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Fort Dale Academy freshman forward Lily VanDyke and sophomore point guard Cahley Acreman combined for 34 points as the duo outscored Morgan Academy’s entire team last Friday night to lead the Lady Eagles (11-4) to a 52-21 victory on the road in Selma.

VanDyke led the varsity team with 19 points and nine rebounds, had five blocked shots and stole the ball twice, while Acreman followed closely with 15 points, led the team with seven assists and had three rebounds and three steals.

The victory guaranteed FDA a first-round bye in the Alabama Independent School Association’s (AISA) Class AAA State Tournament as the Region 2,
Area 2, champs. The Lady Eagles will play at noon on Feb. 12, in Round 2 of the tournament at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery.

“The girls played well last week,” head coach Reggie Mantooth said. “We are getting better on some of the things that we have been working on and some of our younger players are getting better with more experience.”

Junior forward Jamie Pickens scored four points, sophomore forward Avery Royal scored three points and pulled down five rebounds and classmate guard Emily Hartley scored three points.

With two points each were Hannah Sells, Kinley Woodard, Catherine Pope and Annah Parker Little.

The junior varsity girls (12-1) had more of a problem fending off the Lady Senators, winning by seven points, 42-35.

VanDyke also led the JV in scoring with 17 points, eight rebounds, six blocks and two steals. Little, an eighth-grade point guard, and seventh-grade point guard Anna Claire Thomas were the team’s second-leading scorers with nine points apiece. Parker also had three assists and Thomas had five rebounds.

Freshman forward Eden Skipper led the team in rebounds with nine and also scored five points and recorded two steals and a block. Freshman guard Caroline Hartley had one basket and two rebounds.

The junior varsity girls will participate in the AISA Class AAA JV State Tournament this Saturday at Morgan Academy. The No. 2-seeded Lady Eagles will take on seventh-seeded Glenwood Academy at 8 a.m. in the first round. With a victory, the defending state champions would take on the winner of the Lee-Scott vs. Morgan contest at 1 p.m.

Heading into the weekend, head coach Regina Parker is optimistic.

“I am looking forward to watching the girls play together,” she said. “Lily has led our team this season  and Annah Parker has stepped up her offense. Anna Claire leads the team on defense, while Eden is our leading rebounder. I believe we have a chance to reach our goal of back-to-back state championships.”

The championship game will tipoff at 5 p.m.

FDA’s B-team girls also defeated Morgan, 23-7.

Caden McNaughton led the young team with eight points followed closely by Brinkley Long, who scored seven. Thomas chipped in with four points, while Kate Slagley and Rileigh Rogers each scored two points.

Lady Eagles soar past Meadowview

The night before, Fort Dale’s girls’ teams were also in action on the road in Selma, defeating Meadowview Christian, 45-26 and 32-6, respectively.

In the 19-point varsity win, Acreman showed out with a game-leading 15 points, nine rebounds and eight steals, while VanDyke chipped in with 13 points, five rebounds, two steals and four blocks.

Pickens also finished the game in double figures with 10 points, including a perfect 4-for-4 at the free throw line. Royal added four points, seven rebounds and a block and Emily Hartley had three points, four rebounds and six steals.

All 16 players on the JV Eagles’ active roster saw playing time with 11 scoring at least one point in the team’s lopsided victory.

VanDyke led the team with eight points, snagged four rebounds and had three steals. Skipper added six points, four rebounds and an assist. Slagley sank two baskets for four points.

Also scoring for FDA were Long, McNaughton, Amelia Gregory, Allie Butts, Caroline Hartley (five steals) and Thomas with two points apiece. Allie Blair Mosley and Kalee Barganier were both 1-for-2 at the free throw line.

Fort Dale girls send Morgan packing

On Jan. 10, Morgan Academy visited Greenville as both the varsity and junior varsity Lady Eagles sent the Lady Senators home with losses. Fort Dale’s varsity girls defeated Morgan 59-46 following a 10-point victory, 37-27, by their younger counterparts, in a contest that featured 64 total fouls.

Acreman shot 58.3 percent from the floor to lead the varsity girls in scoring with 23 points. VanDyke wasn’t far behind with 18 points, while Royal chipped in with 13 points. Acreman and Royal both pulled down eight rebounds and VanDyke had six. Acreman’s seven assists also led the team and VanDyke’s seven blocks led the way.

Junior forward Shelby Lawrence finished the game with three points. Pickens (four rebounds) and Woodard, a sophomore guard, each had one point.

Little paced the JV Lady Eagles’ offense with 11 points, including three goals from behind the arch. VanDyke scored eight points in the win, while snagging a game-leading 11 rebounds and three blocked shots. Thomas chipped in with six points, four rebounds and six steals and Skipper had 10 rebounds and scored five points.

Also scoring for FDA were Long (seven rebounds) with three points and Maire Scott and McNaughton with two points apiece.

The B-team girls also saw action earlier that afternoon, easily defeating Morgan, 24-8.

Thomas and McNaughton led FDA, each scoring eight points. Long added six points, while Lexie Reaves chipped in with two points.

FDA varsity girls fall to Monroe

Acreman managed only nine points and four rebounds and Pickens added eight points and two rebounds as the varsity Lady Eagles fell to Monroe Academy 37-28 on the road Jan. 9. Acreman also led FDA with seven steals.

Royal scored six points and had six rebounds, senior guard Hayden Fail had three points and VanDyke scored two in the loss.

The JV squad defeated the Lady Volunteers 45-29 behind VanDyke’s double-double. She scored 18 points and snagged 12 rebounds, while also blocking three shots.

Little scored 10 points, Skipper had eight, Thomas finished with four, Rogers and Long added two points apiece and Barganier sank one free throw. Skipper also finished the game with 10 rebounds and Thomas had five boards and three assists.

Pike slips past varsity Lady Eagles

VanDyke’s 12 points and Acreman’s 10 points were not enough to overcome a visit to Pike Liberal Arts School on Jan. 7, as the Fort Dale varsity girls fell 42-33 to the home team.

VanDyke and Acreman also led the Lady Eagles with eight rebounds apiece. Acreman also finished the night with five assists and five steals. Royal finished the game with five points and six rebounds, Pickens added three points, Fail scored two points and had four rebounds and two steals and Emily Hartley had one point.

Thomas’ last-second layup gave the JV girls a one-point, 28-27, victory over Pike earlier in the day. She finished the game with three points, four rebounds and three steals.

Little led the offense with 10 points, while VanDyke followed closely with nine. VanDyke also finished the game with 18 rebounds and three blocks, however, Skipper led the way under the basket with an impressive 20 rebounds and scored four points. Long finished the game with two points.

The B-team girls also picked up a big win over Pike, shutting out the young Lady Trojans, 18-0.

Thomas led the team with four points and a steal, while seven players scored two points apiece. Those players included Emily Cauthen, who also led the team with four steals, Allie Hartley, Bailey Lambert, Barganier, Slagley, Long and McNaughton.

The JV and varsity girls will be in action Friday night at home as the teams host Monroe Academy Friday. Games begin at 4 p.m.