Florala falls to Shields - Again

Florala went to Alabama High School Athletic Association's Regional Tournament for the third straight year and the third year saw their season come to an end by J.F. Shields, 57-45. The defending state champions took control of the game after a 10-7 burst followed by an 8-0 run to push Shields up to stay in the beginning of the game. Florala contributed to the loss shooting only 16% from the floor in the first half.

Florala made the regional contest held at Troy University by winning the area crown over Brantley and defeated Kinston in the sub-regional game in Florala 70-59.

Florala however lost Michael Carson during the Brantley game and the Wildcats leading scorer was unable to play during the final two contest against Kinston and JF Shields.

The Wildcats did try and pull out a miraculous victory and gave hope to Florala fans in attendance. In the third period six straight points by the Wildcats cut the Shields lead to six 28-34 with baskets by TJ Fleming, Dominique Moore, and a steal by Calvin Mulkey converted into two points.

Shields committed a dribbling turnover and the Wildcats took the ball down inside to Fleming and a four point deficit for the Wildcats, 30-34.  Reggie Gundrum scored two under the basket to cut the lead to two, but a foul on Moore sent Shields to the line with :05 seconds left iallowed the team to rebuild a lead back to four at the end of the third period 36-32.

Florala cut the lead to two points at the beginning of the fourth, but JF Shields turned the game around going down the stretch and put it away with a twelve point lead.  Florala tried to cut back into the Shields lead, but after a basket and an inbounds steal by Shields Florala's season was almost over.

The Wildcats continued to battle and a Fleming's three pointer cut the lead to eight, but time ran out as the Wildcats missed several three point attempts in the final minute.  The Wildcats finished the season 17-9 and Shields move on to defend their title.

David Bass finished with fourteen and TJ Fleming posted ten for the Wildcats.

Florala faces Shields - AGAIN

In 2006, the Wildcats played in the Southwest Regional at the University of South Alabama and gained an opening round victory over Carrollton 47-33 before falling to J.F. Shields 51-41.  The Wildcats' leading scorer in 2006 - Robbie Evans - played sparingly nursing a high-ankle sprain.  Last season in the South Regional, J.F. Shields defeated Florala 65-45 in Troy.

For the third straight year - Florala's season will continue or end with J.F. Shields.  Another similarity to year's past, the Wildcats' leading scorer (Michael Carson) will likely be on the bench after collapsing in the area championship against Brantley. 

Carson did not play in the Sub-Regional win against Kinston and is doubtful as he undergoes test at West Florida in Pensacola. 

The Final Four representative from Florala's region the past three years...

2005 - JF Shields
2006 - JF Shields
2007 - JF Shields

Three of the four teams from last year's South Regional are back for another opportunity to advance - JF Shields, McIntosh, and Florala.  The team missing is Brantley who lost to Providence Christian in the Sub-Regional.  The Eagles will face McIntosh at 7:30 Tuesday evening with the winner facing Florala or Shields. 

Shields advanced to face the Wildcats by defeating Sweet Water 49-36 in their sub-regional contest.  Demetrious Finklea scored 24 points with 14 rebounds for the defending 1A State Champs.  Steve Kinklea (cousin) added 12 points and 10 boards for the Panthers (19-11). 

Frightening Night in Wildcat Victory

The Wildcats held an early 6-2 lead and finished out the first quarter up 21-15 and both teams ended the second quarter with 12 points each sending Florala in with a first half 33-27 advantage. 

Michael Carson had 33 points in the game when he collapsed to the floor with 2:58 remaining in the game and the score 73-57.  It is not immediately known if Carson will return for the remainder of the season, but he was recovering at a local hospital after the game with family members and the Wildcat coaching staff.  Michael Carson fell to the floor away from the play in a tense moment as coaches immediately rushed to Carson's side.  Fortunately a doctor was present visiting with the Brantley Bulldogs and assisted in aide to Carson remained overnight at the Florala Hospital and positioned to make a full recovery. 

Upshaw 3 pointer 75-63 - Spivey hit a two pointer and was fouled converting the free throw cutting the lead to nine

Turnover by the Wildcats allowed the Bulldogs to cut the lead to seven on a two shot foul by Wesley Person 74-67.  Florala would have their third straight turnover and two points by Brantley with .29 seconds, 74-69. 

The Wildcats would take advantage of the ending seconds as Brantley had to foul sending Florala to the line and closing out the victory, 77-69. 

Michael Carson lead all scorers with 33 points.  Reggie Gundrum and David Bass had 16 points each while Dexter Daniels lead the Bulldogs with 19.  Tory Upshaw scored 12 and Wesley Person ended with 11.

Wildcats defeat Brantley

The Florala Wildcats (12-6) created some more excitement for 1A Area 3 as the boys defeated Brantley 63-49 in front of a packed home crowd. Three nights after falling to win-less McKenzie the Wildcats played a "near perfect" game according to Coach Brad Garner.

