Punching their tickets

Roundup: White Plains, Sacred Heart, Anniston, Alexandria make it to JSU; Talladega heads to Montgomery

By East Alabama Sports Today

Everything came together for White Plains in the fourth quarter Tuesday night.

The Wildcats hit seven of 10 free throws in the fourth, came up with a couple big steals, finally got some shots to fall and held its breath as a potential game-tying 3-pointer missed the mark while beating Hokes Bluff 47-44 to secure its first trip to the Northeast Regional since 2008.

They now play North Jackson (20-8) in the Class 4A boys regional semifinal Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

“We were able to knock down a couple of open shots we had not made the entire night,” White Plains coach Chris Randall said. “Kevin Carr made a big 3 and Jerod (Guthrie) made a big 3 that was just so timely. It’s like we led the whole fourth quarter, but we couldn’t get away from them.

“The bottom line, our defense kept us in it. We were tenacious defensively; they had to work for everything they got. And we did a really good job on the glass.”

The Wildcats (25-7) led by four late in the game before Hokes Bluff cut it to two inside 20 seconds to play. Michael McGuirk went to the line and hit the first of two free throws with 11 seconds left to make it a three-point game and ensure the Wildcats couldn’t lose on a last-second shot.

McGuirk missed the second free throw, but the Eagles had no time outs left so they had to act quickly. White Plains did a good job covering up the three shooters it felt would get the shot. That left it to Brett Haney, who had an open 3-pointer from the corner but didn’t connect.

McGuirk scored seven of his nine points in the fourth quarter. Nathan Gilbert led White Plains with 12.

Cherokee County 62, Saks 61

CENTRE – Joel Wester hit a 3-pointer with 17 seconds left to give Cherokee County the lead and Saks’ Monty Young missed an inside shot inside three seconds to send the Warriors to the regionals in this expectedly tight battle of top three teams.

The second-ranked Warriors (28-2) will face Westminster Christian. Saks, ranked third, ends the year with two straight losses at 21-6.

Wester, the coach’s son, scored 10 of his team-high 18 points and two of his four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter as the Warriors rallied from seven down early in the quarter and three with 1:20 to play. His 3-pointer from right in front of the Cherokee County bench put his team up 63-62.

“I saw my man leave to guard Jacob (Graves) and I just thought when I’m catching it I’m putting it up,” Wester said. “That’s what I work for. When I catch it I’m looking to shoot. … I was a little bit worried when we were down late in the game, but in this gym our guys never give up. We just find a way to win in here.”

After some confusion as to whether Saks had a timeout to use and an inadvertent restart of the clock, the Wildcats put their offense in motion to find either Quen Williams or Darion Coleman, but they never got the look they wanted.

The pressure was so intense, the Wildcats had to throw it down low to Young with less than three seconds left. His contested shot hit the left side of the rim and never had a chance to fall.

“You just can’t say enough about how mentally tough our kids are,” Cherokee County coach Neal Wester said. “They’re playing against a bunch of great athletes in the biggest game of the year for us and they would not give up. It did not look good for us there several times, but they just absolutely would not give up. … It’s incredible. The last 30 seconds just really says it all about our team.”

Saks hit 11 3-pointers in the game. Coleman and Williams combined for nine and finished with 21 and 19 points, respectively.

Class 1A
Sacred Heart 68, Winterboro 60

The fourth-ranked Cardinals (24-8) didn’t play particularly well, but they discovered five indeed was better than one in beating Winterboro to reach the Class 1A Northeast Regional. They will play Skyline (17-8) Friday at 4:30 p.m.

D.J. Heath scored 26 points, Kevion Nolan had 22 and Diante Wood had a triple-double for Sacred Heart to offset 33 points and 31 rebounds by Winterboro’s 6-foot-3, 250-pound Jutorrius Cook.

Wood poured in 16 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and blocked 10 shots. What rebounds were left to be had, Heath had six and Nolan had five.

