AGGIES SWEEP THE SENATORS
Thompson, Yancey lead as No. 8 Aggies beat fifth-ranked Sparkman
By TAYLOR BECK, Sports Editor
Friday night inside Albertville High School Gymnasium delivered exactly what it promised — a marquee showdown between two Top-10 teams — and it was the No. 8 Aggies who rose to the occasion with a convincing 67-52 victory over No. 5 Sparkman.
Albertville controlled the game from start to finish, leading at every quarter stop. The Aggies jumped out to a 14-6 advantage after the first quarter, extended it to 30-19 by halftime, and carried a 51-36 cushion into the final period.
McKennon Thompson set the tone offensively, pacing Albertville with 22 points while knocking down five 3-pointers. Keandre Yancey followed with 19 points, highlighted by an emphatic alley-oop slam to open the third quarter.
Trey Bright added 11 points, and Isaiah Faulks contributed 8.
The win improved Albertville to 18-3 overall and 2-1 in Class 7A, Area 7 play. It was also a milestone night for Yancey, who surpassed 1,000 career points with the Aggies during the victory.
Albertville head coach Chris Graves credited his team’s defensive focus, particularly after bouncing back from a 62-58 overtime loss to Huntsville on Tuesday that snapped a 12-game winning streak.
“I’m most pleased that I feel like we defended them at a really high level,” Graves said postgame. “I don’t know that the offense was perfect. We scored enough points, but I thought we guarded their actions [well]. Our coaches did a great job of scouting them and I think we executed that and made them play in the half court and got stops. That was the key to that one.
“But I’m really proud of the character of our guys to bounce back after a heart-breaking loss,” he said.
Graves also expressed appreciation for the Albertville community, which turned out in force despite weather conditions to create a strong home-court atmosphere.
With the regular season continuing, the Aggies now turn their attention to the Marshall County Tournament, scheduled to tip off Monday, Jan. 12, at Snead State Community College in Boaz.
To begin their county title defense, Albertville’s varsity boys are scheduled to play their first game of the tournament on Monday, Jan. 2 against Brindlee Mountain at 4:30 p.m. inside Plunkett Wallace Gymnasium.
Last season, the Aggies captured the county championship with a 72-61 win over Guntersville. Albertville has won six of the last seven county titles.
“We’re really excited about [the tournament],” Graves said. “We look forward to putting on a show in front of the county and really showcasing what basketball is in this part of the state.”
Coach Natasha Smallwood speaks to her players during a break in action Friday night in Albertville’s victory over Sparkman. Photo by TAYLOR BECK l The Leader
2nd-ranked Lady Aggies overpower Sparkman
Behind a dominant performance from Lani Smallwood, the No. 2 Albertville Lady Aggies powered past Sparkman on Friday night, earning a 72-57 Class 7A, Area 7, victory inside Albertville High School Gymnasium.
Smallwood poured in a game-high 36 points to lead Albertville, including an explosive 18-point first quarter. During that opening stretch, she connected on three 3-pointers and finished the night with six from beyond the arc.
The Lady Aggies built separation early and never looked back, leading at every quarter break. Albertville held a 24-12 advantage after the first quarter, extended it to 43-26 at halftime, and carried a commanding 64-41 lead into the fourth.
Whitley Booker added 12 points for Albertville, while Mylie Butler scored 11. Gracyn Robeson chipped in 9 to round out a balanced offensive effort.
With the win, the Lady Aggies improved to 15-4 overall and now shift their focus toward the Marshall County Tournament, which is scheduled to begin Monday, Jan. 12, at Snead State Community College in Boaz.
Albertville’s varsity girls are set to open their county title defense on Tuesday, Jan. 13, when they face Brindlee Mountain at 6 p.m. inside Plunkett Wallace Gymnasium.
Last season, the Lady Aggies captured the tournament championship with a dramatic 67-65 win over Arab. Entering this year’s event as one of the top teams in the state, Albertville is positioned to contend for a second straight county title.
Keandre Yancey (0) looks to the basket Friday against a defender in the Aggies’ 67-52 upset victory over fifth-ranked Sparkman. Yancey’s 19-point effort led No. 8 Albertville to a 2-1 mark in Area 7, play and saw him cross the 1,000-point mark in his high school career. Photo by TAYLOR BECK l The Leader
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