By By Lindsey Sherrill
Staff Writer
In the final game of the Escambia Academy's New Year's Eve Classic Basketball tournament Saturday night, sponsored by United Bank, the EA Lady Cougars topped the Autauga Academy Lady Generals 44-33.
'This was a big win," said EA Head Coach Chad Prewett. "This team beat us by 15 earlier in the year so this is a game we had circled on our schedule. It was a little bit of a payback and we did real well."
Leading EA in both rebounds and points was Lori Bonds. Bonds had 18 points on the night and eight rebounds. Jessica Gibbs scored ten points and had five rebounds, Meagan Jackson had seven points and one rebound, Kaylie Castleberry scored four points and had seven rebounds, Mandy Norton scored three points and had three rebounds, Anna Parish scored two points and had four rebounds, and Rayleen Miller had two rebounds.
Although they failed to capture the tourney title, the Lady Generals improved their season record to 9-3 with wins over Wilcox Academy and Pike Liberal Arts Academy during the tournament.
Julie Fuller had 14 points and six rebounds and Heather Wainwright added six points and grabbed 13 baskets for the Lady Generals in the championship contest.
"I think the girls played their hearts out. A couple of calls didn't go our way and the girls got a little frustrated but I'm proud of them," Lady Generals Head Coach Sharry Shirley said. "They left everything out on the court and you can't ask any more of them than that. I think us coming in as a 1A school and playing 2A and 3A schools will definitely help us in the state tournament."
Most valuable team member awards for the tournament were given to Rae Pinkard of Pike Liberal Arts Academy, RaSarah Browder of Wilcox Academy, Julie Fuller and Heather Wainwright of Autauga Academy and Meagan Jackson and Jessica Gibbs of Escambia Academy. Lori bonds of EA was named tournament Most Valuable Player.
Coach Sharry Shirley and the Autauga Lady Generals took the 1st runner's up trophy while Coach Chad Prewett and the EA Lady Cougars were named tournament champions.
The Lady Cougars faced Monroe Academy at home Tuesday night. The results of that contest were not available as of press time.They will take on Calvary Christian on Friday and Taylor Road Academy Saturday. Both games are away.