It was the Cardinals’ first win in single digits since beating White Plains in the Calhoun County Tournament semifinals. They had an 11-point lead in the third quarter, but every time they seemed to get comfortable, Cook was there for a rebound, bucket and one to bring it back. He had 20 points and 20 boards in a game against the Cardinals two years ago.

The Cardinals had to be a little cautious around the rim. The basket on the Sacred Heart end of the floor was damaged the day before after a thunderous dunk by Wood and a follow-up slam by Heath in practice. School officials spent all day contemplating the repairs before finally welding the rim together.

Class 5A
Alexandria 68, Mortimer Jordan 51

KIMBERLY – Dakota Kelley scored 19 points and hit eight of 10 free throws in the fourth quarter to Mortimer Jordan from making a run and propelling the Valley Cubs to the Northeast Regional for the first time since 2009.

The Cubs (23-6) had a five-point halftime lead, but used defense and depth to carry them through the second half. Kelley might have been the big scorer, but they got contributions from a lot of places. Luke Tucker and Tyrelle Gay each added 10 points and Riley Shaw added nine.

They play tradition-rich Butler (10-18) in Monday’s 1:30 p.m. 5A regional semifinal at Jacksonville State, on the same floor they lost to Sacred Heart in the Calhoun County Tournament championship game.

“For our kids, especially our seniors and the guys who have been around three or four years, this was very sweet,” Alexandria coach Jason Johnson said. “They felt like they just did not play too well their last time up there. After that game, the next day in practice, it was let’s do what we can to get back up there.

“They knew the only way to do that was to win a subregional game and get up there. I’m proud of those guys because they’ve had to endure some tough losses — maybe some embarrassing losses – the last few years, so now they’re reaping some benefit for that hard work.”

Anniston 62, Springville 47

The Bulldogs (17-11) turned up the defense in the second half, turned to their three guards and turned away Springville to earn a trip to the Northeast Regional.

Anniston led by three at the break, but Croft scored 16 of his game-high 26 points in the second half, while Marrio Dobbins and Hakeem Ross combined for their 11 points as the Bulldogs pulled away. All three guards produced big steals down the stretch.

DeQuan Ross, meanwhile, had 15 points and 13 rebounds for the Bulldogs, while Davion Tippins grabbed 10 boards.

Anniston plays J.O. Johnson (28-4) in the regional semifinals Monday at 10:30 a.m., right after the Anniston girls play Madison County.

Talladega 95, Helena 62

TALLADEGA – Josh Madden knocked down six 3-pointers and scored 36 points in his final game at Chuck Miller Arena to send the Tigers to the Central Regional semifinals in The Acadome in Montgomery.

D’Angelo Scales scored 12 of his 17 points in the first quarter as the Tigers opened a 25-11 lead in what was providing to be a 3-point-fest. The teams combined for 10 3s in the quarter and 25 in the game (14 by Helena).

Desmond Green added 12 points and nine rebounds, while Jay Smoot had 10 points and seven boards. Mario Echols had nine rebounds and eight assists.

In spite of all the 3-pointers Helena hit in the game, Jon Brown was its only double figure scorer. He had 15 points.

Class 6A
Scottsboro 55, Oxford 40

SCOTTSBORO — The basketball season came to an end for the Yellow Jackets in a game that sent Scottsboro to its first ever trip to the regionals. The Wildcats (20-8) had upset Albertville by 20 points Friday to win their first area championship since 1998.

Oxford got off to a slow start. Querriun Mason kept the Yellow Jackets (9-19) in the game with seven points, but they were their only points of the quarter as they fell behind 15-7.

Scottsboro controlled the boards and was making free throws to go with timely 3s and that formula was working as the Wildcats kept the lead between 11 and 20 points the rest of the game.

The Jackets had chopped its deficit to 35-24 late in the third quarter and appeared to have some momentum, but nine quick points off Jacket turnovers and a tomahawk dunk quickly blew the game open, 44-24.

