Back on the floor

By EASportsToday.com
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Updated: December 20, 2017

Wellborn’s Johnson has big game in season debut in loss at Hokes Bluff tournament, Piedmont splits two; Champions Classic gets underway, Anniston wins in Huntsville, Sacred Heart falls in Steel City, Talladega stops Sylacauga

Cleburne County’s A.J. Brown (10) makes hard contact with Ohatchee’s Ben Glass under the basket during the final game of Wednesday’s opening night of the Champions Christmas Classic. (All photos by Beverly Wright)

WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS
Regular season
Talladega 79, Sylacauga 69

Champions Boys Christmas Classic
Weaver 77, Ranburne 59
Lincoln 56, Westbrook Christian 41
Jacksonville 51, Glencoe 39
Ohatchee 54, Cleburne County 52

Patrick Ball Memorial Tournament
At Hokes Bluff
Gaston 69, Wellborn 64
Piedmont 64, Ashville 36
Springville 58, Piedmont 30

Steel City Invitational
Vestavia Hills 65, Sacred Heart 58

Huntsville Hoops Invitational
Anniston 36, Arab 35

Handley Christmas Tournament
Clay Central 58, Valley 50

TCC Girls Christmas Tournament
Talladega 73, Sacred Heart 36

By East Alabama Sports Today

HOKES BLUFF – Eric Johnson has been waiting anxiously to play the first game of his senior season.

The senior Wellborn point guard made his long-awaited debut Wednesday and even though the Panthers lost to Gaston 69-64 in the Patrick Ball Memorial Tournament, he brought some much-needed and expected stability to a team still searching for its first victory (0-7).

“Since the last game of last season I’ve been really looking forward to my senior season and getting a good kick out of it,” Johnson said. “Playing with my boys again it felt pretty good.”

The start of Johnson’s season was delayed by an issue that left him one credit short of being eligible. In the meantime he practiced with the Panthers, but had to wait another two days after being added to the roster earlier this week to play.

In his first action of the season Wednesday he scored 27 points, grabbed seven rebounds, dished five assists and was at the foul line late in the fourth quarter with the game on the line. Kam Goodwin added 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Panthers..

“It was nice to have our spark back,” Wellborn coach Jordan Angle said. “He’s our vocal leader and opens up opportunities for everyone else on the floor.”

As excited as Johnson was to finally get on the floor, it was a difficult game to play. He lost his grandmother Tuesday, but soldiered on courageously.

“That just shows what kind of kid he is,” Angle said.

“I’m trying to take everything slow,” Johnson said. “I don’t want to think on the situation too much and stress myself out, but it hurts to know I lost her.”

Johnson is expected to be back on the floor Thursday when the Panthers play Elkmont in the consolation bracket at 2 p.m.

Piedmont 64, Ashville 36: Ryley Kirk and Silas Thompson combined for 15 points in a 22-point second quarter when the Bulldogs rallied from an early four-point deficit to take a 10-point halftime lead. They led the Bulldogs with 14 and 13 points, respectively.

Springville 58, Piedmont 30: As a first-round winner, the Bulldogs got to play a second game. Springville didn’t make a free throw, but hit eight 3-pointers. Maxwell Harrison made five and finished with 27 points. Hudson Kersh hit the other three.

Seventh-grader Alex Odom hit three 3-pointers and led Piedmont with 11 points. It was the second time in four career varsity games he has gone for 11, breaking out against Haralson County. In two games Wednesday he played with a poise beyond his years, scoring 11 points, grabbing three rebounds and recording six assists, four steals and a blocked shot. The Bulldogs will play Moody Thursday.

Champions Boys Christmas Classic
Weaver 77, Ranburne 59: The Bearcats (6-2) placed four scorers in double figures and hit 28 of 40 free throws to win their tournament opener. London Knight was 11-of-15 at the line (7-of-10 in the fourth quarter) and had 15 points. Robert Gaines led all scorers with 21 points. Devon Chambers led Ranburne with 18 points, 13 in the third quarter. Josh Ralston hit four 3-pointers and had 13 points.

Lincoln 56, Westbrook Christian 41: Javian Surles hit five 3-pointers in the first half and finished with 25 points in the game to lead the Golden Bears.

Jacksonville 51, Glencoe 39: Cade Landers hit two of Jacksonville’s three first-quarter 3-pointers and led the Golden Eagles with 12 points.

Ohatchee 54, Cleburne County 52: The Indians started out with a big first quarter offensively for the third game in a row, but needed a defensive stop at the end to preserve the victory.

The Indians, who got off to 15-0 and 19-0 starts in their previous two games (a loss and a win), led 23-18 after the first quarter and by six late in the game. They never lost the lead, but needed a defensive stop by Domonique Thomas down the stretch to clinch their second straight win.

Ben Glass led the Indians with 19 points. Grayson Alward had 11.

Steel City Invitational
Vestavia Hills 65, Sacred Heart 58: Diante Wood showed out on the big stage, going for 34 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Cardinals. Khalil Watkins had 10 points.