For Florala it meant more than merely staying alive for the area championship, it was the first time in memory that a Wildcat team has beaten the Brantley Bulldogs in any sport. Last year the Wildcats lost three straight to Brantley before ending their season in the Regional tournament at Troy University. In football Florala has not beaten Brantley in ten years.

"Things went well because we executed. nearly every play we called worked" said Garner

"It's Brantley. We're going to get up for Brantley, but now we've got to stay focused and play the remainder of the season with the same focus."

The Wildcats trailed jumped out with the first points of the game, but the Bulldogs reeled off 8 straight until the Wildcats started coming back with 2:56 with four straight and a steal from Reggie Gundrum pulled the Wildcats to within two. A long three from Calvin Mulkey and two more from Gundrum and the Wildcats took a 12-10 lead with :13 seconds remaining in the first and never gave it back.

The Wildcats extended their lead in the second as senior David Bass hit four of his seven points back to back with less than two minutes remaining until have and Mulkey added two more to give the Wildcats a 26-18 lead at half.


Florala added five to their lead to start the third with Michael Carson hitting two and three behind Bass to extend their advantage to 31-18. Brantley's Dexter DAniels tried to get his team back into the game hitting two quick baskets and scoring eight of his game high 23 points in the third, but it wasn't enough as 6'6 320 senior Dominique Moore came into the game for Florala to shut down the inside and added four points of his own as the Wildcats ended the third on top 41-34.

Carson and Mulkey took over the fourth quarter with Mulkey directing the offense and Carson adding points to the board. Brantley was able to cut the lead to five on a three pointer from Wesley Person with 5:06 remaining cutting the lead 47-42, but could get any closer as Carson went on a scoring tear hitting ten of his nineteen in the final quarter.

Florala and Brantley are tied at 2-2 in the area with both teams hosting Pleasant Home over the next week.

The Wildcats ended the game with three players in double figures Carson (19), Mulkey (15), and Gundrum (14). Brantley was paced by Daniels (23) and Devonte Porter added thirteen.

B-Team

In B-Team action the Florala Wildcats were victorious 45-40 over the Brantley B-team squad. The Wildcats are hoping to use the win as a catalyst in the B-team tournament Saturday in Red Level.

Lady Wildcats' Fall

Winless Tigers shock Wildcats

It was suppose to be a glide for the Varsity Wildcats who watched the B-Team and the Lady Wildcats finish the night with Victories, but instead it was a celebration by the McKenzie Tigers who shocked the Wildcats and probably knocked Florala out of hosting the area.

It didn't start that way as the Wildcats took a commanding 16-8 advantage in the first, but somewhere everything went wrong.   The Wildcats were beaten on the offensive and defensive boards and the team looked out of place. 

McKenzie outscored the Wildcats 24-16 in the second quarter to tie the game at half 32-32 after a Reggie Gundrum put back at the horn.  In the third period it was more McKenzie extending their quarter lead (15-7) to start the fourth with a 47-39 advantage.  Florala had one basket from the floor in the third and was 5-6 from the line.

In the fourth it was hard to watch as Coach Garner benched a few players and little used Eric Bess and Bubba Suggs (who lead the Cats in fourth quarter points) tried to bring the Cats back in the final period.  Bess had several key steals and Suggs was 4-6 from the line.  The Wildcats trailed by two with less than two minutes but a foul by Michal Carson trying to steal the ball and two technical fouls on Florala sent the Tigers to the line.  The Tigers were 1-5 on the attempt, but the Cats couldn't convert falling 58-53 as McKenzie picked up their first victory of the season.

Reggie Gundrum had 14 for the Wildcats while Janell Mobley, who scored half of his points in the second quarter, paced the Tigers with 14.  Jarvis Womack scored 10 of his twelve in the second half for McKenzie and Michael Carson had nine for the Wildcats. 

Wildcats B-Team falls to Eagles

Quarvae Troublefield scored 8 of his 10 points in the fourth quarter, but it was to little to late as the Pleasant Home B-team outscored the Wildcats in the third quarter 18-5 to stop the B-Cats two game winning streak.  

Colter Poole hit three from beyond the arc, but it was Cory Sims who lead the Eagles with 13.  The B-Team Eagles improved to 8-2 on the season and look primed for the first B-team tournament to be held in Red Level on Saturday, Jan 19.

Jorian Avan had two threes for the Wildcats and ended with 7 points.  The Eagles took a 19-13 half time lead, but exploded in the third to win 41-29.   

Alabama-Florida Shoot-out
Big Success

Both Alabama and Florida can claim success after a weekend of Basketball in Pleasant Home as the Eagles hosted the first ever Shoot-out.  The Baker Lady Gators and the Florala Wildcats both went through undefeated but it was Rocky Bayou hitting rock bottom during the two day event.  Baker defeated the Lady Wildcats in day one followed by a victory over the Lady Eagles (8-2) on Sat.