JACKSONVILLE – On Thursday morning at Jacksonville State University’s Pete Mathews Coliseum, the Cherokee County Lady Warriors were vying to become the first girls basketball team since 1998 to reach the Final Four.
They fell short of that goal with a 34-24 loss to perennial Final Four team Anniston, but that loss doesn’t take away from the 28-5 season they just had.
Still, they have to feel as if they’re the Rodney Dangerfields of Class 4A girls basketball. Not once were they ranked in the Alabama Sports Writers Association basketball poll this season, despite a beefed up schedule, going undefeated at home, and a Class 4A, Area 10 championship.
Their only losses this season were at Class 6As Pell City and Southside-Gadsden, Class 5A Boaz, Class 2A Northeast Regional participant Sand Rock, and now Class 4A Final Four participant Anniston.
But not once did the Lady Warriors complain they weren’t getting the attention they deserved. They kept their focus on the court.
“I didn’t hear from any of these girls about that,” head coach Richard Barton said during the team’s regional final press conference at Pete Mathews Coliseum on Thursday. “We appreciate when we get recognition, and we appreciate what you guys (in the media) do, but some writers putting us somewhere means nothing. You’ve got to go play the games. You’ve got to go execute and do what you’re supposed to do.”
“It’s always good to prove somebody wrong,” Johnson said. “It just feels good.”
Johnson was one of the main reasons for the Lady Warriors’ surge throughout the season. Barton noted she was averaging 14 points per game heading into the area championship against Jacksonville. Her point production exploded to 26 points in the area championship game against Jacksonville, 21 points in the sub-regional win over Madison County, and 25 points in the regional semifinal victory over No. 10 Handley.
Johnson even made the game-winning free throw in the 49-48 win over Handley.
Just prior to the Lady Warriors’ postseason run, Johnson took gold in the 4A-5A girls 400 meter (58.11) and the 4A-5A girls 60-meter hurdles (9.28) at the AHSAA State Indoor Track and Field Meet at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
That evening, she returned to Centre to lead the Lady Warriors to a 60-26 victory over Cleburne County in the Class 4A, Area 10 girls basketball tournament opener.
Johnson scored 12 points, including nine in the first quarter.
“She’s a big reason why we’re here. She really stepped it up,” Barton said.
Barton also praised Haygood for her on-the-court leadership as well.
“Audrey has been dealing with some type of injury it seemed like the whole season. She wasn’t able to practice a whole lot.
“Just the sacrifices they’ve both given to be able to get to this point and play at this level, they mean a whole lot to our programs. I know each of them are about to move on and go do something else outside of basketball. Mary Hayes will probably go on and add a couple of more state championships (in outdoor track and field) to what she’s already done. The softball team has a really, really good chance to be in the same situation if not even further (with Haygood). I know those girls are looking forward to that. I’m going to miss them.”
Barton said a team doesn’t replace players like Johnson and Haygood, but the Lady Warriors’ future is still bright nonetheless.
And, just maybe, some folks might take notice.
“We have nine sophomores, two juniors and then a freshman and an eighth grader who was with us this year. I’m hoping this lights a fire under them,” Barton said. “We have an opportunity to be back here, to be able to represent our school and play at this level. I hope that getting to this point, getting to this game and having this experience they’ll want that even more. We will be perfectly capable. It’s going to be tough to replace these two, but I’m looking forward to what we do have (coming back).
“There’s no doubt in our minds we belonged (at the Northeast Regional). This summer, when we talked about what our goals and expectations were, we wanted to be in the Final Four. Hopefully us being here shows people we belong. Hopefully next year we’re sitting here doing the same thing with a different outcome.”
