2008 Alabama Class 4A Championship Game (Girls)
Midfield vs. Deshler

Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center – Birmingham, AL

Lady Patriots roll to Class 4A title

Eric Baylor’s 4 three-pointers leads the way

Courtney Jones knocks down 2 of her 13 points. Courtney was last years tourney MVP.

Birmingham, AL - The Lady Tigers from Deshler and the Lady Patriots from Midfield put on an action packed first half as they squared off in the girls Class 4A Championship. Midfield jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead when 2-Time State Player of the Year Courtney Jones (a LSU signee) scored two quick baskets. Midfield’s full-court press caused Deshler some early problems as they fell behind 7-0 forcing Deshler Head Coach Jana Killen to call a quick timeout.

After the TO the Lady Tigers went to work, getting baskets from their Birdie Bowens, Ashleigh Jackson and Ashley Southern to tie the score at 7-7. A basket by Tarnisha Whitson a few seconds later gave Deshler lead.

Foul trouble started creeping up on Midfield as Jones picked up her second foul and was forced to take a seat on the bench. The teams would start trading baskets before Midfield’s Tyla Adams hit a pair of free-throws to put the Lady Patriots up 12-11 at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter Deshler got a big lift from Tori Harris, who started pounding the glass and scoring on put-backs. With Jones on the bench Meredith Mitchell (a UGA signee) and Brandi Turner started picking up the scoring slack as the Lady Patriots pulled ahead 23-21.

Deshler's smooth ball-handling guard Ashleigh Jackson tires to drive past Midfield's Meredith Mitchell.

Two quick baskets by Midfield to start the third quarter gave the Lady Patriots their largest lead of the game 39-29. Deshler however fought back, a sweet spin move by Jasmine Ragland and 2 free-throws by Bowens cut the lead to 41-37.

The action continued to be played at a fast pace as both teams pushed the ball down the floor. Midfield’s Erica Baylor knocked down a pair of three-pointers as the Lady Patriots opened up a 54-41 lead with 1:58 left in the third quarter.

When the smoke cleared at the end of the third quarter the Lady Patriots from Midfield built up a 58-43 lead.

Midfield's Brittany Young plays "D" on Deshler PG-Jasmine Ragland.

To the credit of Deshler they continued to play tough. Baylor finished off a big game for Midfield exciting the fans one more time as she drilled her 4th three-pointer of the game. With an 82-51 lead Head Coach Reggie Ware cleared his bench.

“Washington”, at the end of the day Midfield was too deep and talented as they went on to capture their second consecutive Alabama Class 4A State Championship. Erica Baylor scored a game high 25 points and was named the tournaments Co-MVP along with teammate and last year's MVP Courtney Jones, who finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Jasmine Steele gives teammates and fans the thumps-up as she leaves the court.

4SHOT Hoops would like to send out our prayers and well wishes for a healthy and speedy recovery to Midfield player Jasmine Steele a 5’-1” 8^th-Grader who plays on the varsity. Steele was hurt late in the championship game hustling to try and save a loose ball when she hit her head hard on the court. The medical staff on-hand placed her head in a protective neck brace for precautionary measures before carting her off to the hospital for further evaluation. Before leaving the court Steele gave her teammates and fans the thumbs-up to indicated that she was ok. Get well soon Jasmine.

The Final Score: Midfield 84 - Deshler 52

Erica Baylor and Courtney Jones were named the tournaments Co-MVP's. Jones was was last years MVP as well.

All-Tournament Team selections (from r-l) Meredith Mitchell-Midfield, Birdie Bowens-Deshler, Erica Baylor-Midfield, Tarnisha Whitson-Deshler and Courtney Jones-Midfield

Scoring Recap

	Midfield H.S.		Total	3-pt		Rebounds
No.	Player	p	fgm-fga	fgm-fga	ftm-fta	off-def	tot	pf	tp	a	to	blk	stl
12	TURNER, Brandi	*	2-5	0-0	7-8	2-2	4	2	11	2	1	0	3
22	JONES, Courtney	*	6-11	0-1	1-2	4-7	11	4	13	5	4	4	1
24	YOUNG, Brittany	*	2-15	0-1	0-0	2-5	7	0	4	2	3	0	1
34	BAYLOR, Erica	*	9-13	5-7	2-2	2-2	4	3	25	1	0	0	0
44	MITCHELL, Meredith	*	7-13	0-1	4-7	3-1	4	3	18	2	2	0	6
04	ADAMS, Tyla	-	0-1	0-1	1-2	0-2	2	1	1	0	0	0	0
05	STEELE, Jasmine	-	2-3	1-2	1-2	0-1	1	0	6	0	0	0	1
10	BRAGG, Asia	-	0-0	0-0	0-0	1-0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
14	LOWE, LaKiera	-	0-1	0-0	0-0	1-0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
30	ANDERSON, Adrienne	-	0-0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	3	0	0	0	0	0
40	LOWE, LaKenya	-	2-3	1-1	1-2	1-1	2	2	6	1	0	0	1
	Team Totals	-	30-65	7-14	17-25	16-22	38	18	84	13	10	4	13
	Deshler H.S		Total	3-point		Rebounds
No.	Player	p	fgm-fga	fgm-fga	ftm-fta	off-def	tot	pf	tp	a	to	blk	stl
12	Southern, Ashley	*	3-7	0-0	0-0	5-4	9	3	6	0	3	0	0
15	Whitson, Tarnisha	*	4-12	0-0	4-4	4-3	7	4	12	0	2	0	0
20	Bowens, Birdie	*	4-14	0-4	4-4	1-7	8	3	12	2	4	1	0
23	Jackson, Ashleigh	*	3-6	1-2	3-3	2-4	6	3	10	2	7	0	1
25	Ragland, Jasmine	*	1-10	0-4	3-5	2-2	4	2	5	5	6	0	3
10	Hudson, Cassie	-	0-0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
11	Dixon, Jothani	-	0-0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
13	Barton, LaNetha	-	0-1	0-1	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
14	Jones, Victoria	-	0-0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
21	Terrell, Frankie	-	0-0	0-0	0-0	1-0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
33	Madden, JaBria	-	0-2	0-0	1-2	1-0	1	1	1	0	0	0	0
35	Smith, Equilla	-	0-1	0-0	0-0	0-1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
43	Harris, Tori	-	3-5	0-0	0-1	3-0	3	0	6	0	1	1	0
	TEAM Totals	-	18-58	1-11	15-19	22-24	46	17	52	9	24	2	4