By By Paul Keane
Publisher
Escambia Academy's boys and girls basketball teams are hoping that Valentine's Day doesn't prove to be a heartbreaker.
That's because both the Cougars and Lady Cougars will be playing in the AISA 2A Regional Basketball Tournament at Faulkner University in Montgomery that day. A loss would end the season for EA.
The girls get things rolling with a 9 a.m. game against Taylor Road Academy. The boys will follow that contest with a game against Dixie Academy, scheduled to tip off at 10:30 a.m.
Winners from Friday's action will advance to the AISA Final Four, to be played Feb. 20-22 at Huntingdon College in Montgomery. The first round of games in that tournament are set for 3:30 p.m., 5 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Feb. 28, with the state championship games slated for 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 21.
EA head coach Chad Prewett takes two area championship teams into regional play this weekend, with both the boys and girls squads coming away with victories at home Friday night to win the crowns. Both the area champion and runner-up advance to regional play, and Prewett pointed out that being the runner-up cost his boys squad last year because it had to play a higher seed in first round action.
Taylor Road Academy is the No. 2 seed out of 2A Area 1 while Dixie Academy is the No. 2 seed out of that area on the boys side.
In a related matter, Escambia Academy placed three players each on the all-tournament teams at Friday night's area tournament.
On the girls side, Jessica Gibbs earned Most Valuable Player honors, joining teammates Meagan Jackson and Jamie Drew on the all-tournament squad.
Also named to the girls all-tournament team was Rachel Dunleavy of Evangel Christian, Cindy Bell of Calvary Christian and Chelsea Kilpatrick and Jessica St. Sin, both of Lowndes Academy.
For the boys, EA's Bradford Price was named Most Valuable Player. Joining him from the Cougars were Jace Beasley and Cole Norton.
Also named to the all-tournament team was Cameron Bell of Calvary Christian, Thomas Bartley of Lowndes Academy and Josh Thornton and Chris Setsole, both of Evangel Christian.