Birmingham, AL –Jacksonville starts off to a roaring start, and quickly takes care on Hale County in state semifinals to set up a highly anticipated match against Westminster Christian
Joe Medley Joe Medley
Jacksonville is set to play its highly anticipated match-up against Westminster Christian, and a Golden Eagle program one year removed from winning its first state championship is one win away from winning back-to-back championships. Jacksonville has scored its opening 18 points in the Class 4A state semifinal game against Hale County on Tuesday and the team dominated 82-46 at Legacy Arena.
The state champions, the defending champions, Golden Eagles (28-6), placed second in the final Alabama Sports Writers Association poll of the season, will face the top-ranked Westminster Christian (29-3) in the 5:45 p.m. final. Westminster Christian eliminated Montgomery Catholic earlier in the day 61-28. The combined margin of 69 points of Wednesday’s Class 4A semifinals was the second-highest boys’ semifinals during Alabama High School Athletic Association history. R.C. Hatch defeated Priceville 85-39 as did Lanett Beat Pickens County 73-44 for a combined score of 75 points in 2006. It only goes to illustrate why Jacksonville-Westminster Christian is 2023’s most widely anticipated 4A matchup.
Jacksonville along with Westminster Christian met in the 2022 Northeast Regional semifinals, with the Golden Eagles leading 17-0 after the opening quarter on their way to a win of 50-41. The realignment and classification change made it possible to move Westminster Christian to the Northwest Regional this year, allowing the possibility of a showdown in the state final. “They were playing in the same Christmas competition (Huntsville City Classic) like us,” Jacksonville coach Tres Buzan told reporters. “We were watching them and they also saw us. “We know that Friday will be an epic battle We look towards battles. We embrace it. We’re going out and try our best I’m sure of it.”
As Jacksonville played in the case of Westminster Christian last year, the Golden Eagles got off to an explosive start on Monday. It was the same kind of speed Jacksonville has displayed in the past. Jacksonville’s Golden Eagles scored 40 points in the third quarter of their Area 10 semifinal with Cleburne County. “The 18-0 run was incredible,” said senior guard John Broom, who amassed an all-time high of 18 points and 10 rebound. “We were out with great energy, great energy, and amazing defense. “We hit shots. We were getting into the holes and were playing in between the gaps.” The 18-0 rout in the opening minutes of the game caused Hale County coach to call timeouts at 5:10 with 12-0 and 3:44, which was an 18-0 advantage. [read more…]
