GDW Analysis:
BIRMINGHAM: Lauderdale County Lady Tigers was no in sync in the 1st half of the 3A state championship game with St. James Friday afternoon.
Down 27 to 15 at the half and allowing St. James a 6 to 0 run to start the 3rd, going down by 18 points.
Lauderdale played with a never give up attitude and it worked. The Lady Tigers went on to a 58 to 52 OT victory, winning their first AHSAA championship since 2016.
The 2nd half lived up to the tagline of No. 1 Lauderdale County against No. 2 St. James.
As the game went down crunch time and into OT, the experience of Lauderdale with three seniors as starters and two juniors, made its point against a St. James lineup that had a pair of 8th graders, two freshman and a sophomore.
Lauderdale forced 22 turnovers that led to the Lady Tigers scoring 24 points.
Senior Shila Marks got into a flow many have seen throughout her prep career.
She would deliver 32 points in her final game, hitting 11 of 15 ad going 7 of 10 from the FT line. Sarah Smith had 8 rebounds to be a big factor.
Armani Thomas got 10 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists before fouling out late in regulation.
Marks was named the tournament MVP. She is bound to play at ACCC power Shelton State next season.
Lauderdale, in the state championship for the first time since 2020 and under a new commander in Carla Clemons, pulled off one of the most amazing rallies in the history of this program located in Rogersville. The Lady Tigers went 34 & 1 for the season.
Sophomore Natalie Barton stood out for St. James, scoring 17, shooting 5 of 7 from the line, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. She earned a spot on the all tournament team.
"It was a long ball game," Clemons said. "We kept playing. I told them to keep your head up."
Lauderdale Co is the first team out of the Northwest Regional to win a state title in 2025.
Brilliant Lady Tigers lost the 1A crown to Spring Garden Thursday evening. Decatur Heritage was defeated Friday morning in 2A by Pisgah.
Photo courtesy of the AHSAA.
