Finishing the job

By EASportsToday.com
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Updated: December 30, 2016

Saks completes the task that eluded it before Christmas winning Heflin tournament boys title; Beason MVP

Saks tournament MVP DeVaunghn Beason (4) drives past Wellborn’s Eric Johnson for two of his 19 points Friday night. (Photos by B.J. Franklin/GungHo Photos)

By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today

HEFLIN — The Saks basketball team went into Christmas week a little less merry than the season demanded having lost in the championship game of their tournament before the holiday.

But the Wildcats will head into the new year a little happier, having completed the deal that eluded them the week before when they dumped Wellborn 70-53 Friday to win the Cleburne County Holiday Invitational.

Junior DeVaunghn Beason led three Wildcats in double figures with 19 points. He was named tournament MVP after averaging nearly 18 points and hitting 13 3-pointers in three games.

“We played well last week in that (Champions Sports Academy) tournament and the Cherokee County (championship) game we just lost it down the stretch in the fourth quarter,” Wildcats coach Jonathan Miller said. “Tonight, the fourth quarter we were able to score some baskets.

“We finished the game and that’s what I want to see out of our guys.”

The disappointment of not being able to finish off the tournament last week had Beason fighting back tears. He had the same reaction Friday as tournament organizers handed him the MVP plaque and he joined his teammates in raising the championship trophy.

“It felt like we were winning state, it felt like a state game to me, honestly,” Beason said. “I felt very emotional; I just didn’t cry, but I wanted to. When we went out there as a team to get that trophy it felt really good.”

This varsity stuff is all new to the junior guard, just as it is to almost everyone who put on the Saks uniform Friday night. The Wildcats have only three players with any varsity experience, so every time they step on the court they’re getting more comfortable with their surroundings.

As Miller is so fond of saying, nothing beats live action.

Even Beason admitted the prospect of playing varsity games for the first time was “very scary” at first, but now that he’s playing with guys he grew up with, it’s getting better every time.

“It actually feels very good and it’s interesting,” he said. “Last year I played B team and didn’t have any chemistry with anyone on the team, but playing here with the varsity, I grew up with them and playing basketball and street ball and it’s been a really good experience.”

He’s certainly not shy about putting it up. He had six 3-pointers in the Wildcats’ tournament opener against Ohatchee and four against Vincent. A trio of his 3s in the first quarter helped stake Saks to an 18-9 lead, but the Wildcats suddenly got sloppy and went cold and Wellborn closed the gap to three before Tray Huguley and Alfonza Ward helped them stretch the lead again.

Wellborn’s Devin Machristie kept it from getting too far out of hand with a series of 3s, but Saks never let the Panthers get too close.

Cleburne County Holiday Invitational
Boys Championship
Saks 70, Wellborn 53
WELLBORN – Mitchell Raines 0 0-0 0, Eric Johnson 0 1-2 1, Jordan Montgomery 6 2-2 16, Devin Machristie 7 2-2 21, Ked Harris 2 0-0 4, Kam Goodwin 0 0-0 0, Dennis Towns 0 0-0 0, Blake Hanson 2 5-8 9, Kelvin Evans 1 0-0 2. Totals 18 10-14 53.

SAKS – Darien Briskey 2 3-5 7, DeVaunghn Beason 7 2-7 19, Laderrick Bell 1 0-0 2, Alphonza Ward 4 3-4 13, Tray Huguley 7 1-4 15, Jamal Stone 2 3-4 8, Jakorius Watkins 0 0-0 0, Brent Clark 0 0-0 0, Jaylen Young 0 0-0 0, Jalen Borders 2 2-2 6. Totals 25 14-26 70.

Wellborn 10 13 16 14 — 53
Saks 18 18 14 20 — 70

3-point goals: Wellborn 7 (Montgomery 2, Machristie 5); Saks 6 (Briskey 3, Ward 2, Stone). Technical fouls: Hanson. Fouled out: Johnson. Total fouls: Wellborn 17, Saks 12. Officials: Chambers, Cosby, Howell.

Ohatchee 65, Ranburne 55
RANBURNE – Devon Chambers 1 1-1 3, Jake Burson 4 2-2 12, Asa Fordham 0 0-0 0, Jordan English 5 0-0 13, Josh Ralston 4 1-2 10, Sammy Green 0 0-0 0, Will Rainey 3 1-3 9, Riley Smith 1 0-0 2, Brock Young 3 0-0 6. Totals 21 5-8 55.

OHATCHEE – Blake Buckelew 3 0-0 6, Ben Glass 3 4-5 11, Grayson Alward 2 0-2 4, Carson Stone 0 0-2 0, Kevin Williamson 1 1-2 3, Domonique Thomas 0 0-0 0, Austin Tucker 8 2-2 19, Bayley Tillison 1 0-0 2, Jordan Lowe 0 0-0 0, Andrew Roberts 0 0-0 0, C.J. Ray 8 3-7 19. Totals 26 10-20 64.

Ranburne 16 8 22 9 — 55
Ohatchee 11 17 14 23 — 65

3-point goals: Ranburne 8 (Burson 2, English 3, Ralston, Rainey 2); Ohatchee 2 (Glass, Tucker). Total fouls: Ranburne 19, Ohatchee 13. Officials: Aaron Kelley, Phillip Hollingsworth, Scott Watson.