SHS boys fall in state-ranked battle

Caroline Dawson (22) shoots over Fort Payne's Zimri Craig for two of her game-high 28 points during Scottsboro's 57-55 comeback win Friday night. 

Sentinel Photo | Jason Bowen

High School Basketball

The Scottsboro varsity girls basketball team used a memorable comeback to give head coach Brandon Childers a milestone victory.

Trailing throughout, Class 5A No. 9-ranked Scottsboro hit three treys in the final three minutes to finally take a lead before using clutch free-throw shooting to post a 57-55 win over host Fort Payne Friday night.

It was the Wildcats’ sixth straight win in the teams’ rivalry series.

“We started out slow and stagnant and Fort Payne started well and kind of fed off their crowd,” Childers said. “Every time we seemed like we about to be out of it, we’d make a play, get a big steal, make a big shot. We finally got it going, got our fans energized and we fed off that. Just a great response for our girls. They responded in a tough situation. I’m really proud of that.”

The win was also the 300th career varsity head-coaching victory for Childers, who has been Scottsboro’s head coach the past six seasons prior to serving as the head coach at Huntland (Tennessee).

Scottsboro (15-5) trailed 13-8, 23-20 and 36-31 at the quarter breaks in part because of one of its worst shooting performances of the season, but the shots fell at the right time. The Wildcats sank three consecutive  3-pointers inside the final three minutes, taking their first led with 2:57 remaining on Caroline Dawson’s trey. After Fort Payne tied it with a free throw, Morgan Perkins swished a 3-pointer with 2:15 remaining to put Scottsboro back in front 50-47. 

After Fort Payne (13-6) scored the next four points to retake a 51-50 lead, Grace White drained a corner 3-pointer to put Scottsboro ahead 53-51. Fort Payne tied the game at 53-all 18 seconds later on Libby Redden’s free throws, but Dawson hit two free throws with 38 seconds left to put Scottsboro back on top. Fort Payne then missed a shot in the post on its ensuing possession, and Tatum Shelton hit two free throws to give the Wildcats a two-score lead of 57-53 with 20 seconds left. Fort Payne got within 57-55 with 5.8 seconds left and following two missed Scottsboro free throws, missed a half-court shot as time expired.

Dawson scored a game-high 28 points for Scottsboro, which also got seven each from Nelson and Bree Sexton, six apiece from Shelton and White and three from Perkins.

Newcomer Zimri Craig scored 17 points for Fort Payne (13-6) while Brylan Gray added 11.