Huntsville Hoops Invitational
Anniston 36, Arab 35: The Bulldogs won their second straight game in the consolation bracket. They hit six 3-pointers in the first half to grab a 20-16 lead and led 33-24 heading into the fourth quarter. “It was a great team effort,” Anniston coach Torry Brown said.

Regular season
Talladega 79, Sylacauga 69: Chaztin Tanner hit five 3-pointers in the first quarter and scored 17 first-quarter points to set the tone for this Talladega County showdown between two top 10 Class 5A teams.

Tanner finished with 21 points in one of the sixth-ranked Tigers’ best team efforts of the season. Ashton Duncan scored 17 in the second half and finished with 26 points and six assists. Fred Dickerson had 16 points, seven assists and four steals.

The Tigers’ effort was just as balanced on the boards. J.Q. Wilson and Jay Patterson each pulled down eight rebounds, Kobe Simmons grabbed six and Tyrese Scales had five. Erron Bryant led No. 2 Sylacauga with 18 points.

BOYS BOX SCORES
Champions Boys Christmas Classic
Weaver 77, Ranburne 59
RANBURNE – Devon Chambers 7 3-4 18, Jake Burson 1 0-1 2, Sammy Green 4 0-0 9, Dalton Gibbs 1 0-0 2, Josh Ralston 4 1-2 13, Brett Maddox 3 0-0 7, Zach Benefield 1 2-2 4, Jackson Polland 0 0-0 0, Brady Bailey 0 0-0 0, Ireland Morgan 2 0-0 4, Brock Young 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 6-9 59.

WEAVER (6-2) – Taylor Deck 1 0-0 2, London Knight 2 11-15 15, Robert Gaines 7 6-9 21, Shamar Spinks 4 4-5 12, Nick Torres 2 0-0 4, Alex Perry 0 0-0 0, Dalton Hamby 1 1-1 3, Gary Wallace 2 1-1 5, Amardric Elston 5 3-7 13, Brandon Heath 0 2-2 2. Totals 24 28-40 77.

Ranburne 15 15 18 11 — 59
Weaver 17 21 20 19 — 77

3-point goals: Weaver 7 (Chambers, Green, Ralston 4, Maddox); Weaver 1 (Gaines). Fouled out: Polland. Total fouls: Ranburne 25, Weaver 16. Officials: Warren, Walker, Elston.

Lincoln 56, Westbrook Christian 41
LINCOLN – Javian Surles 8 4-9 25, Joseph Gaston 0 2-2 2, Tre Garrett 2 0-0 4, Conner Thomas 1 0-0 2, Earl Wells 3 1-4 7, Teddy Hall 2 4-6 8, Shamar Hampton 2 0-1 4, Jack Wood 1 0-0 3, Shawn Davis 0 1-2 1, Josh Jackson 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 12-24 56.

WESTBROOK CHRISTIAN – Andrew Lockridge 0 0-0 0, Cullen Stafford 2 2-2 6, Garret Kennedy 2 2-2 6, Joseph Gilchrest 1 0-1 2, P.J. Wells 2 0-0 4, Alex Burnett 1 0-0 2, Jackson Cox 1 0-0 2, Grant Martin 1 0-1 2, Braden Beecham 6 0-2 12, Jackson Luttrell 2 1-2 5. Totals 18 5-10 41.

Lincoln 18 18 8 12 — 56
Westbrook 3 18 12 8 — 41

3-point goals: Lincoln 6 (Surles 5, Wood). Fouled out: P.J. Wells, Beecham. Total fouls: Lincoln 15, Westbrook 18. Officials: Warren, Elston, Askew.

Jacksonville 51, Glencoe 39
JACKSONVILLE (10-2) – Cade Landers 5-10 0-2 12, Macey Carr 3-10 1-2 8, DeAndre McCain 3-8 2-3 8, Donovan McCain 3-6 0-2 6, Alex Gilbert 2-4 0-0 4, Alex Davis 1-3 2-2 4, DeMarien Stewart 1-1 0-0 3, DeDarien Savage 1-4 0-0 2, Ron Wiggins 1-6 0-0 2, Jacob McCarley 1-3 0-0 2, Carter Landers 0-0 0-0 0, Rico Aguirre 0-0 0-0 0, Jacob Tucker 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 21-57 5-11 51.

GLENCOE – Brandon Bishop 1-2 0-0 3, Noah Huff 0-1 2-2 2, Cade McCarver 0-2 1-2 1, Colton Stone 2-4 0-0 4, Patrick Johnson 1-3 0-0 3, Jakob Amberson 2-5 0-0 4, Cam Harris 3-9 0-0 7, Alec Pointer 1-5 0-1 3, Bryan Benefield 0-1 1-2 1, Collin Roberts 0-4 1-2 1, Bradley Scott 1-2 2-2 4, Collin Hardy 1-1 0-0 3, Daniel Maye 1-1 1-2 5, Collin Hardy 0-0 0-0 0, Zack Hare 0-1 0-0 0, Braden Long 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 13-42 7-13 39.

