Tough way to learn

By EASportsToday.com
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Updated: November 29, 2017

Tuesday roundup: Oxford boys drop a heartbreaker to Vestavia Hills, includes boys and girls box scores

Vestavia Hills’ Luke Champion hit two free throws with 2.1 seconds left to give the Rebels a 60-59 win over Oxford. On the cover, Eugene Leonard (12) leads the break before scoring Oxford’s go-ahead basket. (Photo by B.J. Franklin/GungHo Photos)

Tuesday’s scores
Boys Games
Alexandria 72, Cleburne County 40
Anniston at Sylacauga (NR)
Faith Christian 51, Pleasant Valley 42
Jacksonville 77, Weaver 71
JCA at Georgia SD (NR)
Lincoln 88, Pell City 82
Ohatchee 48, Ashville 39
Talladega 84, Benjamin Russell 39
Vestavia Hills 60, Oxford 59
Donoho 51, Victory Christian 41

Girls Games
Anniston at Sylacauga (NR)
Jacksonville 54, Weaver 41
JCA at Georgia SD (NR)
Pell City 46, Lincoln 9
Oxford 63, Vestavia Hills 55
Ohatchee 37, Ashville 29
Pleasant Valley 66, Faith Christian 35
Talladega 69, Benjamin Russell 46
Donoho 63, Victory Christian 13

By East Alabama Sports Today

OXFORD – It might have been a little hard to swallow the way it turned out, but there will come a time later on this season when Oxford coach Joel Van Meter will look back on Tuesday night’s heartbreaking loss and know it helped his team in the long run.

“We play these type of games to prepare us for January and February,” Van Meter said after the Jackets lost to 7A Vestavia Hills in the closing seconds 60-59 at the Oxford Sports Arena.

It took two free throws by Luke Champion with 2.1 seconds to go to beat the Yellow Jackets (1-4). Oxford had taken a one-point lead with eight seconds left on a pair of free throws by junior guard Eugene Leonard.

Leonard was magnificent down the stretch as he scored nine points in the fourth quarter. He ended up with a game-high total of 23 points and hit eight of nine free throws. He also pulled down eight rebounds.

The Rebels (6-2) used their two big guys – 6-11 David Cuddy and 6-9 Paul Hargrove – down low to pull out to an early 16-9 lead. The Jackets’ 6-7 Markise Davis took matters into his own hands as he led a charge back with 12 points, including a pair of 3s and a driving tomahawk dunk over two defenders.

Leonard had 10 second-quarter points to keep the Jackets close before halftime (34-30). Davis picked up his fourth foul early in the third quarter and had to sit until coming back in the final period. He finished with 15 points.

The Jackets went ahead with 32 seconds left at 57-56 and the lead changed hands four times before it was over.

“I was proud of the way our kids fought back tonight,” Van Meter said. “I think we will show the benefits of playing these type games.” – Brant Locklier

Alexandria 72, Cleburne County 40: Newcomer Jalen Borders scored an Alexandria career-high 13 points and was among three Valley Cubs scorers in double figures. The Saks transfer scored nine of his points in the fourth quarter. The Valley Cubs (2-0) used a big first half to take control of the game. UAH signee Dalton Dodd scored all 12 of his points in the first half.

Talladega 84, Benjamin Russell 39: The Tigers got contributions across the board, roared to a 24-point halftime lead and held the visitors to 17 points in the second half.

Jay Patterson led all scorers and four Talladega players in double figures with 16 points. Kobe Simmons had 14 points and Fred Dickerson had 12 points, seven assists and four steals.

Ashton Duncan left the game in the third quarter with a sprained ankle, but he recorded 10 points and five steals. J.Q. Wilson had seven boards to go along with eight points.

GIRLS GAMES

Oxford 63, Vestavia Hills 55: The Lady Jackets (4-1) used a 23-5 run in the second half to overcome an eight-point halftime deficit and pull away from the Rebels (6-3).

A pressing defense forced 13 second-half turnovers. The bit run lasted until midway through the fourth quarter and produced a 53-44 lead.

