PREVIEW: Flames, Lady Flames host GSC quarterfinals

For the seventh consecutive season, Lee will host the first round of the Gulf South tournament in Walker Arena.

With their “Senior Day” rout of Christian Brothers on Saturday, Feb. 25, the Lady Flames were named co-regular season conference champions. They had the tiebreaker over Union to clinch the first-seed in the bracket.

The Lady Flames celebrated four seniors — Macy Woodworth, Morgan Carbaugh, Haley Schubert and Hannah Garrett — on Saturday, and hope to send them off with one final win in Walker Arena tonight.

Schubert, who broke the 2,000 point mark earlier this season, is some folks’ expected winner of the Gulf South Conference Player of the Year award this season.

The Lady Flames look to win their first conference tournament championship since 2019, Schubert’s freshman season.

They’ll battle the Lady Tigers of West Alabama in Tuesday’s match-up. The two teams split the season series this year, with West Alabama reigning victorious in Walker Arena last month. Lee will look to avenge that loss in the 1-seed versus 8-seed match-up.

Historically, the Lady Flames have never lost a conference quarterfinal game — they’re 7-0 since joining the Gulf South Conference.

On the men’s side, they recognized Jayce Willingham and Michael McGuirk on “Senior Day.”

Both Willingham and McGuirk had nice showings in the team’s win over Christian Brothers. They seem to be playing their best ball of the year at the right time.

In their first round match-up, they’ll take on Auburn-Montgomery for the third time this season. Lee won both contests this year, with tense moments in each showdown.

In the teams’ first match-up in December, Lee used a Warhawk technical foul and second half push to cruise past the Warhawks of Auburn-Montgomery 85-60. In Montgomery, the Flames’ offense was buzzing. They won 101-90 in a contest that saw another Warhawk ejection.

It may be feisty and tense, but one can always expect Coach Bubba Smith’s squad to come out focused and poised. It has been the case all year — when opposing teams falter or become overcome by emotion, the Flames are laser focused to execute fully.

That focus is demonstrated by point guard Beyuan Hendricks who leads the way on the court for the Flames with his poise and unwavering pace. His ability to manipulate the defense to get looks for his teammates is a talent Flames fans are used to.

The girls’ contest begins at 6 p.m., while the guys’ tip-off is slated for 8 p.m.