Candice Fields displayed a most valuable player performance through the Class 3A, Area 6 tournament, as she guided her Montevallo Lady Bulldogs to the area tournament title Saturday in a 47-31 victory at Aliceville.

Fields, named the tournament&8217;s MVP, averaged 20.5 points per game in the tournament&8217;s two games.

&8220;Candice had a great tournament. She kind of took the team on her back and said she was going to be the leader,&8221; Coach Tena Niven said.

Fields&8217;s 23 points, coupled with 16 from Jordan Archer, including five 3-point baskets, helped Montevallo defeat Gordo, 67-33, last Thursday to advance to the area final.

The win places the 10th-ranked Dawgs on their home court Thursday night for the sub-regional with Calera, who fell short, 46-40, to Altamont Saturday.

&8220;We&8217;re excited to be in it and to be able to play at home in Susie Dement Gymnasium,&8221; Niven said, adding extra emphasis on the gym, named for Montevallo&8217;s &8220;No. 1 cheerleader.&8221;

Calera hopes to avenge a 44-34 loss to Montevallo last Tuesday when they meet at 7 p.m. Thursday. However, Coach James Knowles knows it will not be easy.

&8220;We&8217;re going to have our work cut out for us. We can&8217;t make mistakes and beat Montevallo, there&8217;s just no way,&8221; Knowles said.

Niven and her Bulldogs will look to advance to their second regional tournament in four years, finishing as runner-up in the 2004-05 regional in Mobile.

Alisha Gentry, Seqouia Peeples and Archer joined Fields on the All-Area tournament team