ASU, ASU, ASU! And basketball, too

That slap you just heard was me tagging in for David Morrison. I'm taking over for him the rest of the way here on this Tuesday at the Central Regional at Alabama State.

I'll try to keep you guys as up to date as he did. On the docket for me today is ... Reeltown vs. Pickens County (which just started), Lanett girls vs. St. Jude (at 6 p.m.) and Lanett boys vs. R.C. Hatch (at 7 p.m.)

1ST: PC 8, REEL 7: 2:04: Reeltown is hanging in with the state's No. 1 2A team. Rodney O'Neal just hit a DEEP 3-pointer to pull the Rebels within 1 point.

End of 1st: REEL 14, PC 12: Reeltown got a boost from Rodney O'Neal with back-to-back 3-pointers. After trailing 8-2 to open the game, the Rebels went on a 10-0 run, and now lead it heading into the second quarter.

2ND: REEL 28, PC 22: 2:37: Reeltown is hot from behind the 3-point arc. Really hot.

HALF: REEL 33, PC 28: Remember how I said Reeltown was hot from behind the arc ... .how's 40 percent? But the Rebels aren't as hot as Pickens County, who's hit 5-of-8 of its 3-pointers. That's 62.5 percent. That's scorching.
But, the Rebels have the lead, thanks in large part to Rodney O'Neal's 10 points, with 9 of them coming on 3-pointers.

3RD: REEL 43, PC 39: Pickens is starting to press, which is giving the Rebels trouble. Reeltown isn't as hot anymore from the outside, but they're getting some buckets inside.

END OF 3RD: PC 51, REEL 46: Pickens County's press was too much for the Rebels at the end of the third. The Tornadoes caused four consecutive turnovers during the final minute and a half which they converted to points. Pickens is currently on a 9-0 run, and Reeltown hasn't gotten the ball past half court in 1:30.

3RD: PC 59, REEL 51: 3:30: Pickens is still pressing, and Reeltown is still having trouble. And the Rebels are in foul trouble as a team. One player has already fouled out and there are a bunch on the floor with 3 or more fouls.

FINAL: PC 71, REEL 63:

Lanett vs. St. Jude girls

END 1ST: LAN 19, STJ 15: Got a late start watching this game, as I was talking to Reeltown head coach Richard Bell. I'll be back soon.

HALF: LAN 37, STJ 23: I looked up from writing my Reeltown-Pickens County gamer and the Panther girls are way, way up. Lanett held St. Jude to just 8 points in the second quarter. The Panthers are shooting 53.6 percent for the game, with Shamiya Hicks leading the way with 19 points. That's right 19 POINTS!

END 3RD: LAN 46, STJ 34 : The score would have been a lot more in favor of the Panthers if it wasn't for 6 straight points from Taylor Sippial to end the quarter for St. Jude. But Lanett taking care of business right now. If they keep it up, it looks like the Panthers will play R.C. Hatch in the Central Regional Final on Thursday at 6:20 p.m. Just 8 minutes to go.

FINAL: LAN 64, STJ 54

Lanett vs. R.C. Hatch boys

END OF 1ST: LAN 16, RCH 13: Lanett took advantage of there being no shot clock in high school basketball. With a 14-10 lead, the Panthers held on to the ball between the circles for what seemed like half the quarter. (It wasn't, but it seemed like it.)

HALF: LAN 36, RCH 17: Yep, the Bobcats scored just 4 points in the second quarter. Lanett scored 20.

END OF 3RD: LAN 50, RCH 35: The Bobcats cut the lead to 11 points midway through the quarter, going on a 10-0 run, but the Panthers answered with an 8-2 run. Lanett's 8 minutes away from the Central Regional finals, which will be Thursday night against Pickens County.

FINAL: LAN 61, RCH 59: What a finish. R.C. Hatch outscored Lanett 24-11 in the final quarter to almost, almost, pull off the upset. Lanett led by as many as 22 points in the third quarter, but the Bobcats hacked away at the lead. They were just 2 points shy.
The Panthers move on to the Central Regional final against No. 1 Pickens County on Thursday night.