Vigor’s Jamonica Miller gets some rough treatment from Brewbaker Tech’s defense during Thursday’s 45-31 win in the Class 5A South Regional finals at Montgomery’s Garrett Coliseum. (Helen Joyce/Call News)
By JIMMY WIGFIELD
MONTGOMERY — The last time Vigor’s girls were in Garrett Coliseum, they lost a controversial game in which an apparent scoring error deprived them of victory.
On Thursday, the Wolves weren’t going to let it be close enough to be decided by anyone other than themselves.
Jamonica Chamber scored 15 points and Sealediah Brow added 14 as Vigor led from start to finish in a 45-31 victory over Brewbaker Tech in the Class 5A South Regional semifinals at Garrett Coliseum.
The Wolves (22-10) will take an 11-game winning streak into Tuesday’s 12:30 p.m. regional final against UMS-Wright (24-8).
Vigor’s defense held the Rams (16-18) to 2-of-14 shooting from three-point range and closed the game with a 10-0 run over the final 6½ minutes. No Brewbaker players reached double figures in scoring.
“I’m proud of them,” Wolves coach Andrea Powell. “They worked the game plan and we were able to finish strong. The game plan coming in was play defense, play smart.”
Vigor led 17-3 in the first period and a rout appeared to be imminent but the Rams rallied to trail just 25-20 at halftime.
“The hype got to them a little bit, we started doing extra stuff, but at halftime I’m saying, ‘All I need you to do is play defense. I don’t need you to do nothing extra,’ and we got back to Vigor basketball,” Powell said.
Powell said last year’s 50-49 loss to Eufaula in the regional semifinals has filled her players with a resolve to win what they feel was taken away from them.
“That was the fire and that drive we needed,” she said. “So, persevere no matter what, we’re not going to let the refs determine our outcome. We’re going to determine our outcome and that’s why I was proud of them, that we played through everything, through calls and everything.”
The Wolves should have won that game 44-43 in regulation if the scoring error had been corrected, Powell said. Jamyia Washington made one of two free throws with 5:57 left to give Vigor a 39-33 lead. But with 3:42 left and the score tied 39-39, a point was removed from the Wolves’ total to reflect the scoreboard inside Garrett Coliseum, which is run by the officiating crew at the scorer’s table.
Powell said she called a timeout to ask about the missing point and, after some discussion, it was agreed the score should be 39-39. A few seconds later, Vigor’s point disappeared again. Moments later, Powell said one of the referees told her he had to go by the 38 points counted at the scorer’s table. The score was tied 43-43 at the end of regulation, forcing overtime.
The official play-by-play sheet showed Washington missing both free throws, although the broadcast clearly showed Washington making the second one.
The Wolves lost to UMS-Wright 48-35 in the season opener but Powell doesn’t expect a similar outcome in the regional finals.
“We played them early but we weren’t where we’re at now,” she said. “It’s a different team. I’ve got shooters that are shooting. It’s going to be a good matchup. We’re looking forward to it. Can’t wait.”