Tavaras Tolliver led three Scottsboro scores in double figures with 20 points. Spencer Garner had 18 points, with seven coming at the free throw line. Malik Talley had 10 points, including two of the Wildcats’ five 3-pointers.

Kaleb Kidd got his game going with seven second-quarter points and ended with 14 to lead Oxford. Mason finished with 11 points and four rebounds for the Jackets.

NORTHEAST SUBREGIONAL BOX SCORES

Anniston 62, Springville 47

SPRINGVILLE (18-12) — Jermell Patrick 0 0-0 0, Jamis Worrell 1 0-0 2, Isaich Benson 6 3-5 16, Alex Canwell 2 5-6 9, Conner Waston 1 0-0 3, Chris Reaume 1 0-0 2, Rusty Calley 0 2-2 2, Dolto Pitts 1 0-0 3, Austin O’Neal 0 2-2 2, Zach Tucker 3 0-0 6, Dave Phillips 1 0-0 2. Totals 16 12-15 47.

ANNISTON (17-11) — Marrio Dobbins 1 3-4 5, Tray Croft 11 0-0 26, Hakeem Ross 3 0-0 6, Davion Tippins 3 0-0 6, Tae Miller 0 0-0 0, DeQuan Ross 7 1-4 15, Justin Bagley 1 0-0 2, Emmanuel James 1 0-0 2. Totals 27 4-8 62.

Springville 8 15 12 12 — 47
Anniston 13 13 16 20 — 62

3-point goals: Springville 3 (Pitts, Waston, Benson); Anniston 4 (Croft). Total fouls: Springville 9, Anniston 14.

Alexandria 67, Mortimer Jordan 51

ALEXANDRIA (23-6) — Chance Williams 0 2-2 2, Austin Wells 0 0-0 0, Nick Porter 1 2-2 4, Riley Shaw 3 0-0 9, Alton Davis 3 1-2 7, Tyrelle Gay 2 5-6 10, Caleb Young 3 0-0 6, Ronnie Royal 0 0-0 0, Luke Tucker 3 3-3 10, Dakota Kelley 4 9-12 19. Totals 19 22-27 67.

MORTIMER JORDAN (19-10) — Thomas Walker 6 0-1 15, Marcus Hudson 8 5-5 24, Patrick Burkett 0 0-1 0, Andrew Warren 1 0-0 2, Sawyer Swindle 0 4-4 4, Joseph Peters 1 0-1 2, Levi Faucett 1 0-0 2, William Archer 0 0-2 0, William Hodges 1 0-0 2. Totals 18 9-13 51

Alexandria 18 14 18 17 — 67
Mortimer Jordan 18 9 14 10 — 51

3-point goals: Alexandria 7 (Shaw 3, Kelley 2, Tucker, Gary); Mortimer Jordan 6 (Walker 3, Hudson 3). Total fouls: Alexandria 19, Mortimer Jordan 16.

Scottsboro 55, Oxford 40

OXFORD (9-20) — Kaleb Kidd 4 5-6 14, Jalen Moore 3 0-0 7, Querriun Mason 5 1-2 11, Jakolbie McClendon 2 0-0 4, Jacob Baker 1 0-0 2, Zach Lackey 1 0-0 2. Totals 16 6-8 40.

SCOTTSBORO (19-9) — Seth Jordan 0 0-0 0, Brady Roberson 0 0-0 0, Jaquez Talley 1 0-0 3, Seth Ingleright 0 0-0 0, Bo Nix 0 0-0 0, Malik Talley 4 0-0 10, Tavaras Tolliver 7 5-5 20, Evan Tucker 1 0-0 2, T.J. Bell 0 0-0 0, Ethan Edmonson 1 0-1 2, Spencer Garner 5 7-9 18. Totals 19 12-15 55.

Oxford 7 11 10 14 — 42
Scottsboro 15 14 15 11 — 55

3-point goals: Oxford 2 (Kidd, Moore); Scottsboro 5 (J. Talley, M. Talley 2, Garner, Tolliver).

