Class 5A Area 14 Tournament | Arab 76, Scottsboro 65 Scottsboro's gritty upset try falls short

Scottsboro played perhaps its best game of the season, but a barrage of Arab free throws allowed the top-seeded Knights to fend off the fourth-seeded Wildcats' upset attempt for a 76-65 victory in the Class 5A Area 14 Tournament semifinals Thursday night at AHS.

Arab made 43 of 59 foul shots, including 22 of 29 during a fourth quarter in which it did not make a shot from the field. The Knights had only 14 field goals the entire game.

Arab (22-9) advanced to play second-seeded Fort Payne, a 37-31 semifinal winner over third-seeded Madison County, in tonight's championship game at 6 p.m. The loss ended Scottsboro's season at 14-13, its first winning season since the 2008-09 campaign.

The Wildcats didn't go down without putting a scare into the Knights. 

Arab, which got an eight-point flurry from recent junior varsity promotion Cally Bledsoe — she sank two 3-pointers and a long 2-pointer in a 1:39 span late in the second quarter — helped the Knights to pull in front 37-30 at halftime. Two free throws from Aquanita Branford and a trey from Katie Kirkland to begin the third quarter pulled the Wildcats within 37-35, but Arab followed with a 10-1 run and ultimately led by 14 before taking a 54-43 lead into the fourth quarter.

Back-to-back 3-pointers from Mary Ellen Sandlin over a 15-second span — the second after a steal by Emily Glover — sparked a Scottsboro comeback, pulling the Wildcats within 56-50 with 6:43 to play. Scottsboro eventually got within four at 64-60 with 1:48 to play, but free throws from the Knights, who went to a stall offense after Sandlin's 3s, held the Wildcats off. Arab closed the game by making eight free throws in the final minute to seal it.

Arab's Hannah Black sank 14 of 17 foul shots, including 9 of 10 in the fourth quarter, on her way to a game-high 22 points. The Knights also got 16 points from Cassie Hayes and 14 from Kylie Moore. 

Sandlin led Scottsboro with 17 points while Branford had 11 and Glover 10. Mackenzie Edmondson and Katie Kirkland closed with nine points apiece.

Robin Kirkland said the outcome was the only thing she would change about Scottsboro's performance, praising the team's character and toughness it displayed during the game.

"This group was not going to lay down after getting (behind)," she said. "I'm really proud of them."

Scottsboro closed the season by winning four of its last six games, and  the coach believes the way in which it did so is a glimpse at the future.

"We're reaching that full potential, that's what satisfying about it," Robin Kirkland said. "They should have a lot of confidence. And our seniors — they're a great group — they should be proud that they set that benchmark for getting us going (in the right direction)."