Georgia girls, Alabama boys win senior all-star teams

The best seniors in East Alabama and West Georgia were on display at the Carver High School gym on Friday night as Georgia battled Alabama in both girls and boys contests. The Georgia girls won a 44-42 overtime thriller, while the Alabama boys overpowered the Georgia boys by a 61-56 margin.

The two games were sandwiched around a skills competition among seniors in 3-point shooting and a slam dunk contest, the latter voted upon by applause from a very raucous crowd in the Carver gym.

Northside’s Caitlyn Jakes was the winner in the 3-point contest among senior girls, while Pacelli’s Triston Wells took home the honor for the senior boys. Cameron Paulding for Shaw brought the gym to its feet with two thunderous dunks, taking home the slam dunk contest title.

In the senior girls all-star game, the Alabama girls made a furious second-half comeback after being down against Georgia at halftime. Tykeriya Clemons from Loachapoka finished in double figures and led all Alabama scorers with 10 points, while Dana Echols from Auburn High chipped in nine, including seven points in the second half.

Kendrick’s Brittany Thompson took home MVP honors in the game, scoring a game-high 11 points.

Tiffany Dixon of Hardaway was the hero in overtime for Team Georgia as she scored the first basket of a sudden death format. Both teams endured a couple of turnovers before Dixon’s open layup under the basket gave Carver coach Anson Hundley and the Georgia girls a win.

In the nightcap, the Alabama boys started slow but ended up with the biggest win of all four games on the night. It was the only game where the winning team won by more than two points.

Quan Weaver of Central took home MVP honors for the Alabama boys and was the only Alabama player in double figures, finishing with 10 points.

Northside’s Dalandis Hopkins came out on fire for Team Georgia in the contest, knocking down three 3-point baskets in the opening minute of the game but only scoring two more points the rest of the way for a game high of 11. Fellow Patriot Davion Thomas finished with eight points, seven of those in the second half.

Jaylyn Richardson of Harris County finished with nine points.

This story was originally published March 11, 2016 at 11:52 PM with the headline "Georgia girls, Alabama boys win senior all-star teams."