Twice is nice for Northview in area tournament

ENTERPRISE – It was twice as nice for the Northview basketball program on Friday night.

Northview’s boys 47-35 win over rival Dothan in the Class 6A, Area 5 tournament being hosted at Enterprise wasn’t unexpected.

But the Lady Cougars’ 42-40 win over the Tigers was a shocker.

Dothan’s girls had dominated Northview in the two regular-season games by scores of 63-40 and 53-40.

On this night, however, the Lady Cougars put together their most complete game of the season in advancing to the area finals on Monday night.

Both the Northview girls and boys will play host-team Enterprise for the area title. The girls game will begin at 6 p.m., followed by the boys.

In the Lady Cougars’ victory on Friday, Leovanna Jackson scored inside with three seconds left after a terrific assist by Jasman Hamilton to lift Northview to the upset.

Dothan’s Valencia Dunlap got off a shot at the buzzer, but the bank shot was just off the mark to end the game and set off a celebration by the Cougars at midcourt.

With Northview holding a 27-25 lead going into the fourth quarter, coach Damien Dorsey challenged his team to finish off the Tigers.

“Go as hard as you can,” Dorsey told his team in the huddle. “It’s right there. There’s no tomorrow. Cease the moment. Cease the moment.”

The game was tied at 38-38 with just over a minute left following a steal off the press which resulted in a layup by Northview’s Jaila Terrell.

The Cougars reclaimed the lead at 40-38 with 31 seconds left when Hamilton swished through two free throws, but Dothan tied it back up when Jasmine Crews scored on a drive with 19 ticks remaining to make it 40-40.

On the winning basket, Hamilton made a strong move down the middle of the lane, then dumped off a beautiful pass to Jackson, who calmly put up the uncontested shot inside for the victory.

Northview is now 9-15, while Dothan ends the season at 18-9 after winning nine straight going into Friday’s game.

“I’m so ecstatic for the girls, because I’ve been on them all year about finishing,” Dorsey said. “Everything played out tonight.”

The key player in the early portions of the game for Northview was sharp-shooter Dyshenique Critten, who scored 10 straight points for the Cougars to close out the first half.

Critten’s final basket of the opening half came with two seconds left to put Northview on top 20-19 at the break.

“She’s a senior and has missed half the season with various knee injuries,” Dorsey said of Critten. “Whitney (Watford) and Dyshenique are our only seniors.

“They came out to play.”

Critten led all scorers in the game with 15 points, while Hamilton contributed 14 for the Cougars.

Dothan was led by Crews with 18 points.

The game was close throughout. Dothan went on a 7-0 run in the second quarter to lead 19-12 before Critten connected on a 3-pointer from the top of the key, swished a shot from the wing, then nailed another 3-pointer to put Northview on top 20-19 at halftime.

The score was knotted at 29-29 at the end of the third quarter and Dothan led 37-33 following baskets from Jamyra Stallworth and Crews before Northview battled back to tie it at 38-38 and eventually get the victory.

In the boys game, Northview jumped out to an early 10-0 advantage in leading from start to finish in the game.

Dothan hung tough after falling in the early hole, but never really gained any momentum throughout the contest.

Northview’s defense made life tough on the Tigers’ guards, and the Cougars controlled the backboards most of the night.

“We wanted to put pressure on their guards more so than usual,” Northview coach Janasky Fleming said. “We went to man-to-man earlier than usual and I think that helped us.”

Fleming said much of the focus on the defense centered on slowing Dothan guard Barnard McGhee.

“McGhee is an athletic senior,” Fleming said. “He makes his whole team go.”

On this night, McGhee and the rest of the Tigers found getting off shots tough.

McGhee and Adrian Kirkland led Dothan in scoring with nine points each.

Northview led 15-8 at the end of the first quarter and 29-19 at halftime after Marquez White nailed a 3-pointer from the corner to end a 7-0 Cougars’ scoring run to end the second quarter.

Northview held a 34-26 lead after three quarters, then built the lead to 40-27 early in the fourth when Jalen Harris scored on a drive to the basket.

White led the Cougars with 13 points, while Harris contributed 12.

It was Northview’s third victory over rival Dothan this season.

Northview improved to 15-14, while Dothan ends its season at 11-16.

It was the final game for Dothan coach Dedrick Sumpter, who has accepted a position as the new head football coach at Williamson in Mobile.

Fleming, minutes after the victory, was already focusing on Enterprise.

The Wildcats beat the Cougars in both regular season meetings.

“We’re about to go back and have a two-hour practice,” Fleming said. “Our goal is to get in as many practices as we can, because Enterprise is a great team.”