Plainview star Sawyer Kate Hulgan comes up with a turnover in the Bears’ press as Jackson’s Angel Powell (32) and Kemaria Small (23) defend Tuesday night in the Class 4A state tournament semifinals at Legacy Arena in Birmingham. The Aggies suffered 30 turnovers in a 62-30 defeat. (David Holtsford/AHSAA)
Jackson’s Jalaysia Hunt (3) tries to get off a shot against Plainview’s defense Tuesday night in Birmingham. (David Holtsford/AHSAA)
By JIMMY WIGFIELD
BIRMINGHAM — No. 1-ranked Plainview didn’t need much from the nation’s all-time three-point artist Tuesday night. Instead, the Bears shattered Jackson early with a full-court press that made the Aggies feel as if they were walking barefoot on broken glass and razor blades.
Junior guard Sawyer Kate Hulgan — who set the national record for career three-pointers in January with 589 triples — scored 23 points in just 15 minutes, most of them the old-fashioned way, and Jackson had as many points as turnovers in a 62-30 loss to Plainview in the Class 4A state semifinals.
Hulgan made only a pair of three-pointers but they weren’t needed after the Bears’ full-court trapping press sent Jackson spiraling to an overwhelming defeat.
The Aggies fell behind 23-6 in the first period and it only got worse as they were outscored 36-11 off their 30 turnovers, which Plainview sucked in to get 10 layups and shoot a perfect 8-of-8 near the basket. In the first half, Jackson got off only 18 shots on 36 possessions and made only six of those tries.
Aggies coach DeAsia Lee-Ezell was reluctant to say her players felt like they were trying to squeeze through a donut hole when they inbounded the ball.
“I think the moment, you get under the lights, it’s a different atmosphere,” said Lee-Ezell, whose team finished 22-9. “My group is used to a lot of pressure but I think we got in our own way. We just picked a bad day to have a bad game.”
The Bears (34-2) won their 19th straight game by allowing Jackson to lead for only 39 seconds in the first period. Ominously, the Aggies had five turnovers in the first four minutes.
“We like to play fast,” Plainview coach Luke Griggs said. “We like to press and shoot threes and the girls’ effort was tremendous tonight. We knew if we could keep that going that we’d probably cause some trouble for some teams.”
The Bears finished with 19 steals and also outrebounded Jackson 40-33, leading to a 20-6 advantage off second chances.
Angel Powell led the Aggies with 15 points and 9 rebounds.
Lee-Ezell took solace in reaching the state tournament in her second year as Jackson’s coach.
“The outcome didn’t turn out like we wanted but we fought hard,” she said. “I don’t think we were ever ranked this season. We were always underestimated. We flew under the radar. The season started off a little shaky but we fought through it. It’s my second year coaching, so I couldn’t ask for a better team. We’ve got to go back to the drawing board and get our things right.”
