T.R. Miller’s Jadin Curry, right, makes it tough for Mobile Christian’s Trenity Jenkins-Gaines to get off a shot Tuesday during the Class 3A South Regional finals at Montgomery’s Garrett Coliseum. The Tigers won, 41-26. (Helen Joyce/Call News)
Mobile Christian’s Hadley Kelly is double teamed by T.R. Miller defenders Tuesday. The Leopards had 17 turnovers in the 41-26 loss. (Helen Joyce/Call News)
By JIMMY WIGFIELD
MONTGOMERY — T.R. Miller made sure that Mobile Christian found no refuge on the court from its tenacious defense, long a hallmark of a girls program with four state championships.
That collection of Blue Maps could grow to five next week.
The No. 4-ranked Tigers held the Leopards to only five made field goals in a 41-26 win Tuesday in the Class 3A South Regional finals at Garrett Coliseum.
Miller (22-1) will take a 14-game winning streak into its state tournament semifinal against Lauderdale County Tuesday at 9 a.m. at Legacy Arena in Birmingham. The Tigers’ closest game in their winning streak is 13 points.
Regional MVP Jadin Curry had 12 points and 10 rebounds and Miller’s ball pressure was so good that Mobile Christian failed to take advantage of Curry’s absence when she got two early fouls.
“It scared me for a minute there but we had other girls on the bench step up and do a good job and helped us pull through,” said Tigers coach Lamonyn Burney, who replaced retired Hall of Fame coach Ronald Jackson last summer.
Burney had little to worry about as his defense put strong woman-to-woman pressure on the Leopards once the ball was inbounded from the baseline and gave them few uncontested shots.
“The full 94 feet and make them work, you know what I mean?” said Burney, whose defense forced Mobile Christian into 17 turnovers and 5-of-33 shooting. “We pride ourselves on the defensive end. My girls bought in since this summer. We bought in on the defensive end. We know that’s what wins our games and we did a great job today. That’s our identity. This tradition’s been going on for years.”
Burney said Jackson has been helpful in the coaching transition but noted: “Those shoes are huge. I can’t even explain it.”
It was easier to explain what happened to the Leopards, who led for only three minutes in the first period but kept the game relatively close until Miller’s 6-0 run in the third period gave it a 26-15 lead. Mobile Christian got no closer than eight points the rest of the way.
“They just speed you up, make you play faster, make you rush, make quick decisions,” said Leopards coach Kenny Wright, whose team finished 16-7. “I think my girls, at times, handled their pressure extremely well. … They make you start your offense almost at halfcourt with pressure and being in passing lanes and it’s hard to get anything below the three-point line. And then once you get past that, they have that big (the 6-4 Curry) down there. She’s a rim protector. She does a great job of using her height and size to alter shots. Today came down to us putting the ball in the basket. We just couldn’t score.”
Curry’s 10 rebounds also helped the Tigers dominate the offensive boards 22-9, leading to a 21-2 advantage in second-chance points.
Wright said he is looking forward to next season, however, as Mobile Christian returns four starters.
“We’ve just got to get back in the lab,” he said. “I’m super proud of our girls. The future’s bright.”
Trenity Jenkins-Gaines led the Leopards with 12 points.
