By Jeff Devine, Dale County Chronicle
The Carroll High School Eagles punched their ticket to the area championship game with a dominant 70–35 victory over the Headland High School Rams in area tournament action.
Carroll set the tone early, soaring to a 21–10 lead after the first quarter and maintaining control throughout the contest. The Eagles continued to stretch the margin in each period, using balanced scoring and defensive pressure to keep Headland from finding any sustained rhythm.
Leading scorers for the Eagles include Devon Pruitt, Jaylen Stuckey, Alex McClendon, and Legend Ansley. Carroll’s balanced effort extended beyond the scoring column, however, as Pruitt, Stuckey, McClendon, and Ansley each pulled down five rebounds. Jeremiah Hairston added four assists, while Andre March contributed three. On the defensive end, Hairston finished with three steals, while Stuckey and March recorded two steals each.
Headland was led by K. Williams with seven points, while T. Reynolds and N. Honeygham added six points each. The Rams struggled to generate offense against Carroll’s defensive intensity, particularly in the second half.
With the win, Carroll advances to the area championship game, carrying momentum from a strong performance as the Eagles look to take on Eufaula for the 5A Area 4 Championship at 6:30 p.m. on February 10 in Eufaula.
