Weaver nips Wellborn
- Updated: February 6, 2015
Bearcats now face Piedmont for area title; winner hosts Ohatchee in subregional
By Brant Locklier
For East Alabama Sports Today
The Weaver Bearcats withstood another furious fourth-quarter comeback by the Wellborn Panthers to take a 64-63 win in the first round of the Class 3A Area 12 playoffs Thursday night at Piedmont.
It was another heartbreaking loss for the young Panthers (6-15), who have lost 10 games this season that they had a chance to win in the fourth quarter.
Weaver (12-13) got a huge game from Malik Arnold who had 12 first-half points to stake Weaver to an eight-point halftime lead. The Bearcats stretched the lead to 14 points after three quarters before the Panthers stormed back.
Blake Hanson scored eight points and Corri Tignor had six to go along with a Kevin Mixon 3-pointer to tie the game with two minutes to play.
Four missed free throws hurt the Panthers in the fourth quarter and Weaver missed seven free throws in the wild finish that would’ve relieved the pressure.
“It was just a heart breaking loss,” Wellborn coach Beau Winn said. “I was proud of the kids effort in the fourth quarter as we rallied from 14 down to tie it up.”
Weaver was led by Arnold’s 18 points. Post partner Elliott Moore had 11 and Craig Copeland had 12.
Hanson led Wellborn with 25 points and seven rebounds. Tignor added 11 points and six blocked shots.
Weaver now plays Piedmont at 7 p.m. Saturday for the area championship. The top-seeded Bulldogs dumped Pleasant Valley 55-42.
The winner of Saturday’s game hosts Ohatchee in the subregional, while the loser will travel to Westbrook Christian. Westbrook drubbed Ohatchee Thursday in the Area 11 title game 61-40.
(Cover photo: Malik Arnold (24) scored 12 points in the first quarter to get Weaver started.)
Class 5A Area 8
Talladega 72, Sylacauga 56
TALLADEGA – D’Angelo Scales scored 12 of his 22 points in the first quarter and Josh Madden scored 25 points as Talladega had little trouble with its area tournament opener.
Scales’ big quarter helped stake the Tigers to a 23-9 lead. Ohyja Garrett added 14 points and nine rebounds. Mario Echols had 12 rebounds and Josh Wilson played a strong floor game with six rebounds, four assists and took a charge.
The Tigers play Shelby County for area title Saturday.
BOYS BOX SCORES
Weaver 64, Wellborn 63
WELLBORN (6-15) — Alquinarious Parker 4 0-2 8, Kevin Mixon 3 0-0 8, Corri Tignor 5 1-4 11, Quandarious Moore 0 0-0 0, Landon Machristie 1 0-0 2, Jordan Montgomery 3 0-0 7, Blake Hanson 7 9-11 25. Totals 23 10-17 63.
WEAVER (12-13) – Jalen Heath 1 1-2 3, Craig Copeland 5 0-0 12, Paul Hubbard 3 2-6 8, Elliott Moore 5 1-4 11, Ronald Wooden 0 0-0 0, Camron Lynch 2 2-2 6, Malik Arnold 9 0-0 18, Marcus Sanders 2 0-0 5. Totals 27 6-14 64.
Wellborn 13 16 11 23 — 63
Weaver 20 17 17 10 — 64
3-point goals: Wellborn 4 (Mixon 2, Montgomery, Hanson 2); Weaver 2 (Copeland, Sanders). Total fouls: Wellborn 11, Weaver 11. Officials: Lowman, Simpson, Harvey.
Talladega 72, Sylacauga 56
SYLACAUGA — Darian Garrett 3 1-4 9, Dekerius Chambliss 3 0-0 6, Bobby Brown 1 0-0 2, Khalil Pope 1 1-2 3, Antwone Cook 5 2-4 13, Malik Crawford 8 0-0 17, Rhett Aderholt 0 0-0 0, DAngelo Craig 1 2-2 4, Keaton Wilson 0 2-2 2. Totals 22 8-14 56.
TALLADEGA — Marius Echols 0 1-2 1, D’Angelo Scales 8 2-4 22, Desmond Green 1 0-0 2, Josh Madden 10 4-4 25, Ohyja Garrett 7 0-0 14, Kenderius Smith 0 0-0 0, Josh Wilson 2 0-0 4, Jaedyn Russ 2 0-0 4. Totals 30 7-10 72.
Sylacauga 9 18 17 12 — 56
Talladega 23 19 20 10 — 72
3-point goals: Sylacauga 4 (Garrett 2, Cook, Crawford); Talladega 5 (Scales 4, Madden). Total fouls: Sylacauga 10, Talladega 14. Officials: Lemon, Robinson, Dupree.
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