets nailed 10 treys and were 12-of-18 from the line, led by Kimberly Horton with 3-of-4. Locust Fork's record ends at 35-1, not losing a game after New Year's.
Hughes netted 27 for the Lady Eagles, who finish 27-8, upsetting undefeated Plainview in the Northeast Regional final the week before in Jacksonville. Presley Higdon produced 21 in a losing cause. Both were named to the all-tournament team.
"What a great game it was for us," Locust Fork coach Barbara Roy said afterwards. "It was a great matchup. Pisgah battled us all the way. They were not going to give up."
Roy pointed out the good first half that got the Lady Hornets on top. The closest Pisgah came in cutting the deficit was down to six in the closing moments.
"We hit some big shots. We hustled hard."
The Horton sisters shared good sentiments about each other. Kimberly commented on her sister Carissa hitting 4-of-5 from 3-point land. "Carissa was on it today," Kimberly said.
The path to the school's first-ever state championship included a huge 62-57 win in the Northwest Regional final on Feb. 22 with Locust Fork coming back from a 17-point deficit.
The only loss for the Lady Hornets all season was in the finals of the Al.com Classic on Dec. 20 at James Clemens High School, when they were defeated by 4A power Madison Academy 64-58 in overtime.
Madison Academy was in attendance, watching before the Lady Mustangs took to the floor in the afternoon to play for the 4A state title against Deshler. Like many, they were impressed by this team effort.
Locust Fork will return to Blount County Friday evening with a blue trophy and plenty of smiles to go around.
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