Oxford’s Tremeria Britt had 11 points in the second half and led all scorers with 23 points. Justyce Smith added 10 second-half points and finished with 14.

The Lady Jackets got off to a rough start with three straight turnovers and found themselves down 6-0 before getting the ball past center court. A time out by Oxford coach Melissa Bennett settled the Jackets down; they scored 5 straight points and the fight was on.

Both teams were full-court pressing and the action was fast and furious. The Jackets took the lead at 21-20 on a bucket by Britt, but the Rebels reeled off five straight points to retake the lead. Oxford answered with a five-point run of its own to go up 26-25.

Anna Wood scored eight straight points to put Vestavia back on top and send them into the dressing room leading 39-31.

Ashleigh Jackson had 11 rebounds for Oxford. – Brant Locklier

Pleasant Valley 66, Faith Christian 35: Emma Hood scored 18 of her game-high 23 points in the second half and the Lady Raiders used a big fourth quarter to pull away from the Lady Lions. Hood had eight in PV’s 23-point fourth quarter, while Brooke Perry and R.J. Haynes had six apiece. Kristin Covington led Faith with 11 points and Emily Sills had 10.

Oxford’s Kendrick Foster (10) falls away as Vestavia Hills comes out of a four-player scramble for a loose ball. (Photo by B.J. Franklin/GungHo Photos)

BOYS BOX SCORES
Vestavia Hills 60, Oxford 59
VESTAVIA HILLS (6-2) – Paul Hargrove 2 1-2 5, Luke Couch 1 0-2 3, Rain Shields 4 0-0 10, Scott Morrison 1 0-0 3, Colin Scollard 8 3-5 20, Luke Champion 5 4-6 15, Breck Cuddy 2 0-0 4. Totals 23 8-15 60.

OXFORD (1-4) – Markise Davis 6 0-0 15, Simeon Shadrix 0 0-0 0, Mont McClendon 2 1-3 5, Rockafellow Taylor 2 1-4 6, Kendrick Foster 0 0-0 0, Eugene Leonard 6 8-9 23, Demico Tanner 0 0-0 0, Kolby Warren 1 4-4 7, Milas Jackson 0 0-0 0, Brandon Mack 2 6-10 10, Trafton Hauck 0 0-0 0, Rylan Houck 0 0-0 0, Allen Marshall 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 20-30 58.

Vestavia Hills 18 16 12 14 — 60
Oxford 16 14 11 18 — 59

3-point goals: Vestavia Hills 6 (Couch, Shields 2, Morrison, Scollard, Champion); Oxford 7 (Taylor, Davis 3, Leonard 3). Fouled out: Davis.

Alexandria 72, Cleburne County 40
CLEBURNE COUNTY – A.J. Brown 0 0-0 0, TaiShun Hall 5 0-2 11, Chase Smith 0 0-0 0, Bradley Smith 1 0-0 2, Justin Epps 0 0-0 0, Reese Morrison 1 0-2 2, Isavia Brown 7 3-6 19, Lucas Harcrow 1 0-0 2, Ben Casey 0 2-2 2, Parker Freeman 1 0-0 2. Totals 16 5-12 40.

ALEXANDRIA (2-0) – Joe Tucker 4 2-3 10, Adam Young 2 3-3 9, Jake Weathington 0 2-2 2, Dru Davis 2 1-2 6, Grayson Chaffin 0 0-0 0, Dalton Dodd 5 0-0 12, Romeo Dye 1 0-0 3, Jared Ponder 2 0-0 4, Kahlil Francis 0 0-0 0, Jalen Borders 5 3-6 13, Josh Tucker 1 3-6 5, Landon Williams 4 0-0 8. Totals 26 14-22 72.

Cleburne County 9 11 13 7 — 40
Alexandria 23 24 10 15 — 72

3-point goals: Cleburne County 3 (Hall, I. Brown 2); Alexandria 6 (Young 2, Davis, Dodd 2, Dye). Fouled out: A.J. Brown. Total fouls: Cleburne County 19, Alexandria 14. Officials: Baker, Stringer, Morriss.

