By Jeff Devine, Dale County Chronicle
ARITON — The Ariton Purple Cats avoided the Abbeville Yellowjackets’ sting on Tuesday night. Ariton’s varsity boys delivered a thrilling finish Tuesday, rallying late to edge Abbeville 54–53 and capture the AHSAA Class 2A Area 4 Championship in a game that came down to the final moments and managed to keep spectators on the edge of their seats.
Trailing by five points with just two minutes remaining in the championship matchup, Ariton leaned on defensive intensity and timely baskets to swing the momentum and retake the lead. The comeback sealed the area title and capped off a hard-fought contest between two closely matched teams.
Addison Senn led the Purple Cats with 13 points, while Titus Senn added 10. Easton Kilpatrick finished with nine points, and Conner Davidson chipped in eight in a balanced scoring effort that kept Ariton within striking distance throughout the night.
Abbeville was paced by Alec Spann and Xavier Harris, who each scored 13 points. AJ Knight added nine for the Yellowjackets, who held a late advantage before Ariton’s closing surge.
Head coach Brett Goodwin credited the team’s collective effort and composure down the stretch.
“The Purple Cats relied heavily on defensive stops and timely shots to overcome a five-point deficit with two minutes left in the game,” Goodwin said. “It took all 11 players for the Cats to get the huge win.”
Winning the championship by one point perfectly illustrates that every point, rebound, and steal matters and that victory is truly a team effort.
Ariton earned its spot in the area championship game after a dominant 53–19 victory over Barbour County in the opening round, while Abbeville advanced to the finals by defeating G.W. Long 44–38.
With Ariton adding the 2A Area 4 championship to its season accomplishments, the team now heads into postseason play with momentum built on grit, depth, and a good understanding of the importance of timing. The Purple Cats now have an impressive 21-5 winning record for the 2025-26 season. The Dale County Chronicle will be posting a more detailed article with Ariton’s season highlights, stats, and more at a later date.
The Ariton varsity boys, pictured above with their coaches, clinched the AHSAA 2A Area 4 Championship after clawing past Abbeville, 54-53, on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
