Childersburg principal Jay Hooker declined to comment when asked about what took place to lead up to Slater being up on administrative leave.
Without their head coach, Childersburg struggled scoring as they only managed to score 11 points in the first quarter. Mac Kelley scored six points for Childersburg. Sheleshia Truss scored four points to lead Talladega in the first quarter.
Talladega opened the quarter on a 4-0 run to take a 14-11 lead. Kelley hit a layup to cut Talladega lead down to 14-13 with five minutes left in the half. Senior Rodericka Barclay gave Childersburg (24-1) a 15-14 lead with a floater with 1:03 left in the quarter.
Kelley hit a layup as time expired to Childersburg a 17-15 lead.
Childersburg picked up their level of intensity in the third quarter. The Lady Tigers opened the quarter on a 13-2 run. Kelley opened the quarter by draining a jumper to make 19-15 with 7:30 left in the quarter.
Kelley had five steals on the night including one where she found Canesha Calhoun streaking down the court for a layup to make it 24-17.
Calhoun then connected on 3-pointer to give Childersburg a 28-17 lead with 4:01 remaining in the quarter.
Talladega battled their way back in the came as the quarter came to an end.
Jamesha Chatman hit a 3-pointer to cut Childersburg lead down to 30-20 with 2:00 left in the quarter.
Alexis Morgan scored three points to cut the Childersburg lead down to 32-23 going into the fourth quarter.
“It is kind of hard playing without our coach, so we had to get a pep talk at halftime,” sophomore Cierra Swain said. ”I think we came out and played hard in the third quarter. We turned it up and began to play our game.”
Talladega continued to fight their way back into the game in the fourth quarter. DJ Warmick hit a 3-pointer from the right corner to cut the Childersburg lead down to 33-29 with 4:08 left in the game.
Talladega held Childersburg without a field goal in the fourth quarter. Kelley nailed a pair of free throws with: 57 seconds left in the game to give Childersburg a 35-29 victory.
Kelley led Childersburg with 14 points, 10 rebounds and five steals. Barclay chipped in with eight points.
Warwick led Talladega with nine points.
“I think we have to hustle harder, take better shots and make shots,” Swain said. “We have to play as a team, because we got a little out of sync. We have to play as a team and get our coach back.”
A ruling on Slater’s future will be held in the upcoming days.
Childersburg opens Class 4A Area 9 tournament play on Friday at 6:30 p.m. against St.Clair County.
