The first time for the last over 24 seasons, Florala is headed to the AHSAA State Finals after taking defeat to Brantley with a score of 58-46. the South 1A Boys Regional championship at Montgomery’s Garrett Coliseum on Thursday, February. 23.
South Regional MVP Rayshon Coleman left, splits three Brantley defensemen in his journey to the hoop, scoring two points. (PHOTO by ZACK MAIO)
The Wildcats increased their record to 23-7 for the year and are scheduled for an opponent against the defending champion Covenant Christian on Monday, February. 27 between 10:30 and 11 a.m. in Birmingham’s Legacy Arena. The Bulldogs concluded the year with a 27-4 mark, with two of their four defeats came against Florala.
Jayden Bradberry is a player on offense in his team the Wildcats in the match against Jordan Parks of the Bulldogs. (PHOTO by ZACK MAIO)
Lorey Bogen Jr. Bogen Jr. gave BHS an immediate lead of 2-0 before Elijah McMeans tied the score by scoring a layup. Following another basket from Bogen, Rayshon Coleman evened the score at 4-4. Jayden Bradberry hit 3 points to take 7-4, which remained throughout the game. Layups by Dalton Jackson and Christian Greasham increased out the margin to 12-5. Bogen made a 3-pointer in 1:08 of the first quarter, however, McMeans completed a layup and gave FHS an advantage of 16-8 with 8 minutes remaining.
Brantley began the second half by scoring two free throws as well as an in-flection by Janyles Tyson to reduce his deficit down to 16-12. Florala was able to take advantage of an 11-2 run, and then seized the momentum to take the lead of 28-14. Coleman made three free throws in the offensive surge, and finished the run with an explosive dunk. Kedrick Brown was 2-for-2 from the line. Coleman maintained his impressive shooting by scoring four of four on the stripe during the final 30 seconds. Robert Shine had a layup when the clock ran out and the score at halftime was 32-19.
Elijah McMeans of Florala executes a powerful shot to the basket, versus Brantley’s Lorey Bogen Jr. (PHOTO by ZACK MAIO)
The offense had cooled in the Wildcats with just six points in the third quarter. Coleman was able to score a layup and another dunk, and Jackson played the team’s second bucket. Jon Kilcrease cut the deficit to 36-22 after the help of a three, while Shine made to lay up. Basketballs from Brown as well as Daylan Davis cut the deficit by 10 to. Brown made two free throws in the final minutes as the Bulldogs made it a one-digit deficit at 38-30 , after three.
BHS could get the score down to six twice during the fourth quarter, but was unable to draw more. Coleman extended the lead to 11 by scoring a three-pointer at the 4:44 mark in the final frame. Brown was able to respond similarly and cut the gap to 47-39. Three foul shots made by Jackson as well as Landon Prescott along with a layup by Greasham made the score 52-39. Greasham and Coleman kept scoring for FHS and Bogen scored seven of the final seven points in the game.
Coleman who was named the regional MVP, scored the score of 29 for Florala during the victory. Greasham also scored double figures with 10 points and was then Jackson and McMeans with six. Bogen Brown and Bogen Brown were the two best players in Brantley with 16 and 17 points respectively in the defeat.
The story 24 YEARS IN THE MAKE: Florala handles Brantley by 12 to win the South Regional title appeared first on The Andalusia Star-News.
