By Kathy Pickens

The Fort Dale Girls JV basketball team was named runner-up in the AISA State 3A JV Invitational held at Morgan Academy in Selma.  Going into the tournament the team had a record of 10-2 and was ranked second in bracketing. 

The Eagles played three games in the single-day tournament with a 20-13 victory over Springwood and a 38-26 victory over Northside in the first two rounds. 

The team fell to the top-seeded Glenwood in the final game with a score of 32-14. 

Cahley Acreman and Jamie Pickens were named to the All-Tournament Team. Tournament scoring totals were Ginny Coker with 20, Pickens with 16, Acreman with 14, Folds with 11, and Woodard with 9.

For Fort Dale JV Coach Regina Parker the state tournament is familiar territory.  Parker, who is in her 17th year of coaching at Fort Dale, can claim four state runner-up titles.

Parker believes her success this year comes from the leadership of her captains and freshman players and the unity of this close-knit team.  “Captain Jamie Pickens and Co-captain Cahley Acreman set goals last summer during camp to make it back to state,” said Parker. 

“Pickens is our playmaker down low, not only setting screens for Ginny Coker, but also driving to the basket. Acreman is a true point guard who controls the tempo of our game.  We also have offensive weapons in Sydney Folds and Kinley Woodard and defensive help from Emily Hartley, Avery Royal, and Lily Vandyke.”  Parker stated that the team has benefitted from the support they received from their school, families, fans, and varsity players, including senior varsity player Lucy Bates who served as Parker’s assistant coach this year, working to improve the forwards. 

Even though they came up short in the championship game, Parker knows her team has a “bright future” with eleven returning players, including Acreman.  Coach Parker is “extremely proud” of the entire team and hopes to finish this year with a 16-3 record and return in 2019 to compete again.