HANCEVILLE, Ala. – The Class 4A, Area 11 tournament tipped off at Hanceville Friday night and the Lady Bulldogs faced Etowah with a chance to move on to the area championship game. Like the first two meetings between these teams, this one was a defensive battle as well, but in the end, a late run by the Lady Blue Devils allowed them to squeak past Hanceville 25-23.
Etowah scored the first five points of the game to grab a 5-0 lead with 3:37 remaining in the opening period. Three free throws by Aaliyah Twitty trimmed the deficit to just two at 5-3 going into the second period.
A quick basket by Kynzlee Farr tied the game up at five, and Aaliyah Twitty split her free throws to give Hanceville a 6-5 lead. Each team split their respective free throws to keep it at a one-point game. The Lady Blue Devils hit a late basket to give themselves an 8-7 lead, but Mattie Keith drained a pair of free throws to give the Lady Bulldogs the lead right back at 9-8 going into the half.
A rebound and putback by Farr made it an 11-8 game early in the third, but five straight points by Etowah gave them a 13-11 lead late in the third. Aaliyah Twitty split her free throws to cut it to 13-12 going into the final period.
Alex Twitty put in a short jumper to give Hanceville a 14-13 lead early in the final quarter. Each team traded shots to keep it at a one-point game at 16-15. Aaliyah Twitty added another free throw to make it a 17-15 game, but a pair of Lady Blue Devil free throws tied the game up at 17. Six straight points by Aaliyah Twitty gave the Lady Bulldogs a 23-17 lead with 3:33 remaining in the game. Etowah responded with six quick points to tie the game up at 23 with less than a minute to go in the game. The Lady Blue Devils put in a layup with less than 10 seconds remaining to take a 25-23 lead. Hanceville had a final chance to win the game, but they didn’t get a shot off in time, as they ended up dropping the game in heartbreaking fashion to the Lady Blue Devils 25-23.
Aaliyah Twitty finished with 13 points for Hanceville. Farr put in four points, while Keith, Alex Twitty and Kate Sterling each added two points.
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