Talladega 84, Benjamin Russell 39
BENJAMIN RUSSELL – Quintavious Burroughs 3 0-0 6, Xzavia Stowes 4 6-6 14, Kobi Crabb 0 1-2 1, Alexander Doss 1 0-0 2, Jason Tuck 1 0-0 2, Richard Heard 0 0-0 0, D’Javious Hunter 0 0-0 0, Desmond Bishop 1 0-0 2, Da’vede Herron 1 1-2 3, Nicolas McGhee 0 1-2 1, Jaikobee Gamble 2 0-2 4, Charlie Morris 1 2-4 4. Totals 14 11-18 39.

TALLADEGA – Fred Dickerson 5 2-3 12, Chance Beavers 2 0-0 6, Chaztin Tanner 2 4-4 9, Tyrese Scales 2 0-0 4, Ashton Duncan 4 0-0 10, Jay Patterson 7 1-4 16, J.Q. Wilson 4 0-2 8, Kobe Simmons 7 0-0 14, TraShaunder Bolden 1 1-2 3, Saviayan Whiteside 1 0-0 3. Totals 35 8-15 74.

Ben Russell 15 7 9 8 — 39
Talladega 23 23 20 18 — 84

3-point goals: Talladega 6 (Beavers 2, Tanner, Duncan 2, Patterson 1). Total fouls: Ben Russell 14, Talladega 15. Officials: Holmes, Strong, Whiteside.

GIRLS BOX SCORES
Oxford 63, Vestavia Hills 55
VESTAVIA HILLS (6-3) – Ally Smith 2 0-0 5, Courtney Milner 0 0-0 0, Allison Stubbs 2 1-2 5, Meghan Meadows 0 0-0 0, Olivia Starnes 2 2-4 6, Rachel Hall 0 0-0 0, Arden Plugge 0 0-0 0, Anna Wood 6 1-1 14, Emma Smith 3 1-2 7, Sarah Cain 7 2-2 18, Caroline Whitcomb 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 7-11 55.

OXFORD (4-1) – Anna Bolton 1 5-8 7, Makayla Kidd 1 4-8 6, Halaya Harmon 1 0-0 3, Ashleigh Jackson 2 0-2 4, Tremeria Britt 9 3-4 23, Akiera Robinson 1 0-0 2, Aumarie Lindsay 1 0-0 2, Jaymia Byrd 0 0-0 0, Justyce Smith 6 2-3 14, Kaylyn Hendrix 1 0-2 2. Totals 23 14-27 63.

Vestavia Hills 17 22 5 11 — 55
Oxford 14 17 14 18 — 63

3-point goals: Vestavia Hills 4 (Smith, Wood, Cain 2); Oxford 3 (Britt 2, Harmon).

Pleasant Valley 66, Faith Christian 35
PLEASANT VALLEY – Lindsey Pritchett 1 0-2 2, Mac Parris 6 0-0 13, R.J. Haynes 3 0-0 6, Alyssa Cash 0 0-0 0, Emma Dollar 0 0-2 0, Chandler Dorsett 0 1-2 1, Emma Hood 11 1-2 23, Karmyn Sparks 3 1-4 7, Brooke Perry 4 4-6 13. Totals 28 7-18 66.

FAITH CHRISTIAN – Emily Sills 4 2-2 10, Montana Huie 0 2-4 2, Logan Boyd 2 0-0 4, Kristin Covington 5 0-0 11, Kassidy Nix 0 0-0 0, Sydnee Johnson 1 0-0 2, Tori Waldrop 0 0-0 0, C.J. Setters 0 0-0 0, Sarah Kate McVeigh 3 0-0 6. Totals 15 4-6 35.

Pleasant Valley 13 15 15 23 — 66
Faith Christian 6 10 12 7 — 35

3-point goals: PV 3 (Parris 2, Perry); Faith 1 (Covington). Total fouls: PV 9, Faith 14.