The Morris Lady Eagles’ bid for their first state tournament appearance since 2011 was ended this past Saturday afternoon with a 58-45 loss to the Heritage Hall Lady Chargers.
The Morris Lady Eagles’ bid for their first state tournament appearance since 2011 was ended this past Saturday afternoon with a 58-45 loss to the Heritage Hall Lady Chargers.
The season-ending loss to Heritage Hall came in the consolation championship game of the Class 3A, Area IV, regional tournament at Jones High School.
The Lady Eagles, who finish the 2023-2024 season with an 11-16 record, found themselves in the loser’s side of the regional tournament bracket after a 37-33 loss to the Eufaula Lady Ironheads in last Thursday’s winner’s bracket semifinal contest at Chandler High School.
The Morris ladies rebounded from the loss by defeating the Star Spencer Lady Bobcats 58-46 in last Friday’s consolation semifinal contest at Jones High School.
Below are summaries from the Morris Lady Eagles’ participation at the Class 3A, Area IV, regional basketball championships at Chandler and Jones high schools.
--- Winner’s Bracket Semifinals
Eufaula 37, Morris 33
The Lady Eagles trailed 11-6 after one and 31-18 at halftime. The Morris ladies took the final two quarters by margins of 9-8 and 6-3, respectively, but wound up on the short end of a 37-33 outcome.
Alexis Schell led Morris in scoring with eight points, followed by Emma Duclos with six, Taylor Phillips and Asiah Barnett five each, Fire Clark four, Lillian Giddens three, and Kaylynn Lukenbill two.
--- Consolation Semifinals Morris 58, Star Spencer 46
The Lady Eagles jumped out to an early double-digit lead - 19-9 - after the first eight minutes of action, then went into the intermission with a 3524 advantage after edging the Lady Bobcats 16-15 in the second quarter.
Star Spencer cut the Morris lead to six, 42-36, after coming out of the third period with a 12-7 advantage. The Lady Eagles closed out their season-saving victory by outscoring their foes 16-10 in the final frame for the 58-46 decision.
Emma Duclos led a balanced offensive attack for Morris with a teamhigh 15 points. Duclos was joined in double figures by Fire Clark with 12. Other Lady Eagle scorers in the double- digit win were Asiah Barnett with seven, Taylor Phillips six, Lillian Giddens five, Reese Pendley and Alexis Schell four apiece, Ashlyn Clevenger and Shelby Washington two each, and Kaylynn Lukenbill one.
--- Consolation Finals
Heritage Hall 58, Morris 45
Heritage Hall took the opening frame by a 17-14 margin, while the Morris ladies edged the Lady Chargers 8-6 in a low-scoring second quarter to cut the deficit to one, 23-22, at halftime.
The Lady Eagles were unable to overtake their foes in the second half, as Heritage Hall took the final two frames by margins of 20-12 and 1511, respectively, to hand the Morris ladies the season-ending 58-45 loss.
Lillian Giddens was the top scorer for the Lady Eagles against Heritage Hall with 15 points, followed by Emma Duclos and Alexis Schell with 12 and 11, respectively. Other Morris scorers in the season-ending loss were Fire Clark with four, Asiah Barnett three, and Taylor Phillips one.
--- Class 3A Regional Tournament Winner’s Bracket Semifinals Eufaula 37, Morris 33
Eufaula: 11 - 15 - 8 - 3 (37) Morris: 6 - 12 - 9 - 6 (33) Morris Scoring: Alexis Schell 8, Emma Duclos 6, Taylor Phillips 5, Asiah Barnett 5, Fire Clark 4, Lillian Giddens 3, Kaylynn Lukenbill 2.
--- Consolation Semifinals Morris 58, Star Spencer 46
Morris: 19 - 16 - 7 - 16 (58) Star Spencer: 9 - 15 - 12 - 10 (46) Morris Scoring: Emma Duclos 15, Fire Clark 12, Asiah Barnett 7, Taylor Phillips 6, Lillian Giddens 5, Reese Pendley 4, Alexis Schell 4, Ashlyn Clevenger 2, Shelby Washington 2, Kaylynn Lukenbill 1.
--- Consolation Finals
Heritage Hall 58, Morris 45
Morris: 14 - 8 - 12 - 11 (45) Heritage: 17 - 6 - 20 - 15 (58) Morris Scoring: Lillian Giddens 15, Emma Duclos 11, Alexis Schell 11, Fire Clark 4, Asiah Barnett 3, Taylor Phillips 1.
