West Point Lady Warriors going back to the NW Regional:
Faulkner sisters guide Lady Warriors over Ardmore in S-R:
GDW Analysis:
WEST POINT: While one member of West Point's triple threat played only 3:00 of the first half due to foul trouble, the sister combo of Jaelyn and Camryn Faulkner delivered scoring in a blaze Friday evening that the Ardmore Lady Tigers could not contain.
In the first half, the sister act tallied 29 points between them with 16 from PG Jaelyn and 13 by SG Camryn.
A 26 to 4 run in the 2nd allowed West Point to go on to a romp of 77 to 33 of Ardmore and return to the AHSAA 5A Northwest Regional next week at Wallace State.
Laklin Shadix was charged with her 3rd foul at 4:37 of the opening period as the Lady Warriors were battled by the Lady Tigers in the opening frame.
West Point started out on top 7 to 0 then Ardmore closed to 8 to 7 after Shadix went to the bench.
Kealie Harbison got a three late in the period to put the Lady Warriors ahead 14 to 11 when time expired.
In the 2nd, the Faulkner sisters carried the scoring load for John Welborn's Lady Warriors. Jaleyn had 12 in the period, 2 treys, 4 FGs with Camryn scoring 3 FGs, two of them from outside.
West Point allowed Ardmore 2 FGs in the 2nd and enjoyed a 40 to 15 halftime advantage.
Shadix came back on to the floor and showed her offense in scoring three straight times and having 10 in the 3rd.
A FG she scored made it 47 to 15. Caitlee Simmons tallied a layup later and the margin grew to 40 points at 57 to 17.
The Lady Warriors went into the 4th with a 63 to 25 lead. They had scored 49 points from the 2nd and 3rd period in overcoming a tough time in the Area 15 final as they held off pesky Russellville 46 to 38.
Welborn set his key starters for the 4th. Kenadi Pagan, an 8th grader, scored twice on a FG and a 3, Chloe Hale nailed a three, Mary Beth Penn got a FG and senior Katie Beth Yovino scored in the paint. That was 12 of their 14 points in the period by reserves with 10 earning scoring honors in this game.
Jaelyn Faulkner had 19, Camryn Faulkner 15, Shadix 11, Kealie Harbison 10, Pagan 9. Simmons 4, Patton Fell 2, Yovino 2, Penn 2 and Hale 3.
West Point, # 5 in the final 5A state ranking, is 23 & 5 and back to the Sweet 16 of the postseason.
In the last 2 years, the Lady Warriors have 47 wins and 12 losses, winners of the area and sub regional.
West Point will play Arab Thursday in a regional semifinal from Tom Drake Coliseum.
Arab went to Etowah County stunned Sardis 65 to 55 in sub regional play Friday.
Game time is to be announced. The game will be live February 13 on WKUL FM (92.1).
Photo of West Point defenders Kaitlee Simmons (2), Laklin Shadix (1) and Jaelyn Faulkner (23) against Good Hope SG Ava McSwain in the Cullman County championship January 25 at Wallace State.
Photo courtesy of Martha Needham.
