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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Both of Verbena High School’s basketball teams punched their tickets to the sub-regional round of the playoffs with semifinal wins on Feb. 3 in the Class 1A Area 6 tournaments at Autauga Academy.

Verbena’s varsity girls team pulled away from Autaugaville High School in their semifinal matchup to win 54-31. The Red Devils lost to Autaugaville in both regular season meetings — 44-26 on Jan. 13 and 48-27 on Jan. 23. The over 40-point difference between the regular season meetings and the area tournament meeting was astonishing. The Red Devils jumped out to a 32-12 lead in the first half and never looked back to put Verbena in the area tournament final on Feb. 4 at Autauga Academy at 5 p.m.

Verbena’s varsity boys team narrowly defeated Notasulga High School 45-43 after losing both regular season games against them as well — 50-44 on Dec. 19 and 62-40 on Jan. 15. The game was close throughout the entirety of the contest with Notasulga holding a slim two-point lead at 37-35 entering the fourth quarter. In the end, it was Verbena’s Caleb Short who put in the final basket to boost the Red Devils to the win, to the area tournament championship game and the sub-regionals. Verbena’s varsity boys championship game will be right after the varsity girls game on Feb. 4 at Autauga Academy and will be playing the hosts in the final.