Lady Tigers win Class 5A, Area 6 championship

The Demopolis Lady Tigers (14-7) earned the Class 5A, Area 6 championship Tuesday with a 3-0 win over Sumter Central in the finals.

“We were area champs two years ago, but our record did not reflect what kind of team we had,” Demopolis coach Blythe Smith said of her team’s 2011 area title season in which the Lady Tigers finished 7-10. “This year, with our overall record, it really reflects the attitude and approach that we have had all year. We’ve met another goal with being area champions. And, honestly, it is a big thing for our program. Now we have to get to the level in which we expect this type of success from ourselves.”

Demopolis opened the tournament finals with a 25-3 skunking of the visiting Lady Jaguars. The win came on the strength of the serving prowess of Jade Montgomery. The junior setter dropped in 17 straight serves to put Demopolis ahead 18-1 before the Lady Tigers lost the serve. After DHS broke the Sumter serve, senior Riley King stepped to the line and dropped in six straight serves to ice the opening win.

“She has been the most consistent in serves all year, so I expect her to get her serves over. Today you could really see her growth because she was placing her serves well,” Smith said of Montgomery’s day at the service line. “I don’t think she made a service error all day and that really gave a great boost.”

Demopolis stormed its way to a 25-13 win in game two to set up the decisive game of the tournament. In the third and final game, Ivery Moore opened with 10 straight serves for points before DHS lost the serve. Demopolis went on to win the game 25-18 to seal the championship victory.

Demopolis reached the area finals with a 3-0 win over Greenville in the opening match of the day. Demopolis took game one 25-19 before taking game two 25-6 and game three 25-10.

Sumter Central reached the finals with a 3-2 win over No. 2 seed Selma. The Lady Saints downed Sumter 25-21 in game one before the Lady Jaguars rallied for a 25-21 win in game two.

Selma took game three 25-19 before Sumter took game four 25-18. Sumter won game five 15-12 to put itself in the championship round.

Demopolis will travel to Montgomery Friday to play in the South Super-Regional against the runner-up from Area 1.

“We have another goal in front of us Friday when we go to Super-Regionals,” Smith said. “We have to get back to work the next two days because what we are about to see in Montgomery is on a whole different level than what we have seen all year.”

Sumter Central will play Friday in the South Super-Regional against the Area 1 champion.