Winfield earns Class 3A title game appearance

Class 3A Boys’ Semifinals | Winfield 60, Southside-Selma 43

By Josh Bean | For the AHSAA
Birmingham, AL – With the ball in his hands on virtually every possession, Winfield High School senior Ja’borri McGhee serves as the Pirates’ offensive catalyst.

Logan Feltman – the Pirates’ 6-foot-10 senior center – anchors the defense as one of the state’s top rim protectors.

That combination served Winfield well Tuesday in AHSAA 100th State Basketball Championships Class 3A boys’ semifinal at Legacy Arena in Birmingham.

McGhee, who came in averaging over 28 points per game, led all scorers with 36 points and added 16 rebounds. Feltman flirted with a triple-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds and eight blocked shots, and the Pirates of Coach Zac Wakefield earned a 60-43 victory over Southside-Selma. The victory sends Winfield (31-5) into the championship round for the first time since finishing as 3A runner-up in 1995.

“Me and Logan, we know we’re the two that have to step up,” McGhee said.


Winfield led 25-23 at halftime and took control early in the fourth quarter, using an 8-0 spurt to build a 46-34 lead and then pulled away. McGhee and Feltman scored 53 of the Pirates 60 points and grabbed 26 of the team’s 38 rebounds. McGhee made 10-of-27 shots. He was perfect at the foul line sinking 14-of-14.

“Big-time players make big-time plays,” Wakefield said.

Senior point guard Chris Thomas finished with 10 points, 10 rebounds and four steals for Southside-Selma (21-10), coached by Kelvin Lett. Derick Smith added 10 points and seven rebounds.

Winfield advances to play Plainview in Friday’s championship game. Tip-off is set for 2:15 p.m. All of this week’s State Finals games are being live-streamed over the NFHS Network and are being over the AHSAA TV Network. WOTM TV is producing all the contests. The AHSAA Radio Network is also broadcasting all games over its radio/internet network as well.

Play continues Tuesday with boys’ and girls’ semifinal play in Class 4A. Classes 6A and 5A played Wednesday and the Class 7A semis will be Thursday morning. Championship games begin Thursday after with 1A girls and boys. Class 2A, 3A and 4A finals will be Friday. Classes 5A, 6A and 7A will conduct those title games on Saturday.

AHSAA 2022 State Basketball Championships
Birmingham Legacy Arena, Feb. 28-March 5

TUESDAY’S RESULTS
CLASS 3A
Girls’ Semifinals

Prattville Christian (35-1) 53, Plainview (27-9) 36
Susan Moore (30-4) 80, Southside-Selma (21-6) 42
Boys’ Semifinals

Plainview (30-6)  59, Houston Academy (22-10) 44
Winfield (31-5) 60, Southside-Selma (21-10) 43

CLASS 4A
Girls’ Semifinals
Saint James (22-6) vs. New Hope (26-5), Mar. 1, 3 p.m.
Vigor (17-11) vs. Deshler (29-1), Mar. 1, 6 p.m.
Boys’ Semifinals

Saint James (16-6) vs. Jacksonville (26-5), Mar. 1, 4:30 p.m.
Escambia County (26-4) vs. Haleyville (24-7), Mar. 1, 7:30 p.m.

CLASS 3A
3A Girls’ Championship
Prattville Christian (35-1) vs. Susan Moore (30-4), March 4, 12:15 p.m.
3A Boys’ Championship
Plainview (30-6) vs. Winfield (31-5), March 4, 2:15 p.m.