For a second consecutive season, the Escambia Academy Lady Cougars will be playing in the AISA state tournament at Huntingdon College in Montgomery later this month.

The Lady Cougars (13-6, 6-0) advanced to the tournament after defeating the Marengo Academy Lady Longhorns 37-29 in the first round of the region tournament on Thursday night at Clarke Prep in Grove Hill.

In the first half, the contest proved to be a back-and-forth affair with the Lady Cougars controlling the first quarter and the Lady Longhorns taking the momentum in the second.

The game opened with Escambia Academy finding the momentum early to build a lead on a 9-4 run.

The Lady Longhorns went on their own run in the second quarter outscoring the Lady Cougars 14-4 to take the lead before halftime 18-15.

Following the break, the Lady Cougars came out and dominated the third quarter to build a lead that the Lady Longhorns would be unable to overcome.

In the third quarter, EA found a rhythm and never looked back. The Lady Cougars were able to use their strong defense to hold the Lady Longhorns to three points, while scoring 13 of their own to build a seven-point lead.

The Lady Cougars ended the game by outscoring Marengo again in the fourth quarter 9-8 to advance in the tournament with a 37-29 win.

With the victory, the Lady Cougars are now locked into the AISA state tournament later this month. The final two days of the region tournament will help determine their seeding.

Lady Cougar Amber Huskey led EA by recording a double-double with 13 points and 20 rebounds in the win. She also recorded four steals and three blocks.

Rachel Fuller added 12 points for the Lady Cougars and also recorded three rebounds and a steal, while Grayson Emmons scored five points with three assists and a rebound.

EA’s Lacie Flowers recorded three points in the win to go along with three rebounds, three steals and two assists.

Kristen Matthews and Taylor Helton rounded out the scoring with two points each. Helton also recorded 13 rebounds, one steal and a block, while Matthews posted a rebound.