White Plains 47, Hokes Bluff 44

HOKES BLUFF (21-9) — Kaden Moore 5 3-5 14, David Franklin 1 0-0 2, Fisher Simmons 0 0-0 0, Phillip Ward 0 6-6 6, Brett Haney 2 4-7 9, Hunter Thompson 0 1-4 1, Brack Shields 2 2-4 7, Max Jackson 1 2-2 5, Dustin Herman 0 0-0 0. Totals 11 18-28 44.

WHITE PLAINS (25-7) — Jerod Guthrie 3 0-0 7, Dillon Greenwood 0 0-0 0, Kevin Carr 2 2-4 6, Eli Hightower 2 0-0 5, Michael McGuirk 3 3-4 9, Jackson Guthrie 0 0-0 0, Lawrence Jackson 1 1-4 3, Nathan Gilbert 5 2-4 12, Murphy Doss 1 2-2 4. Totals 17 10-18 47.

Hokes Bluff 11 9 8 16 — 44
White Plains 6 13 10 18 — 47

3-point goals: Hokes Bluff 4 (Moore, Haney, Shields, Jackson); White Plains 3 (Je. Guthrie, Carr, Hightower). Total fouls: Hokes Bluff 14, White Plains 21. Fouled out: Je. Guthrie. Officials: Loggins, Mosley, Scott.

Cherokee County 62, Saks 61

SAKS (21-6) — Makel Taylor 3 2-3 9, Darion Coleman 7 2-5 21, Devin Harris 1 0-0 3, Jaylen Britt 0 0-0 0, Davieuntae Booker 0 0-0 0, Monty Young 2 0-0 4, Quen Williams 6 3-3 19, Demetrius Powell 1 3-3 5. Totals 20 10-14 61.

CHEROKEE COUNTY (28-2) — Justin McKnight 2 0-0 6, Jacob Graves 2 0-1 5, Preston Grimes 1 0-1 2, Joel Wester 6 2-2 18, Tyren Dupree 4 1-2 9, Nahum Horton 2 5-6 9, Quartez Henderson 6 0-1 13. Totals 23 8-13 62.

Saks 12 16 19 14 — 61
Cherokee County 20 8 14 20 — 62

3-point goals: Saks 11 (Williams 4, Taylor, Harris, Coleman 5); Cherokee County 8 (McKnight 2, Graves, Wester 4, Henderson). Total fouls: Saks 16, Cherokee County 13. Officials: Alexander, Key, Davis.

Talladega 95, Helena 62

HELENA — Kendall Williams 1 0-0 3, Paul Brown 2 1-2 7, Casey Pierce 2 1-2 6, Jaylen Harris 3 0-2 9, Justin Stuckey 3 0-0 9, Aaron McIver 1 0-0 3, Zane Tucker 1 2-2 4, Dionte Tolbert 0 1-2 1, Colton Hood 0 0-0 0, Jon Brown 5 3-4 15, Trevor Smith 1 0-0 2, Landon Genry 1 0-0 3. Totals 20 8-14 62

TALLADEGA — Marius Echols 2 0-0 4, D’Angelo Scales 6 1-2 17, Jay Smoot 5 0-1 10, Desmond Green 6 0-0 12, Josh Madden 13 4-6 36, Oderrius Jemison 0 0-0 0, Ohyja Garrett 3 0-0 6, Antoine Garrett 1 0-0 2, Kenderius Smith 1 0-0 3, Robert Houston 0 0-2 0, Khail Keith 1 0-0 2. Totals 39 6-13 95.

Helena 20 11 9 22 — 62
Talladega 25 25 22 23 — 95

3-point goals: Helena 14 (Williams, Brown 2, Pierce, Harris 3, Stuckey 3, McIver, Brown 2, Genry). Talladega 11 (Scales 4, Madden 6, Smith). Total fouls: Helena 11, Talladega 18. Officials: Booker, Bolling, Tucker.

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