The Alabama gymnastics coaching staff intentionally set up the schedule for the Crimson Tide to compete twice this weekend to prepare the team for the same format it would face in postseason.

Alabama performed well on Friday night against Florida, but some missteps on the balance beam prevented the Crimson Tide from winning and putting up a new season high. In Sunday’s Elevate the Stage meet in Huntsville against Cal, Michigan State and North Carolina, the script was flipped.

A season-high 49.475 was posted on beam to start the event, but then Alabama had two of its worst performances of the season on its two best events: floor exercise and uneven bars.

Alabama finished in third place with a 196.875 behind Cal (197.200) and Michigan State (197.150) and ahead of North Carolina (195.625.) It snapped Alabama’s three-meet streak of scoring at least a 197.350.

The Crimson Tide had two gymnasts step out of bounds on floor and one fall, which caused Alabama to count scores of 9.675 and 9.575 on the event leading to a team score of 49.025. This was the Tide’s worst floor score since Week 3 against Oklahoma

Alabama came into the meet ranked No. 6 in the national on floor.

The team bounced back in the third rotation on vault with a 49.275 led by a 9.925 from senior Lilly Hudson. Despite the earlier mistakes on floor, the vault rotation set Alabama up to still finish with a score in the 197 range if it could just perform at its average on the uneven bars.

Instead, the Crimson Tide struggled to find landings on the podium floor in Huntsville, and Shania Adams fell off the bars in the anchor spot, forcing Alabama to count two scores in the 9.7-range. The Tide ended up with a 49.100 on the event, which was its lowest bars score of the season.

Alabama now has one very important meet left in the regular season on Saturday at Michigan. It will be the final opportunity for Crimson Tide to put up a score that elevates its National Qualifying Score to a point where Alabama is one of the eight teams able to compete at the SEC Championship meet in Birmingham the following week.

Currently Alabama, Auburn and Arkansas are all fighting for the final spot in the conference championship meet. Only eight of the nine SEC teams will be allowed to compete. Alabama finishes the regular season on the road while both Auburn and Arkansas conclude at home.

Full disclosure: It’s late Saturday night. Everyone in this house is asleep except for the guy whose fingerprint unlocks the laptop and can’t sleep until writing a little more about what we saw today.

This is March.

That’s both the social media reminder of the madness and my headline from last Saturday’s introduction to the mayhem. It was a column about Alabama’s soul-sucking, buzzer-beating loss at Tennessee. Regular season losses don’t get much more impactful either on the standings or the soul.

It was enough to give Auburn the outright SEC championship, feed online trolling and give AU Athletics the lead time to print league title towels for this Saturday’s visit from Alabama.

So there was something full circle about Crimson Tide players getting pelted by the softest projectile — one printed as a clear and justifiable taunt — after it beat the buzzer to stun the suddenly angry home crowd.

The 93-91 Alabama win in Neville Arena was one for the ages. It was enough to stir some insomnia writing so here are a few bonus thoughts and observations from the final Saturday of a historic regular season. First, a few on the final play.

— Can we appreciate the fact Alabama won this one by defying the analytics? Nate Oats wants a shot at the rim or from 3, so the fact Mark Sears’ mid-range runner was the signature moment is … something.

— It’s also fitting that the two best players on the floor made the closing statements for their respective teams. Johni Broome’s 3-pointer tied the game seconds before Sears’ runner ended it. Those statements followed two completely different games for both. Broome was the straw that stirred Auburn’s drink with 34 points on 15-for-28 shooting. Sears finished with just nine points as Auburn locked him down almost all game. He managed just nine shots. Only five times this season did he shoot it fewer times while his shot count’s been as high as 24 (Wednesday against Florida).

— There’s something to say about how great Auburn’s defense was on Sears … until the final seconds. Nothing was easy at any point in the day for Sears but the best ball-handler/top scorer got a largely undisturbed shot at the buzzer? A horrible time for a breakdown for one of the elite defenses nationally.

— The final moment of overtime was quite different from the final sequence of the first half. Sears found no daylight with Denver Jones playing tighter than his shadow. A rushed 3-pointer never had a chance as the shot clock expired. It was a demoralizing end to an otherwise fruitful first half.

— This game was a classic regardless of your affiliation. The first game between the two was a dud if you like good theater. Auburn jumped to that 9-0 lead and never trailed. It was only tied twice and the Tigers pulled away both times with the lead swelling as high as 14 points. This time, the game was tied 10 times, lead swapped hands 13 times and nobody led by more than eight points. They traded punches all afternoon and one team won it as opposed to the other team blowing it.

