REMATCH SET

Central to face top-ranked Sacred Heart in 7th Region semifinal

The rematch is set.

For a fourth consecutive season, Central girls basketball and Sacred Heart will meet in the Seventh Region tournament. The Yellowjackets downed Christian Academy, 63-54, on Monday night to set up Wednesday’s regional semifinal showdown against the top-ranked Valkyries.

“They’re a different beast,” Central coach Deshawn Pendleton said of the Valkyries. “They have a lot of good player and they go with the best player in the country, so we got to figure a way to get some stops and we know if we can hit some shots we can put some pressure on them.”

The last three times the Seventh Region foes faced off in the postseason, Sacred Heart walked away with wins en route to three consecutive state titles. Central, which was led by an impressive 3-point shooting performance by senior Diamond Roach on Monday night, will have a chance to upset the Valkyries when the two meet at 7:30 p.m. at Valley High School on Wednesday.

Roach knocked down six 3s and finished with 22 points against CAL. She’ll need to continue her hot shooting if the Yellowjackets are going to end Sacred Heart’s 67-game winning streak against in-state competition.

“I just put up extra shots before the game,” Roach said following her shooting performance.

“I was locked in. Big game, I didn’t want to go home, (my teammates) weren’t ready. So I had to turn up.”

Central will also need fellow senior and West Georgia signee Destiny Jones to get her offense going early if the Yellowjackets are going to stun the Valkyries. Jones had a team-high 26 points against CAL, including 16 in the second half.

Sacred Heart beat Male, 76-36, in Monday’s quarterfinals to advance.

Roach and Jones have known each other since they were in eighth grade. The duo is using the upset opportunity

as motivation in their final season as teammates.

“(An upset) would be huge for us,” Roach said. “But our mindset is just to play the next game, and prepare for it.” CENTRAL 17 14 12 21 - 64 CAL 11 9 16 17 - 53 Central (23-9) - Destiny Jones 26, Diamond Roach 22, Nylaia Carter 9, Aniyah Edwards 2, Kinnidi Russell 2. CAL (14-14) - Brianna Wilkins 30, Ava Moore 11, Kylic Moore 7, Bailee Duck 5, Candace Smith 2, Deanna Lawrence 2, Maggie Hayes 1.

Sacred Heart 76, Male 36

The No. 1-ranked Valkyries (25-7) shot 58.3% in the first half to build a 4916 lead and cruised past the visiting Bulldogs (9-20).

ZaKiyah Johnson posted 22 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals to lead Sacred Heart. Angelina Pelayo added 18 points.

Kalani Brock had 20 points, seven rebounds and three steals to lead Male. MALE 6 10 10 10 - 36 SACRED HEART 29 20 20 7 - 76 Male (9-20) – Aubrey Bradshaw 6, Kalani Brock 20, Curstine Ellis 2, MaKiya Humphrey 4, Lillian Holt 4. Sacred Heart (25-7) – Tootie Jordan 10, Addison Kincaid 2, ZaKiyah Johnson 22, Claire Russell 2, Allea Holbrook 3, Reagan Bender 9, Angelina Pelayo 18, Emi-Lee Howe 2, Morgan Frey 2, Abigail Wolff 6.

Assumption 74, Seneca 29

Lauren Campisano scored 24 points to lift the host Rockets (16-14) over the Redhawks (16-14).

Kyleigh Hall added 10 points for Assumption, which will face Manual at 6 p.m. Wednesday in a regional semifinal at Valley. Assumption beat Manual 7756 on Jan. 9.

Arianna Tunstall scored seven points to lead Seneca. SENECA 7 5 5 12 - 29 ASSUMPTION 18 19 22 15 - 74 Seneca (16-14) – Janell Juler 6, Rushauna Stallworth 4, Jaylynn Jackson 3, Timiah Harlan 5, Arianna Tunstall 7, Justice Parks 4. Assumption (23-9) – Taryn Morris 9, Geriann Ackermann 5, Zoe Thompson 5, Kyleigh Hall 10, Lauren Campisano 24, Tia Ice 2, Maggie Young 5, Ella Lesshafft 2, Ava Lou Mattingly 4, Taylor Burnett 1, Kennedy Bryant 7.

Manual 68, Ballard 42

Ashlinn James scored 19 points to lift the host Crimsons (22-7) over the Bruins (18-12).

Alana Smith added 12 points for Manual, which outscored Ballard 16-6 in the fourth quarter to pull away.

Chandler Duncan led Ballard with 11 points. BALLARD 12 10 14 6 - 42 MANUAL 25 11 16 16 - 68 Ballard (18-12) – Trinity Armour 6, Makayla May 4, Chandler Duncan 11, Naomi Williams 2, Bella Horvatinovich 2, Kendall Taylor 10, Ari Rogers 7. Manual (22-7) – Catherine Kimbrough 2, Electra Lovely-Tolbert 10, Shaila Cross 2, London Sweeney 5, Kendall Hemmerle 2, Ashlinn James 19, Londyn James 2, Brooklyn Davis 8, Alana Smith 12, Morrai Blount 4, Bailey Fetcher 2.

Reach sports reporter Brooks Warren at bwarren@gannett.com and follow him on X at @Broookksss.

PHOTOS BY MATT STONE/COURIER JOURNAL Central’s Destiny Jones drives toward the basket as she and the Yellowjackets were too much for the Christian Academy Centurions in the Seventh Region tournament on Monday night.

The Central bench cheers after Central’s Diamond Roach hit a 3-point shot during the second half on Monday.