Wallace State’s men’s basketball upset in ACCC Tournament quarterfinals; Lampley named 2019 ACCC Player of the Year
HANCEVILLE, ALA. — Wallace State’s men’s basketball team was eliminated in the Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) Tournament quarterfinals on Tuesday, losing to Chattahoochee Valley, 72-63, at Lawson State.
With seven minutes remaining, Chattahoochee Valley controlled the first double-digit lead of the game for either team, and the Lions were unable to muster a late rally.
Wallace State falls to 24-7 on the season after entering the tournament as the ACCC North Division champion. The Lions won the third ACCC North regular-season championship under coach John Meeks, whose team will learn Monday if their regular-season work was enough to qualify for a NJCAA Division I Tournament at-large bid.
The Lions entered the tournament winning 11 of their last 12 games.
Sophomore Demarkus Lampley poured in 36 points for Wallace State, marking the eighth time this season he scored more than 30 points in a game. He’s registered double digits in the scoring column in all 28 games he played.
Lampley, a Phenix City native, was showered with accolades prior to the game. He was named the 2019 ACCC/Region 22 Player of the Year, the ACCC North Division Player of the Year and a first-team selection to both the All-ACCC North Division and All-Region 22 teams.
Lampley, who is mulling multiple offers at the four-year level, entered Tuesday’s game averaging 26.3 points per game, solidifying his spot among the top dynamic scorers in Wallace State men’s program history.
Meeks, in his ninth season at Wallace State, was named the 2018-2019 ACCC North Division Coach of the Year. It’s the third time for Meeks to earn Coach of the Year recognition at Wallace State.
Tuesday’s game was tied at 21 at the half and again at the 32-all mark with 15:02 remaining after a Lampley 3-pointer.
The Pirates, the South Division’s No. 4 seed, broke the tie with a layup and went on a 16-5 run over the next eight minutes for a 48-37 cushion. CVCC’s Jah’Nile Hill capped the spurt with 3-pointers on consecutive possessions. Hill finished with 13 points for the Pirates (17-11).
Wallace State trimmed its deficit to six points with 3:42 remaining, but struggled to get any closer.
For Wallace State, Zion Williams finished with eight points and three steals and Mike Johnson had seven points.
Donald Jackson led CVCC with 17 points. Zy’Tavian Hill and Devan Porter-Wilson added 10 points apiece.
Wallace State’s women begin tournament play on Wednesday
The Wallace State Lady Lions’ postseason quest begins Wednesday vs. Gadsden State in the ACCC quarterfinals at Lawson State.
Coach Jessica McBrayer’s group earned the second seed in the ACCC North Division and will seek the program’s first championship since 2011.
Wallace State (23-6) swept Gadsden State during the regular season, winning 107-91 and 88-55.
The Lady Lions feature a balanced offensive attack. Sophomore Miajah Bullock is averaging 16.7 and 4.5 rebounds per game. Imari Martin puts in 13.7 points per game and DeMaurea Moore adds 12.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.
Six other Lady Lions average at least six points per game.
The women’s championship game is set for Friday at 4 p.m.
For more information about Wallace State athletics, visit www.athletics.wallacestate.edu or the athletics Facebook page at www.wallacestate.edu/athleticsfb.
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Russell Moore
Wallace State Community College
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