— Let’s also talk about the crimson crane and it’s indelible place in this basketball rivalry. Born on the football field and coopted by the basketball counterparts, Auburn’s used it to mock Alabama. That included after the February beating of the Tide in Coleman Coliseum. So the moment Grant Nelson (of all people) dropped it on Broome in the first half really injected some energy into this one. Bruce Pearl lost his mind trying to recreate it for the referees in a plea for a T, but no dice. The Auburn radio crew also verbally disagreed with the lack of a penalty but, from my perspective, it’s all fair game in a rivalry like this. You better believe there would be cranes all over the floor if Auburn won it so, fair play, you give and receive. This time, Nelson wrote a check that he certainly cashed.

— Almost lost in the shuffle was the performance of Labaron Philon. His pickpocket of fellow star freshman Tahaad Pettiford in overtime led to a tiebreaking layup with 2:10 to play. He also calmly hit a pair of free throws with 30 seconds left to put the Tide up 3. The former 5-star (and one-time Auburn commit) scored 15 points in his seventh double-figure scoring performance in the last eight games.

— Lost even further was the offensive outing by Clifford Omoruyi. His 15 points came one shy of a season high and was three better than his previous best against SEC competition. The Rutgers transfer was 7-for-7 shooting. That was his 14th game this season in which he didn’t miss a shot but he previously topped out at 6-for-6 against a completely overmatched UNC Ashville team. The big crimson dog did this against one of the more physically intimidating front lines in the sport and he had at least two poster dunks.

— There’s not much more to add on the Chad Baker-Mazara ejection for the cheap shot elbow. The veteran is a great asset when his emotion feeds Auburn runs but this isn’t the first time that adrenaline redlined and cost the Tigers.

— Alabama had been keeping the turnovers under control recently. It had just six Wednesday against Florida before ballooning to 15 on Saturday. The Tigers forced just six in the first meeting but Neville Arena has a way of speeding opponents up and forcing mistakes. Those giveaways led to 20 Auburn points while the Tide scored just 10 off the nine Auburn turnovers.

— The Crimson Tide didn’t attempt a 3-pointer for the first 5:30. That’s a testament to Auburn’s perimeter defense considering Alabama attempts the sixth-most 3-pointers in the nation (29.6 a game). Alabama finished 7-for-22 from long range. That’s the fifth fewest attempts and sixth fewest makes of Alabama’s season.

— The visitors made up for the lack of production from deep by making 62% of its 2-point shots. It outscored the Tigers 52-40 in the paint while making 18 of 30 shots taken around the rim.

— With Alabama winning, it lessened the chances of a rematch with Auburn in the SEC tournament. The Tide now gets the No. 3 seed, meaning the two couldn’t meet before the league championship. A loss would have sent Alabama to the No. 4 seed, meaning the two would have to win just one game apiece to reunite in the semifinals on Saturday in Nashville.

That’s enough for now.

The fever dream of March basketball is really about to get trippy so it’s time for some sleep. That was perhaps the greatest roundball meeting of these two blood rivals when you consider the pure theater of the full 45 minutes.

That shouldn’t be lost in any of this.

So good night, hope you slept tight, because it’s about to get real now that we’re looking at brackets.

Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.

The weekend began with the grand return of former long-time Patrick Murphy assistant Alyson Habetz, as well as her top aide, former All-SEC Crimson Tide catcher Lacey Prejean (2000-2003). Prejean was also director of operations alongside Murphy and Habetz for the 2008 and 2009 seasons. The weekend ended with the Tide gifting ULL a win.

GAME 1: ALABAMA 3, ULL 0

After giving up a double to begin the game, Bama starter Jocelyn Briski got the next three out with the second and third outs coming on strikeouts. The Tide sophomore really put on a show. She allowed only three hits and two walks in her first career complete game shutout on 100 pitches.

Habetz learned well from the master and used her own Gut® in opting to start Laffy’s No. 3 pitcher Bethaney Noble. The Rajuns hurler was cruising along until Abby Duchscherer walked to open the 4th inning. After an out, Brooke Ellestad tripled and Marlie Giles homered to left field to give the Tide a 3-0 lead.

Unfortunately, following the round-tripper, the Crimson Tide put their bats back on ice and would not create any more scoring threats. Fortunately, Briski was mowing down Rajuns batters. Outside of those two at-bats, ULL’s Noble was pitching well enough to get a win. Had this been an “off-day” for the Alabama pitching, three runs may have not been enough for the home team to earn the win. Hopefully, we will see more of this kind of performance from Briski.

• Audrey Vandagriff stole base No. 28.
• No errors!

GAME 2: ALABAMA 12, IOWA 3 (6 Inn. Run Rule)

For the second straight game, the opposing lead-off batter got on base with a double. This time, a run was scored when the next Hawkeyes batter singled. Catelyn Riley would only last 2.2 innings while giving up 3 runs on 5 hits. Emily Winstead pitched the remainder of the game, yielding only a single over 3.1 frames.

