AHSAA Girls Basketball at Joe Shults Gymnasium:
Lee Huntsville 11 5 10 15 - 41 (2 & 8)
Fairview: 4 19 9 14 - 46 (7 & 4)
Fairview: Darby Nichols 10, Whitney Quick 10, Arleigh Harris 10, Maci Gregory 6, Kelsi Redding 5, Davi Stidham 5.
Lee: Kariah Ervin 12:
GDW Analysis:
Adversity was unfortunately presented to the Lady Aggies prior to game time.
A double digit scorer, center Kailyn Redding, was unable to play after she was diagnosed with an illness.
Redding had played well for the Lady Aggies with 16 in a game vs. No. 2 Guntersville on December 16 and a season high 23 points in a 79 to 60 home victory December 18 against Austin High School.
Having to change the starting lineup, coach Chris Nichols saw his group manage one FG in the first period, a shot scored by Quick on their first possession.
Lee was working the ball inside to Ervin with Ervin having success to get the Lady Generals out to an 11 to 4 lead when the period closed out.
Fairview then shook off the sluggish opening period by scoring 7 shots in the 2nd.
Two treys from Maci Gregory was a boost with the Lady Aggies going on a 19 to 5 run and moving ahead at the break, 23 to 16.
Fairview continued to stay ahead but Lee would never go away.
A big play for the Lady Aggies came at the 2:00 mark of the 4th on a steal and layup by Nichols to make it 43 to 36.
A couple of FTs by Stidham at 1:36 upped the lead to 45 to 36, the largest of the evening for the home side.
Lee did convert a pair of FGs and trailed 45 to 41 with 0:13 to go.
Stidham hit one of two from the line as time ran out and the Lady Aggies had their 6th win in their last 8 games and 7th overall.
Fairview has played one of the toughest schedules for local ladies' basketball.
They have met Cold Springs, Good Hope, Holly Pond and Vinemont who are currently ranked in their respective class in the state poll. The Lady Aggies have earned victory over Cold Springs and Holly Pond while Good Hope and Vinemont were victorious in recent matchups.
Then add 5A, Area 14 rivals Scottsboro who is 1st in the rankings and Guntersville 2nd, plus a pair of 7A programs in Austin from Decatur and Lee from Huntsville for the week prior to Christmas break.
Photo of Fairview guard Whitney Quick in pregame before contest with Lee Huntsville Saturday at Joe Shults Gymnasium.
GDW photo by Johnny Thornton.
