Leading up to tonight’s Class 4A sub regional tournament game against Alabama Christian, Andalusia girls coach Bennie Shellhouse knows his girls will give it their all for a chance to play at the regional tournament next week.

“We’re going to play hard, and these girls will fight when it gets down to it,” Shellhouse said. “I think they showed that when they played Opp, playing a good quality team like that.”

The Lady Bulldogs (24-4) beat their rival 59-46 to end the regular season, and went on to win the Class 4A, Area 3 championship Saturday night against Straughn.

Additionally, the girls own the new record of winning 19 straight ball games over the 1988 girls team.

Shellhouse said Alabama Christian (15-12) plays a slower-paced game.

“They’re very methodical,” he said. “They do some good fundamental things. They play a little bit slower game than we play, so we’re going to have to find a way to control the tempo — speeding it up and making it a little faster-paced game.”

Which will give the Lady Bulldogs more opportunities to get steals and force turn overs, Shellhouse said.

“(Alabama Christian) has handled the press OK,” he said. “I think that they’ll probably do the same thing.”

Shellhouse said a big key for his team will be its athleticism on the court.

“If we play to our potential then what we are, then we’ll be hard to beat,” he said. “I think the girls are going to play to their potential, and not settle for what they’ve got.”

When asked if the girls are focused and ready for the game tonight, Shellhouse said simply that they are treating it like it’s another game.

“They’re not nervous about it at all,” Shellhouse said. “They’re taking it like it’s another team they have to eliminate.

“We want to take care of it one game at a time,” he said. “We’re just focused on Alabama Christian. We’re just trying to advance, and do the best we can and get another opportunity to go to regionals. Hopefully, we’ll play like that tomorrow night.”

In the Class 1A sub regionals, Florala will play host to J.F. Shields, and Pleasant Home will travel to face Brantley. Both games are at 6 p.m.

Additionally in Class 4A, Straughn will travel to face Brewbaker Tech at 6 p.m.

In Class 3A, Opp will travel to face Abbeville, where tip off is at 7 p.m.

Tip off in Andalusia is at 7 p.m.