For the Bama offense, Michigan native Kali Heivilin went downright medieval on the Big Ten Hawkeyes. Alabama’s only 4-year senior twice went deep and had 6 RBI. Down 1-0 in the bottom of the 1st, Heivilin and Ellestad went back-to-back.

In the top of 3rd, two Iowa singles put runners at second and third bases. A fielding error by Ellestad scored one run and a double scored another to cut the Tide lead to one. It was at this point that Riley was lifted from the game for Winstead.

In the bottom of that frame, Bama got two runs back as Heivilin hit her second round-tripper of the game – a laser missile over the left field fence.

In the bottom of 5th, Riley added another Tide run with a solo shot to left field. But Alabama really put the game away in the 6th. With two outs and nobody on base, Alabama exploded for four runs on a pair of singles, a HBP, a Heivilin triple, and a walk-off run rule home run by Ellestad.

I suppose we can forgive her error. ㋡

The first, second, and fourth Iowa batters each went 2 for 3 and accounted for all of the Hawyeyes’ hits. The rest of the team was a big fat 0-fer with one walk.

• Vandagriff stole base No. 29.
• Ellestad error.

GAME 3: ALABAMA 5, IOWA 1 – Kendal Clark Senior Day

In the 4th inning, Iowa had a single, walk, and single to open the scoring 1-0.

Alabama answered in the bottom of the inning by scoring 3 runs on 2 hits, a walk and 3 Iowa errors. In that same inning, there was a close play called out at third base. The out was challenged and overturned. The Iowa head coach argued the call and was ejected.

Jocelyn Briski had another fine showing, tossing 5.0 innings and scattering 5 hits and two walks with 1 run allowed.

Freshman Braya Hodges made her second appearance of the season, throwing a 1-2-3 6th inning. Alea Johnson duplicated that feat in the 7th.

• Vandagriff stole base No. 30.
• No errors.

GAME 4: ULL 4 ALABAMA 3

Vandagriff walked and swiped second base to open the game. A Duchscherer sac fly moved her to third base and Pupillo singled her in. Heivilin singled and Kennedy Marceaux picked up an RBI on a single of her own.

The Gut® opted to start Emily Winstead and probably stuck with her a little too long. In the 3rd inning, the Rajuns put runners at second and third with two outs. The next batter singled the two runners in to tie it up.

In the 4th, ULL again put runners at second and third. At this point, Riley entered the game and gave up a bunt single to give the away team a 3-2 lead.

Laffy scored a fourth run on Heivilin’s second error of the game.

The Tide scored on an error in the 7th but left the bases loaded and snapped their 13 game winning streak.

• Vandagriff stole base No. 31.
• Four errors: Heivilin (2), Hawkins (2).
• The Gut® decided to bench red-hot Ellestad for this game.

NOTES

• The inconsistency of this Alabama pitching staff is mind-boggling. Alea Johnson was lights out all last weekend and then she gets knocked around by Samford. Briski has been sketchy and then tosses a pair of gems. Riley and Winstead are intermittently dominant and rocky.
• Ellestad has had some issues with her fielding but it is hard to keep her bat out of the lineup.
• Abby Duchscherer cooled off (1 for 8, 1 run).
• Marlie Giles (HR, 4 RBI) and Riley Valentine (0 hits, 0 BB, 0 HBP, 0 runs, 0 RBI) shared the catching duties with each starting two games. It is clear who needs to be starting.
• Lauren Johnson got one at bat.
• Kendal Clark was not so great on her Senior Day. She was hitless (0-6) in two starts over the weekend.
• Whenever I see or hear the name “Winstead”, I always picture Mary Elizabeth Winstead (10 Cloverfield Lane, Scott Pilgrim vs the World, Grindhouse). And now you will too. You’re welcome.

MVP

• HEIVILIN – 5 for 11 (.455), 4 runs, 7 RBI, 3B, 2 HR, 2 BB
• ELLESTAD – 6 for 9 (.667), 3 runs, 4 RBI, 3B, 2 HR, 2 BB, SB
• BRISKI – 12.0 innings, 8 hits allowed, 1 run, 4 BB, 4 K, 0 WP, 0 HBP, 2 wins

UPCOMING ALABAMA SCHEDULE

MIDWEEK ROAD TRIP

• Tuesday, Mar 11 at South Alabama 5pm/6pm Mobile, AL

SPRING BREAK SHOWDOWN

SEC play gets under way with the Bullies (19-3) coming to Tuscaloosa.

• Friday, Mar 14 vs Mississippi State 6pm/7pm
• Saturday, Mar 15 vs Mississippi State 2pm/3pm
• Sunday, Mar 16 vs Mississippi State 1:30/2:30

HOW TO WATCH

¯_(ツ)_/¯ Alabama is not scheduled to have a game televised on regular TV until March 19 vs Florida State. In the meantime, keep shelling out that $12 a month to fill ESPN’s coffers.

#RollTide #Team29