Fultondale senior Jaylon Hicks (23) looks for a passing lane on Monday night in Jacksonville. 

Behind an MVP-performance from senior Abbey Blackburn, the Tabernacle Christian girls basketball team lassoed a state championship over the weekend.

The Torches (24-1) beat Brooklane 47-41 last Friday in the state semifinals and turned around on Saturday for a 57-47 title win over Cornerstone Rainsville.

Blackburn was joined on the All-Tournament team by sophomore Anna Grace Branham.

Tabernacle is led by a senior class which includes, Blackburn, Gabby Spruill, Kendall Smith, Victoria White and Lauren Winslett. The Torches are coached by James Howard, Rick Curry and Darlene Spruill.

This class has now won two state championships over the last three seasons: 2017 state title, 2018 state runner-up, 2019 state title. 

The Pinson Valley boys basketball team (22-9) punched a ticket to the Final Four on Wednesday thanks to a game-winning jumper from sophomore Ga’Quincy McKinstry. The sophomore broke a 61-all tie with a basket at the end of the fourth quarter, sending the Indians past Huffman 63-61 in the Northeast Regional finals in Jacksonville. 

McKinstry finished the game with 10 points and six boards. Pinson Valley was led by Kameron Woods’ 29 points. 

The sixth-ranked Indians will play Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa next Wednesday at the BJCC. This marks the program’s first trip to the Final Four. 

The Fultondale boys basketball team (19-8) ended its season with a 68-53 loss to No. 1 Plainview Monday night. 

The Wildcats were a little slow adjusting to the bright lights of the Northeast Regional venue at Jacksonville State University, and the defending Class 3A champions poured on a point difference which could not be overcome. The Bears led 19-5 after the first and 42-18 at the half. 

The regional semifinal game was all but over. 

Fultondale did scramble for 27 points in the fourth period, making the final count 68-53 in favor of the Bears. 

Junior Jayson Jones paced the Wildcats with 24 points in the loss. Senior Jaylon Hicks added 11 points. 

Fultondale reached regional play for the first time since 1995.