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Springwood School is the state champion. The girls basketball team beat Lowndes 49-29 in Montgomery on Friday to secure their place as the AISA AA state champs. The team has been dominant all season long and the final game was no exception. 

“We have not played [Lowndes],” said head coach Lisa Sampson before tip-off. “They played some common opponents of ours. So, quality team, very well coached, high basketball IQ. We’re going to really have to defend, use our quickness on defense, press them, see how they react to it.”

The Wildcats had a scare in the semifinals, trailing late to Clark Prep. Despite being in the unique position of a close game, the girls mounted a late comeback to secure their spot in the finals. 

“They were not happy with the way they played yesterday. So. I think they’re ready to kind of prove themselves,” Sampson said. 

The Wildcats took a couple minutes to settle in, making some early fouls and looking flat compared to last nights team. But, some clutch rebounds and second balls by Emily Jo Matthews kept the Wildcats ahead. They ended the first up 11-6.

The offense started moving the ball around better and making runs inside. The defense was equally effective pressing Lowndes to force them to make threes. Springwood extended their lead to 21-11 going into the second half

Springwood settled into the game during the second half. The offense was clicking and pulled away from Lowndes. By the end of the quarter, the Wildcats had a comfortable 35-17.

Sampson gave some of her reserves a chance to experience the big game. Lowndes tried to mount a comeback, but the Wildcats were, as always, just too good. The girls won the AISA AA state championship 49-29. 

Sampson said her seniors class was, “A special group…They’re so much more than just basketball players, they’re just great kids that I can’t wait to see what they do.”

The 2024-2025 Springwood girls basketball team will go down as champs. Sampson said the squad was a unit on and off the court.

“The way that they got along, they really enjoyed being around each other, which made practice fun,” the coach said. “I think it really led to the success that they had…They really, they love each other, they work well together, and you could see it on the floor.”