By Cecil Folds

The Fort Dale varsity Lady Eagles traveled to Montgomery on Thursday to play Springwood Wildcats in the Elite Eight State Basketball Tournament at Cramton Bowl Sports Complex and lost by a score of 36-28.

The girls got off to a pretty good start and kept the score close through most of the first quarter, but the Wildcats starting closing in, and the Eagles succumbed to nerves and made too many errors to keep up. 

Bad passes and missed shots plagued the Eagles throughout the game, but they struggled on and gained some ground in the fourth quarter; however, it was too little too late.  This loss eliminated the Eagles and ended their season with 16 wins and 5 losses.

Madison Ann Gaston led the Lady Eagles with 8 points and 8 rebounds. Anna Blake Langford contributed with 7 points, 6 rebounds and 1 assist. Bailey Coker had 5 points and 3 rebounds.  The girls were 75 percent  at the free throw line.