Belle Hill and Madie Sain mixed for 38 factors as Mars Hill Bible knocked off Chilly Springs 60-50 to advance to their second consecutive Class 2A state championship sport.
Hill, a 6-foot eighth-grader who was MVP of the Panthers state championship win over the Eagles final season, scored 20 factors and grabbed 11 rebounds within the win.
“My teammates are all the time pushing me,” Hill stated. “I’m so grateful for the chance, and I’m excited for an additional probability to win it.”
Sain, who added 18 factors and 10 rebounds, hit 7 straight factors from the perimeter after Chilly Springs had reduce to sport to a single bucket at 31-29.
“I observed that they dropping down low,” the 5-6 senior stated. “They left me open and I used to be capable of make the most of it.”
Chilly Springs opened the sport on a 10-2 run behind Ella Brier, who led the Eagles with 14 factors. Paizley Whitlow, Kayla Taylor and Ciara Calvert every added 10 factors within the loss.
Star of the sport: Hill was 8-of-18 from the sector and 4-of-6 from the free-throw line. Hill, whose mother performed at Alabama, is barely an eighth grader.
Stat sheet: Mars Hill Bible (24-5) shot 46 % from the sector and held Chilly Springs (27-5) to 36 % capturing, together with 25 % from past the 3-point arc.
Coachspeak: “Chilly Springs has an important staff, and it was a combat as we speak. I actually pleased with our women.” – Mars Hill Bible coach Flori Sweatt
“These seniors are the closest factor to teaching my daughter. I harm for them as a result of they’re good children and never as a result of we misplaced. Two years in the past, I by no means thought it was attainable for us to make it right here. Now, now we have achieved it in back-to-back seasons.” – Chilly Springs coach Tammy West
By the numbers: The Panthers will likely be going for his or her ninth state championship and second in a row.
Do you know? Solely three gamers on the Mars Hill Bible are sufficiently old to drive.
Subsequent up: Mars Hill Bible takes on the winner of Ider/Luverne sport on Friday at 9 a.m. for the state championship.
