By BAKER ELLIS / Sports Editor

MONTGOMERY – While games everywhere else across the county and across the state were going down to the wire and being decided in dramatic fashion, the Lady Bulldogs of Montevallo took care of business with little trouble in their 4A Sweet Sixteen matchup with Handley on Feb. 23. Montevallo, powered by Lauryn Lilly, Emri Hannah and Alasha Reed, stomped the Lady Tigers easily by a final score of 63-36.

From the jump, Montevallo established its dominance over Handley, jumping out to a 21-7 lead after the first quarter. At halftime the Lady Bulldogs led 35-13, and from there cruised to the easy win.

While the game itself was less than close, it did mark a seminal moment for this Montevallo team. A year ago the Lady Bulldogs lost in the Sweet Sixteen to Elmore by a 53-49 final after leading at the half 31-17. This season, Montevallo was not about to let an Elite Eight bid and the continuation of its season slip away in the same way it did a year ago, and the Lady Bulldogs kept their foot on the gas for the entirety of the game.

Lilly, Montevallo’s leader all season, finished with 21 points and three rebpunds in just 20 minutes of action. Hannah finished with 15 points while Reed finished with 14 points and 11 steals, giving her a somewhat unconventional double-double.

With the win, Montevallo moves on to play Sipsey Valley on Feb. 25 at 12:30 p.m. at Alabama State for a berth in the 4A Final Four.