Alabama Girls Knock off Mississippi 81-71 in Hoops All-Star Game
MOBILE, AL – The Alabama Girls’ All-Star basketball team continued its dominance in the annual Alabama-Mississippi All-Star series with an 81-71 win over Mississippi in the 35th edition of the game, held Saturday at the University of South Alabama’s Mitchell Center.
Coached by Ricky Austin of Spring Garden and Emily Flanigan of Sparkman, the Alabama squad extended its winning streak in the series to eight games, dating back to 2018, and now leads the all-time series 21-14.
Hewitt-Trussville’s 6-foot-2 center, Ashlyn Howard, made a significant impact off the bench and was named MVP for her standout performance. A late addition to the team, Howard secured a double-double with 13 points and a game-high 15 rebounds, seven of which came on the offensive glass. Her second-half surge was crucial, as all 13 of her points came after halftime, helping Alabama clinch the victory.
Early in the game, Alabama struggled to find its rhythm in the paint, allowing Mississippi to build an early lead. Howard’s presence off the bench helped stabilize the team, contributing with eight rebounds in the first half alone.
Offensively, Alabama leaned on Spring Garden’s Ace Austin and Vestavia Hills’ Sarah Gordon in the first half. Austin recorded 15 points, while Gordon added eight, including two timely three-pointers. The teams were locked in a 32-32 tie heading into halftime.
Alabama took command in the third quarter, outscoring Mississippi 23-12 to build a 55-44 lead heading into the fourth. With Howard dominating inside and Alabama’s defense forcing turnovers, the home team stretched its lead to as many as 16 points in the final stanza.
Hoover’s Kaitlyn Gipson and Park Crossing’s Saniya Jackson delivered strong performances, scoring 17 and 11 points, respectively. Austin capped her night with 17 points, six rebounds, seven assists (a game-high), and two steals. Gordon finished with 10 points and five rebounds. Alabama also controlled the boards, out-rebounding Mississippi 72-54, with Haley Trotter of Chelsea grabbing eight rebounds and Jackson hauling in seven.
Mississippi’s Jhanna Wilson, a guard from Calloway High School, led her team with 16 points, including two three-pointers, and earned MVP honors for Mississippi. Tupelo’s Nadia Norfleet contributed 13 points, while Starkville’s Zariyah Edwards added 10. Mississippi’s team was coached by Byron Sparks of New Site and Holly Moncrief of Brandon.
FEATURED IMAGE: Alabama All-Star Sarah Gordon (34) of Vestavia Hills drills a 3-pointer over Mississippi’s Macie Phifer of Tupelo. (AHSAA PHOTO | David Holtsford)
