Jackets can’t close it
- Updated: December 13, 2017
Boys roundup: Oxford hangs with top-ranked Plainview but can’t withstand the Bears’ second 10-0 run of the game
TUESDAY’S BOYS SCORES
Southside 42, Alexandria 40
Handley 61, Anniston 45
Cherokee County 96, Fort Payne 83 (OT)
Clay Central 69, Talladega 67
Ranburne 76, Cleburne County 69
Jacksonville 38, White Plains 36
Spring Garden 70, JCA 26
Lincoln 67, Pell City 49
Plainview 70, Oxford 66
Hokes Bluff 62, Pleasant Valley 47
Winterboro 67, Munford 54
Weaver 74, Wellborn 45
By East Alabama Sports Today
OXFORD – Oxford went toe-to-toe with one of the top teams in the state, but a shortcoming that has surfaced several times this season raised its head again in a 70-66 loss to Class 3A No. 1 Plainview.
“It has been the story of our season so far,” Oxford Joel Van Meter said. “We have two to three minutes a game where we just take ourselves out of games and it happened again tonight.”
Van Meter was talking about the four turnovers in a three-minute span at the start of the fourth quarter that saw the Yellow Jackets (5-5) get outscored 10-0 for the second time and this time they never recovered.
The lead changed hands 11 times on the night and Oxford trailed by one at the half after Plainview (9-0) went on its first 10-0 run to end the half.
It was Plainview’s third straight victory in Calhoun County in the last six days; the Bears beat Sacred Heart Thursday and Talladega in the TV24 Holiday Showcase at Jacksonville State Saturday. They’re known for their sharp outside shooting — “that’s how we roll,” coach Robi Coker said after the Sacred Heart win — and they hit 12 3-pointers against the Yellow Jackets, giving them 43 in the three games.
It was Kendrick Foster’s show early as he scored 11 first-half points for Oxford. Both teams were hot from outside as each connected on five 3-pointers in the first half.
“We went toe-to-toe with one of the top teams in the state in all classes and had a chance to win,” Van Meter said. “Plainview is a tough-minded team. They keep the pressure on you and wait for any mistakes and they know how to take advantage of that. They were in the championship game a year ago and they know what to do.”
Oxford’s top scorer Eugene Leonard did not get on the board until he hit a pair of free throws in the third quarter and he only had four points on the night. However, Markise Davis got his game going with 15 points and five rebounds, with five 3-pointers. Davis has been struggling with foul trouble in the last few games and he came out of that funk on Tuesday night.
”He is getting there,” said Van Meter.” Markise is a guy who has to perform at a high level and unless he does we will not be as good a team. We need Markise playing well.” – Brant Locklier
Weaver 74, Wellborn 45: The Bearcats placed four scorers in double-figures, led by Alex Perry and Amardric Elston who scored 14 points apiece. The Bearcats erupted out of the gate, opening a 27-9 lead after a quarter 45-16 at halftime. Robert Gaines scored all 11 of his points in the first half and Perry scored 12 of his 14 in the second. Gary Wallace scored eight of his 10 in the third quarter. Wellborn’s Khavion Wesley led all scorers with 22 points, including the 13 of the Panthers’ 18 against a running clock in the fourth quarter.
Handley 61, Anniston 45: Once again the Bulldogs kept it tight in the first half only to have a let down in the second. This time, they were down only 30-29 at the break. It’s the fourth time this season they have been separated by two points or less at halftime and have lost. “We couldn’t handle their pressure,” Anniston coach Torry Brown said.
Southside 42, Alexandria 40: The Valley Cubs dropped their second two-point heartbreaker in as many games. This one came on a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
TUESDAY’S BOYS BOX SCORES
Plainview 70, Oxford 66
PLAINVIEW (9-0) – Haden White 1 0-0 3, Caden Millican 8 2-3 21, Bailey Dukes 2 0-0 6, Jeffrey Armstrong 7 0-0 16, Cade Willingham 1 0-0 2, Clay Cooper 2 0-0 6, Koby Tinker 6 2-2 16. Totals 27 4-5 70.
OXFORD (5-5) – Markise Davis 5 0-0 15, Simeon Shadrix 2 0-0 6, Mont McClendon 2 0-1 4, Rock Taylor 4 2-2 10, Kendrick Foster 5 0-0 11, Eugene Leonard 1 2-2 4, Denico Tanner 1 0-0 2, Kolby Warren 0 0-0 0, Braden Mack 6 2-2 14. Totals 26 6-7 66.
Plainview 17 14 25 14 — 70
Oxford 21 9 19 17 — 66
3-point goals: Plainview 12 (White, Millican 3, Dukes 2, Armstrong 2, Cooper 2, Tinker 2); Oxford 8 (Davis 5, Shadrix 2, Foster). Rebounds: Plainview 15 (Armstrong 5, Willingham 5); Oxford 27 (Leonard 7).
Weaver 74, Wellborn 45
WELLBORN – Chuck Taylor 0 0-0 0, Jeremiah Nolen 1 0-0 3, Coby Adams 1 0-0 2, Khavion Wesley 10 0-0 22, Ked Harris 2 1-2 5, Kam Goodwin 1 0-0 2, Rob Broom 0 0-0 0, Austin Cooper 4 1-2 9, Dylan Grubbs 1 0-0 2. Totals 20 2-4 45.
WEAVER – Taylor Deck 1 0-0 2, London Knight 4 0-1 9, Robert Gaines 5 1-3 11, Shamar Spinks 2 3-4 7, Nick Torres 2 1-2 5, Alex Perry 7 0-0 14, Dalton Hamby 1 0-0 2, Gary Wallace 5 0-1 10, Amardric Elston 6 2-4 14. Totals 33 7-15 74.
Wellborn 9 7 11 18 — 45
Weaver 27 18 21 8 — 74
3-point goals: Wellborn 3 (Nolen, Wesley 2); Weaver 1 (Knight). Total fouls: Wellborn 11, Weaver 5.
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