Saraland’s L.J. Williams powers inside for a basket against Murphy Wednesday in the Class 6A South Region finals at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery. Williams, the tournament MVP, scored 25 points in the Spartans’ 47-46 win. (David Holtsford/AHSAA)
Saraland’s Larry Edwards races upcourt during Wednesday’s game against Murphy. Edwards’ two free throws with 18 seconds left sealed the 47-46 win that sent the Spartans to their first state tournament. (David Holtsford/AHSAA)
Murphy’s Kinley Simmons fires up a shot against Saraland Wednesday. Simmons led the Panthers with 12 points. (David Holtsford/AHSAA)
Saraland coach Dru Powell enjoys the region championship with his father, Hall of Fame coach Danny Powell. (Jimmy Wigfield/Call News)
By JIMMY WIGFIELD
MONTGOMERY — L.J. Williams was too good, Larry Edwards was too composed and Saraland was too determined to not let three earlier losses to Murphy ruin its season.
The 6-8 sophomore Williams had 25 points and 10 rebounds, Edwards poured cement on the outcome with two foul shots as the last remaining sand in the hourglass trickled out and the Spartans shook off the trio of losses to the No. 5-ranked Panthers to win 47-46 Wednesday in the Class 6A South Region finals at Garrett Coliseum and advance to the state tournament for the first time in school history.
“There was no pressure on us,” said Williams, the tournament MVP who averaged 24.5 points and shot 68% in two regional games. “They had all the pressure. They beat us three times, they’re supposed to win. We had lot of confidence. This time, we put all the pieces together.”
Saraland (28-7) will play No. 1-ranked Oxford (28-4) in the state semifinals on March 4 at 1:30 p.m. at Legacy Arena in Birmingham. Murphy had its 11-game winning streak broken to finish 26-7.
“It’s dream come true,” Williams said. “This is the happiest day of my life.”
Spartans coach Dru Powell, who was hired three seasons ago to get the result he got Wednesday, now has his program eight periods away from the pinnacle of high school basketball in Alabama.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” he said. “We’ve got a great group of guys on and off the floor, in the classroom, just all the way around. They’re kids that are going to make great adults and husbands and great employees in the future.”
They are making great memories right now.
Williams scored off a long inbounds lob with 1:07 left to give Saraland the lead for good at 45-44.
Murphy missed two shots inside the shoebox and Williams cleared the second one off the glass before Edwards was fouled with 18 seconds remaining. As Powell tried to quench his dry mouth with a few swallows from his water bottle, Edwards made the only two foul shots he attempted for a 47-44 lead.
The Spartans were a horrendous 11 of 23 from the free-throw line in the semifinals against Russell County, prompting hundreds of foul shots in practice. They were 10 of 13 Wednesday.
“When you work at something so much, you don’t have no pressure because you worked on it for so long,” Edwards said. “It wasn’t really nothing. I knew my team needed me at that moment.”
Williams said Powell made sure his players worked off their foul-shooting debt in the week between the semifinals and finals.
“Nothing but an hour and 30 minutes of free throws one day,” Williams said.
The Panthers — who led for 22½ minutes — suddenly needed a three-pointer to tie but Saraland switched from zone to man defense and forced Derrick Neal’s layup with seven seconds left. The Spartans then inbounded the ball and ran out the clock.
Saraland’s 2-3 matchup zone was a pivotal tool in the victory, slowing Murphy’s offense and keeping its guards, particularly leading scorer Dordairus Dixon, from penetrating. Dixon was held to 8 points, half of his average, and the Panthers made just 5 of 16 three-pointers.
Powell said he noticed Murphy made just 3 of 15 threes in a semifinal win over Park Crossing and figured the Panthers were having depth-perception issues in Garrett Coliseum.
“We played them differently,” Powell said. “Obviously in this big building, we felt like they may struggle hitting shots. Their guards are lightning-quick. I expected to play them some man but fortunately we never really got to that point ’til the last possession.”
Williams — who is destined to be one of the nation’s top college prospects and whose first name is Leartist — sculpted a masterpiece in the fourth period. Here’s a quick chronological recap of all the shavings: Steal, layup off Edwards’ steal, rebound, two free throws, rebound, blocked shot, layup and rebound.
Powell wanted his star big man, who can pass, shoot and parry off the dribble, to handle the ball more out top in the second half. In the third period, he drove in for three layups, one off a spin move, converted a three-point play, made two more foul shots and scored on an alley-oop lob.
“It’s not been a secret since day one that we’re trying to get the ball in his hands pretty much any time,” Powell said. “The reason is not only can he score but he’s going to draw two or three defenders and he’s a willing passer. Thankfully, our guys are unselfish and tough and that’s why we’re moving on from tonight.”
Spartans fans chanted “SEC! SEC!” as Williams accepted the MVP plaque.
“He’s certainly a high-level player,” Powell said. “I feel like he’s the best sophomore in the state of Alabama and in the discussion for the best player in the state of Alabama.”
Williams was also a major force defensively in making Murphy miss seven of 10 shots in the fourth period and made his presence felt on the backboards after the Panthers had outrebounded Saraland 20-11 in the first half, including 13-5 on the offensive glass, to lead 24-23 at halftime.
“I feel like we rebounded harder,” Williams said. “The first half, they were rebounding harder than us and it was just a one-point game. In the second half, we came back and rebounded harder than them and we wanted it more than them.”
Nobody wanted it more than Powell, who led Spanish Fort to its first state final four appearance in 2017, heard Spartans athletic director Jeff Kelly say upon his promotion from assistant coach that “we’re looking forward to him making Saraland a championship-caliber program,” then went a soul-sapping 7-23 in his first season as the head coach.
Powell didn’t allow his players to think they had no chance after the three earlier losses to Murphy.
“There was a little bit of tweaking going on but we didn’t need to reinvent the wheel,” he said. “Our team was really good, their team’s really good and it’s unfortunate that one team’s got to go home.”
Powell recalled the Spartans had a second-half lead in all three previous games.
“Our guys came in and played with a great level of confidence,” he said.
Saraland had just 10 turnovers against the Panthers’ relentless defensive pressure that often forced the Spartans to start their offense closer to halfcourt.
Kinley Simmons led Murphy with 12 points and Josh Figures came off the bench to add 11. Saraland’s C.J. Williams scored 13 points.
Now, the Spartans have to go through the state’s No. 1-ranked team to win their first Blue Map.
“We ain’t done yet,” Edwards said. “I am not gonna let it get to my head. I love those boys in there. I knew we could get here.”
