GDW Analysis:
HANCEVILLE: Arab senior Lily Livingston is the one to spoil the dream of the West Point Lady Warriors of reaching the Elite Eight in AHSAA 5A basketball.
Livingston got her only offensive rebound of the game Thursday in the Northwest Regional and made it count for Arab.
She hit a baseline jumper with 0:03 to play, Arab would claim a thrilling 51 to 50 encounter against the Area 15 champion, in the Sweet 16 for the 4th time in the last 6 years.
Livingston is part of heritage for Arab basketball. She was on the 2023 team that made a great run to the Final Four and finish 2nd that year to Pleasant Grove.
Livingston made herself be known to West Point with 8 in the opening period as the Lady Knights moved out to a 16 to 8 advantage.
West Point managed to overcome shooting woes and deal with foul problems.
John Welborn's Lady Eagles had a 20 point 2nd period with key scoring plays coming from Kealie Harbison on a three point play and a running jumper in the closing seconds by Jaelyn Faulkner.
West Point cut the deficit to 31 to 28 at intermission.
One issue that is to be looked at was free throws. Arab had 18 trips to the line by the end of the half to 5 for West Point.
The Arabian Knights hit a dozen in the first half, West Point made three.
It was Arab 40 to 38 to go into the 4th. The drama was moving onward.
Jaelyn Faulkner had a big stanza for West Point, scoring 7 with the Lady Warriors getting the lead and trying to hold on to it.
However, the Lady Warriors went 2 of 6 from the line, a critical situation in determining the outcome.
Arab, down a point, worked for good shot in the final seconds. Livingston was able to get on the right side near the basket, gather the rebound following a miss and score for the first time in the final half with the game hanging in the balance.
Livingston had 17, shooting 60 percent from the field. Maggie Chastain scored 9 as did sophomore Hailey Price off the bench.
Arab, with former Fairview native, Terrance Maze in his first season, has the Lady Knights at 18 & 12 and into the Elite 8 Monday.
A 22 point outing by Jaelyn Faulkner was a highlight for West Point.
Laklin Shadix tallied 13 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.
Harbison and Caitlee Simmons netted 7.
A key statistic was Camryn Faulkner with 2 points, missing 2 FTs in the 4th and only playing 14:00 due to early game foul trouble.
Arab had a huge advantage at the stripe, 19 of 26, shooting 7 of 8 in the 2nd half.
West Point was just 5 of 11, converting 33 percent from the line in the last 8:00.
The Lady Warriors have 23 wins against 6 losses.
In the past 2 seasons, Welborn's team has delivered 47 to the victory column and only 12 losses.
West Point will be expected to form a solid team next year as the Faulkner sisters, Shadix, Simmons, Patton Fell and Harbison return.
Photo of Laklin Shadix from West Point in the Cullman County tournament semifinal vs. Vinemont January 23.
Photo courtesy of Martha Needham.
