Photo: Glencoe’s Braylen Smith (left) protects the ball from Hokes Bluff’s Jason Presley during the Eagles’ 53-40 victory in the 3A Area 12 Tournament on Tuesday, Feb. 8 at Geraldine. (Courtesy of Alex Chaney Photography)
The Hokes Bluff boys and Etowah girls were the only area teams to advance from last Tuesday’s area high school basketball tournament semifinals.
The Eagles (18-8) defeated Etowah County neighbor Glencoe, 53-40, in the Class 3A Area 12 tournament at Geraldine. Hokes Bluff defeated Etowah County neighbor Glencoe, 53-40, in the Class 3A Area 12 tournament at Geraldine. Jordan Presley paced the Eagles (18-8) with 20 points while pulling down eight rebounds. Kyle Patterson finished with a double-double of 12 points and 13 rebounds, while Harrison Millander chipped in seven points. Hokes Bluff will play Geraldine for the area championship on Thursday.
Sardis’ season came to an end at the Class 5A Area 13 tournament at Douglas, where the Lions (16-11) fell to Boaz by a score of 79-70. Sardis led 19-15 after one period, fell behind 40-36 at halftime and trailed 60-53 after three quarters. Luke Martin paced the Lions with 26 points, followed by Kason Moore with 19 and Eli Morton with 12.
In other local boys action, Westbrook Christian lost to Sand Rock, 75-68, in the Class 2A Area 12 Tournament at Spring Garden; West End lost to Cleveland 67-50, in the Class 2A Area 11 Tournament at Cleveland; and Southside fell to Springville 58-38, in the Class 6A Area 13 Tournament at Springville.
In girls action, Etowah defeated Jacksonville, 44-39, and Ashville lost to Cherokee County, 53- 25, in the Class 4A Area 10 Tournament at Centre. The Lady Blue Devils will face Cherokee County in the finals on Friday.
Also on Tuesday, Coosa Christian lost to Ragland 58-14, in the Class 1A Area 10 Tournament at Ragland; Gaston fell to Spring Garden, 82-12, and Westbrook Christian lost to Sand Rock, 76-32, in the Class 2A Area 12 Tournament at Spring Garden; and Gadsden City fell to Hewitt-Trussville, 59-29, in the Class 7A Area 6 Tournament at Vestavia Hills.