Subregional basketball
- Updated: February 7, 2025
Nicholson shoots Jacksonville girls to first regional berth since 2018. Ranburne, Saks, Piedmont, Anniston, Alexandria girls also bound for regionals.
By Joe Medley
East Alabama Sports Today
JACKSONVILLE — Neveah Nicholson’s shooter’s confidence comes across.
It came across during Jacksonville’s 62-17 rout of visiting Corner during Friday’s Class 5A Northeast subregional game at Jacksonville. The freshman swished one of her five 3-pointers, turned and shot a swagger look at third-year Jacksonville coach Corey Mize as she passed by him.
Her confidence showed as she made funny faces and danced behind her coach during a late-game timeout.
Hey, there’s no feeling quite like that feeling that comes when the shots fall.
“It’s a real good because everybody on the team has fun,” she said. “I’m having a good time with them while we’re winning, and I’m just ready for next week.”
Nicholson’s 23 points Friday led Jacksonville (24-7) to its first Northeast Regional appearance in seven years. The Golden Eagles will play Wenonah on Feb. 14 in Pete Mathews Coliseum.
They will play at 9 a.m. or noon, pending the outcome of Jacksonville’s boys’ subregional against Springville on Saturday.
The breakthrough back to regional comes timed with a mix of two seniors, including thousand-pointer scorer Alexis Phillips, and confident young guns like Nicholson, who saw playing time before she ever got to high school.
The Golden Eagles have found their groove as a pressing team that creates offense from its defense and with multiple 3-point shooters.
There’s also no lack of want-to. Junior Mya Swain missed Friday’s game with an illness but wanted to feel a part of it. At her texted request, Mize Facetimed her for pregame, halftime and postgame locker-room speeches.
With that as the backdrop, Jacksonville eyes the next level and a bridge back to the days when Kayla Broom dribbled and shot them to The Pete.
“I just feel like there’s more to come,” Nicholson said. “I’ve got many years left. Me and my teammates, we’ve got great chemistry.
“We’re losing some people, but we’re going to try to work people up and build a new team and get right.”
Nicholson didn’t have all of the fun Friday. Junior Ontarriah Braxton added 11 points and six rebounds, and senior DeAsia Prothro added nine points to go with a team-high 11 rebounds. Jayci Taylor added six points, six rebounds, five steals and five assists.
Jacksonville scored the game’s first 19 points before Corner’s Maddie Beavers hit a 3-pointer. The Golden Eagles led 36-6 at halftime.
Other subregionals
RANBURNE 54, REELTOWN 24: Brylee Bailey led the way with 15 points, and Ranburne’s girls advanced to its first regional appearance since 2022.
The Bulldogs will play Tuscaloosa Academy in the Central Regional on Tuesday at 3 p.m. at Alabama State University.
Ranburne also got 12 points, including twoo 3-pointers, from Aubrey Anglin. Jadie Phillips hit two threes on the way to 10 points, and Brooklynn Tumlin hit two threes on the way to eight points.
SAKS 39, WESTBROOK CHRISTIAN 35: Jakailynn Carter hit a 3-pointer late in the fourth to break a tie game, and Sania Angel hit a free throw in the final seconds to seal Saks’ first Northeast Regional appearance since 2016.
Saks will play Sylvania in the Northeast Regional on Wednesday in Pete Mathews Coliseum.
Angel led the Wildcats with 13 points, followed by Carter with nine points (two 3-pointers) and Alonna Crews with seven.
Kylee Wyatt led Westbrook with 13 points.
PIEDMONT 45, RANDOLPH COUNTY 36: Carson Young hit three 3-pointers on the way to 13 points, and Piedmont’s girls clinched their second consecutive regional appearance after breaking an 11-year drought.
The Bulldogs will play Whitesburg Christian in the Northeast Regional on Wednesday at Pete Mathews Coliseum. Time is pending the outcome of Piedmont’s boys’ subregional at Weaver on Saturday.
Amiyah Thomas added nine points Friday, and the Bulldogs got seven points apiece from Morgan Studdard and Jenna Duke. Studdard grabbed 11 rebounds.
ANNISTON 54, FAIRFIELD 49: Jada Fomby turned in 16 points, eight assists, five rebounds and two steals as Anniston clinched a berth in the Central Regional at Alabama State University.
The Bulldogs will play with Montgomery Catholic winner Wednesday.
Liberty Lewis led all Builldog scorers with 18 points. Saniyah Spinks added nine points, six rebounds, one steal and one assist. Summer Flentroy had nine points, five rebounds, three steals and one assist.
ALEXANDRIA 48, HOKES BLUFF 37: Allyssa Hunt hit two 3-pointers on the way to 15 points, and Alexandria’s girls clinched their fourth Northeast Regional appearance and first since 2018.
The Valley Cubs will play Madison Academy on Thursday in Pete Mathews Coliseum. Game time is pending the outcome of Alexandria’s boys’ subregional on Saturday.
Charlee Parris added nine points, and the Valley Cubs got eight apiece from Leah Patterson and Cali Hess. Patterson hit two 3-pointers and Hess one.
FORT PAYNE 65, OXFORD 54: Bri Wilson hit three 3-pointers and led Oxford with 18 points. Takayvia Boyd added 13 points, and Ava Thomas added 10.
IDER 95, JACKSONVILLE CHRISTIAN 49: Addy Lee passed the 900-career-points mark, but JCA couldn’t overcome an AHSAA-record 26 3-pointers by Ider and finished 12-9.
Ider broke the record of 22 3-pointers set by Jasper in 2024 and G.W. Long in 2020.
Lee scored 31 points and grabbed five rebounds, and Sophie Williams added eight points and eight rebounds.
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