Dougherty, Monroe set for region semifinal showdown

The winner of the matchup between the Trojans and Golden Tornadoes will advance to the region championship game.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The Dougherty Trojans defeated the Cairo Syrupmakers 70-59 in the region quarterfinals, setting up a highly anticipated matchup with crosstown rival Monroe Golden Tornadoes, the No. 8-ranked team in the state, in the region semifinal. The winner of Thursday's game will advance to the region championship game on Friday.

Why it matters

This game marks a significant moment in the season for both teams, as they compete for a spot in the region championship game. The Trojans and Golden Tornadoes have split their regular-season meetings, making this semifinal matchup a highly anticipated rubber match.

The details

Dougherty jumped out to a 6-0 lead and never looked back, weathering a brief Cairo push to take an 18-11 lead at the end of the first quarter. Freshman Jherel Gibson provided a spark in the second quarter, hitting two 3-pointers and adding a steal and a fast-break dunk to help the Trojans build a 37-20 halftime lead. Cairo fought back in the third quarter, but Dougherty answered every challenge and led 57-35 heading into the fourth quarter.

  • The region semifinal game between Dougherty and Monroe will be played on Thursday, February 13, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. at Westover High School.
  • The region championship game will be played on Friday, February 14, 2026 at Westover High School.

The players

Yerrance Noel

The first-year head coach of the Dougherty Trojans, who has spent the season accelerating the learning curve of a young team dominated by freshmen.

Jherel Gibson

A freshman for the Dougherty Trojans who provided a spark in the second quarter with two 3-pointers, a steal, and a fast-break dunk to help the Trojans build a 37-20 halftime lead.

Monroe Golden Tornadoes

The No. 8-ranked team in the state, who will face the Dougherty Trojans in the region semifinal game.

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What they’re saying

“I feel like we are ready. We've been getting better all season. I feel like we can do something, but it's up to these guys. So many of them are freshmen, but we've made big gains.”

— Yerrance Noel, Head Coach, Dougherty Trojans (albanyherald.com)

What’s next

The winner of the Dougherty-Monroe region semifinal game on Thursday will advance to the region championship game on Friday, February 14, 2026 at Westover High School.

The takeaway

This matchup between the Dougherty Trojans and Monroe Golden Tornadoes represents a significant test for the young Trojans team, as they look to prove they are ready to compete with one of the top-ranked teams in the state and advance to the region championship game.