Weaver gets wake-up call
- Updated: November 20, 2015
Season-opening loss exposes flaws the Bearcats anticipate correcting before too long
JALEN HEATH
By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
WEAVER – The Weaver Bearcats went into their opener feeling pretty confident about their chances for success this season and the game against Lincoln.
Then the ball went up and things weren’t as easy as expected.
Some days you play well and some days you learn well. If they believe what coach Daryl Hamby is saying, the Bearcats should learn plenty from Thursday’s 71-58 loss to Lincoln.
“The takeaway from this is great learning; they needed this,” Hamby said. “Our last two practices have been kind of silly so we’ve got to get more focused on what we’re doing and take everything serious.
“They thought they were going to come in here and just rule the roost and they were mistaken. They needed this. They needed to understand you’ve got to work hard. There are a lot of good teams we’re going to be playing and they need to be ready.
“We’ve got the talent to win. We’ve got to do the little things right and we’ll be OK.”
It’s probably better to get the wakeup call now instead of later in the year in a game that carries a little more meaning.
The areas that derailed the Bearcats this night were poor ball security, bad defensive positioning and cold free throw shooting. They had too many unforced turnovers for Hamby’s liking and they were only 6-of-16 from the free throw line (Lincoln was 15-of-23).
The still stayed close throughout the game, but never could gain a tie or the lead.
They got within 15-14, but missed a tying and-one. They had it within 52-50 early in the fourth quarter only to see Lincoln pull away with a 9-2 run over the next three and a half minutes.
“It was a wake-up call,” said Jalen Heath, the Bearcats’ leading scorer with 18 points. “It actually opened up a couple of eyes and made us realize it’s time to play.
“There ain’t nobody who’s going to play for us. We’ve got to play for ourselves and man up and take every possession seriously. I’m glad it’s the first game of the season. We can progress from here.”
Tyler Hemphill led four Lincoln double-figure scorers with 18 points. Zay Caldwell had 16, L.J. Carmichael 11 and Dee Whiteside 10.
Delo Forbes and Malik Arnold added 12 points apiece for Weaver.
Like Weaver, Lincoln is still trying to get its basketball legs. At least the Golden Bears (2-0) are learning while winning.
“I’m a little disappointed with the turnovers we had,” Lincoln coach Rush Rutledge said. “It was a little bit sloppy, but it’s early in the season; that’ll get better. We’re still learning about what we’re doing and trying to get our stuff straight.”
Talladega 70, Etowah 40
TALLADEGA — Jay Smoot had 21 points and Robert Houston scored a double-double for the second game in a row to lead the Tigers.
Houston had 10 points and 10 rebounds against the Blue Devils. He went for 16 points and 10 rebounds in the season-opening victory over Benjamin Russell.
“Robert has been very consistent,” Talladega coach Chuck Miller said. “He has hit some of his post-up shots and continues to rebound every play. I expect a double-double from him each night.”
Smoot had six rebounds to go with his points; he scored 14 in the second half. Jarvis McKenzie had nine points and six steals. Etowah scored more than half its points (21) from outside the 3-point arc.
Lincoln 71, Weaver 58
LINCOLN (2-0) – Isaac Davis 2 0-0 4, Zay Caldwell 4 7-10 16, Tyler Hemphill 6 4-4 18, Malik Weed 1 0-0 3, Tarez Ellis 0 0-0 0, Quin Carmichael 4 1-3 9, Dee Whiteside 4 2-4 10, L.J. Carmichael 5 1-2 11, Christyan Prince 0 0-0 0, Donte Rivers 0 0-0 0, Brikeal Truss 0 0-0 0, Savion Woods 0 0-0 0. Totals 26 15-23 71.
WEAVER (0-1) – Delo Forbes 5 2-5 12, Jalen Heath 8 2-4 18, Craig Copeland 2 0-1 5, Maurice Goodman 1 0-0 2, R.J. Wooden 0 0-0 0, Tyrik Hall 1 0-0 2, Giovanni Mosley 3 0-0 7, Malik Arnold 5 2-6 12, Ducky Morris 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 6-16 58.
Lincoln 15 17 18 21 — 71
Weaver 8 16 20 14 — 58
3-point goals: Lincoln 4 (Caldwell, Hemphill 2, Weed); Weaver 2 (Copeland, Mosley). Total fouls: Lincoln 20, Weaver 16. Officials: Batey, Calkins, Howell.
Talladega 70, Etowah 40
ETOWAH — Austin Jenkins 0 1-2 1, Stacy Williams 0 2-2 2, Fred Moore 0 0-0 0, Justin Harris 2 0-0 5, Jaymon Graham 1 0-0 2, Emile Smith 1 0-1 1, Lee Green 2 1-2 7, Alvin Bolton 3 2-2 11, Andy Noles 0 3-4 3, Chris Jones 1 0-0 3, Sean Nunn 2 0-2 4. Totals 12 9-15 40.
TALLADEGA (2-0) – Duantae Dickerson 2 0-0 4, Tyrese Scales 1 0-2 2, Jay Smoot 8 3-8 21, Jarvius McKenzie 3 2-2 9, Ashton Duncan 2 4-5 8, Jamontae Twymon 3 2-2 8, Damarco Truss 1 0-0 2, Waderrius Tuck 1 0-2 2, Robert Houston 5 0-2 10, Jaelyn Russ 2 0-0 4. Totals 28-11-23 70
Etowah 7 13 9 11 — 40
Talladega 17 13 18 22 — 70
3-point goals: Etowah 7 (Harris, Green 2, Bolton 3, Jones); Talladega 3 (Smoot 2, McKenzie). Technical fouls: Bolton, Duncan. Fouled out: Russ. Total fouls: Etowah 17, Talladega 19.
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