The Corner girls basketball team won the Class 5A, Area 11 championship with a 47-46 win at Mortimer Jordan Thursday night. The win earns the Yellow Jackets home-court advantage in the Northeast Sub-Regional next Monday. 

KIMBERLY—It was a rollercoaster of emotions on Thursday night in the competition gym at Mortimer Jordan High School, and no one enjoyed the ride more than Jiselle Woodson.

The Corner junior scored 30 points, carrying her team to a 47-46 Class 5A, Area 11 Tournament championship win over host Mortimer Jordan.

“This is such a milestone for our program because I don’t know that Corner has ever won an area championship in girls basketball,” said Corner head coach Jeff Smith. “Honestly, I knew that we could compete with every team in this tournament. I don’t know that I came in thinking that we were going to win the championship or anything like that, but I knew that if we played to our capabilities, that we could compete for the championship.”

Corner junior Shelby Sanford sank the game-winning free throw with less than a second remaining. She went to the line for two shots. Her first make evened the score at 47-all and her second sent the Jackets home with a new first-place trophy.

“To be honest, I was very scared, but I knew I was going to make them. I had confidence in myself and to God, he makes it all happen,” said Sanford.

Following a technical foul, Mortimer Jordan did have a chance to even things back up or take the lead, but both free throws clanked off the rim. The Corner bench cleared and the celebration was on.

“I could not be more proud of a team for the effort that they’ve given the whole year and I’m just glad that they got to see that come to fruition tonight,” said Smith.

The dream was nearly shattered by Mortimer Jordan sophomore Mackynzie Watson, who rose up for a 3-pointer which gave the home team a 46-45 advantage in the final seconds. She ran to the other end and took a charge from Woodson, nearly putting the game away with nine ticks left on the clock.

Watson finished with 15 points for the Blue Devils. Jadyn Allen led the way with 18 points, and Aaliyah Harper added 10 more.

Their problems came on the defensive end, where they failed to stay in front of Woodson for four quarters. The junior guard carved up the Blue Devils from start to finish. Perhaps her biggest burst came in the third quarter, when she scored eight straight points for the Yellow Jackets, capped off with a right-handed finish at the third-quarter buzzer.

“The experience of coming out here tonight with all these girls and move down here to have the opportunity to be on this team with this great group of girls was life changing. We never made it this far in basketball back home,” said Woodson.

Corner will host Area 14 runner-up Arab in the Northeast Sub-Regional Monday night at 7. Mortimer Jordan must travel to No. 5 Scottsboro that evening.

Erik Harris is the Sports Editor of The North Jefferson News. Email him at njnsports@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @jeharris2.