PHOTO: Senior Bailey Dukes takes it to the hoop against the American Christian Academy Patriots in the Class 3A State Semifinals. (Kristy Gallagher | Southern Torch)
By Marla Jones, Sports Editor
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — In the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) Class 3A State Basketball Semifinals held at the BJCC Legacy Arena, Plainview defeated the American Christian Patriots, 73-56 on Tuesday, February 27, 2018 to advance to the Championship Game.
Plainview will meet a familiar foe, the Hillcrest-Evergreen Jaguars, in the Championship game held on Friday, March 2, 2018 at 2:15 p.m. Plainview defeated Hillcrest-Evergreen last year in the State semifinals, 68-52. The Bears advanced to the State Championship game where they faced the Midfield Patriots. The Bears were defeated, 60-46. This year, the Plainview Bears have some unfinished business to take care of, and are on a mission to win the State Championship.
In Tuesday’s semifinal game, the Bears shot fifty-four percent from the field. The Bears took an early 19-12 lead in the game. The Patriots battled back in the second and brought the score within six points to go in the half trailing Plainview, 37-31.
After the half, the Bears came back ready to battle. In the third quarter, the Bears outscored their opponent, 19-14. Jeffery Armstrong had foul trouble in the first half of the game and sat out most of the second quarter. Armstrong scored 16 of his 19 points in the second half of the game.
The fourth quarter saw the Plainview Bears leading the Patriots by twenty points. As the game intensified, a player from each team received a technical foul that was washed out by the other. Plainview Head Coach, Robi Coker, allowed everyone on the team to have playing time as the play clock wound down and the Bears defeated American Christian, 73-55.
Plainview was 27-of-50 from the floor and made 2-of-5 three-point goals. Clay Cooper and Caden Millican scored the two 3-pointers in the game. The Patriots were focused on taking away Plainview’s strength by stopping their three-point attempts. Along with Armstrong’s 19 points for the game, he had seven rebounds and three assists. Caden Millican netted 14 points. Koby Tinker added 12 points to the scoreboard and Cade Millican scored 10 points. The Bears held American Christian to five offensive rebounds.
For American Christian, Luke Skinner led the team with 30 points and six rebounds.
“This was a rough, physical game” said Coach Robi Coker. “Our guys did a great job of showing who they are as people and ultimately that's why we won the basketball game.”
