The Ragland Purple Devils will host the Area 12 basketball semi-finals Friday.

Facing off against Hokes Bluff at Gadsden State Monday, the Purple Devils increased their impressive season to 22-6 with a 60-57 win.

“This was a big win for us to finish out the season against a very good Hokes Bluff team,” head coach Andy Eden said. “Our defensive pressure helped create turnovers and offensively we shot the ball well.

In that game Kijana Lindsay had 19 buckets, three rebounds, two assists and three steals. Trez Carson had 15 buckets, four rebounds, an assist and a steal. Jimmy Brock had ten buckets, three rebounds, helped his team with an impressive nine assists and had two steals. Cody Jones had nine points, grabbed four off the board and had two steals. Devane Brewster had four points, three rebounds and two assists.

Rematch of county tournament

In their final county game, the Purple Devils overcame neighbors Ashville with a 63-50 win last Friday.

Eden said it was a good win for the team on Senior Night in a rematch of the county tournament finals. “I was proud of the way we came back from an early deficit.”

Ashville was up 31-24 at the half and led 41-40 by the whistle at the end of the third.

Lindsay had 22 points, four rebounds, two assists and four steals. Brock had 18 buckets, grabbed 13 off the board, had two assists and one steal. Jones had 15 points, 11 rebounds, an assist and six steals.

Creating turnovers

Eden said keeping up the defense was key to turnover that led to the 67-45 win over Jefferson Christian two Thursdays ago.

Lindsay had 28 buckets that night with an assist and four steals. Jones had 12 buckets, six rebounds, two assists and three steals. Dakota Gardner had five buckets and five rebounds that evening. Levi Campbell had five points, grabbed three off the board and had two steals.