Jacksonville 16 11 12 12 — 51
Glencoe 7 6 15 11 — 39

3-point goals: Jacksonville 4-15 (Cd. Landers 2-2, Carr 1-6, De. McCain 0-3, Gilbert 0-1, Stewart 1-1, Wiggins 0-2); Glencoe 6-18 (Harris 1-5, Stone 0-1, Amberson 0-1, Maye 1-1, Pointer 1-3, Bishop 1-2, Johnson 1-3, Hardy 0-1, Benefield 0-1). Rebounds: Jacksonville 48 (Carr 7, Do. McCain 7, Gilbert 7); Glencoe 28 (Benefield 4). Fouled out: Harris. Total fouls: Jacksonville 15, Gaston 12. Officials: String, Smith, Strong.

Ohatchee 54, Cleburne County 52
OHATCHEE (3-7) – Andrew Roberts 0 0-0 0, Blake Buckelew 1 0-0 3, Ben Glass 7 5-9 19, Carson Stone 0 0-0 0, Grayson Alward 5 1-4 11, Cameron Foshee 0 0-0 0, Kevin Williamson 1 1-1 3, Bayley Tillison 0 0-0 0, Evan Keller 2 1-2 6, Domonique Thomas 1 1-2 3, Aaron Moore 3 2-2 8, Briley Hale 0 1-2 1. Totals 20 12-22 54.

CLEBURNE COUNTY – A.J. Brown 2 0-2 4, TaiShun Hall 6 1-1 14, Chase Smith 0 0-0 0, Bradley Smith 3 0-2 6, Justin Epps 1 2-2 5, Reese Morrison 7 0-3 16, Levi Harcrow 0 0-0 0, Ben Casey 1 2-4 5, Parker Freeman 0 1-2 1, Xavier Brown 0 1-2 1. Totals 20 7-18 52.

Ohatchee 23 16 10 5 — 54
Cleburne County 18 15 13 6 — 52

3-point goals: Ohatchee 2 (Buckelew, Keller); Cleburne County 5 (Hall, Epps, Morrison 2, Casey). Fouled out: Keller. Total fouls: Ohatchee 21, Cleburne County 21. Officials: Smith, Stringer, Strong.

Patrick Ball Memorial Tournament
Piedmont 64, Ashville 36
ASHVILLE – Caleb Cates 1 0-0 2, Nathan Phillips 0 0-2 0, Kolby Armstrong 1 0-0 2, Adam Lopano 2 0-0 4, Derrick Walker 2 0-0 4, Chris Sanders 3 4-4 10, Perkins Carden 0 0-0 0, Dalton Cone 3 0-0 8, DeAndre Woods 2 0-0 4, Cesar Segura 1 0-0 2. Totals 15 4-6 36.

PIEDMONT – Carl Myers 3 0-0 6, Kaedon Jenkins 2 1-2 5, Delo Foster 0 1-2 1, Elijah Johnson 3 0-0 6, Ryley Kirk 6 0-0 14, Logan Pruitt 1 0-1 3, Lee Stanley 0 0-0 0, Silas Thompson 6 0-0 13, Alex Odam 0 0-0 0, T.J. Fairs 2 2-3 7, Malachi Jackson 0 1-2 1, Jakari Foster 0 0-0 0, Sean Smith 4 0-0 8. Totals 27 5-10 64.

Ashville 11 8 6 11 — 36
Piedmont 7 22 17 18 — 64

3-point goals: Ashville 2 (Cone 2); Piedmont 5 (T.J. Fairs, Thompson, Pruitt, Kirk 2). Total fouls: Ashville 11, Piedmont 8. Officials: Henry, Graves.

Springville 58, Piedmont 30
SPRINGVILLE – Hudson Kersh 3 0-0 9, Casey Tittle 0 0-0 0, Aaron Byars 2 0-2 4, Brandon Daniels 1 0-0 2, Maxwell Harrison 11 0-0 27, Jacob Bickerstaff 2 0-1 4, Isbell 3 0-0 6, Austin Hutcheson 1 0-0 2, Timothy Clark 1 0-0 2, Dave Phillips 1 0-0 2. Totals 25 0-3 58.

PIEDMONT – Carl Myers 1 0-0 3, Kaedon Jenkins 0 0-0 0, Delo Foster 3 0-2 6, Elijah Johnson 0 0-0 0, Ryley Kirk 1 0-0 2, Logan Pruitt 0 0-0 0, Lee Stanley 1 3-3 5, Silas Thompson 0 2-4 2, Alex Odam 4 0-1 11, T.J. Fairs 0 0-0 0, Malachi Jackson 0 1-2 1, Jakari Foster 0 0-0 0. Totals 10 6-12 30.

Springville 19 12 20 7 — 58
Piedmont 3 11 10 6 — 30

3-point goals: Springville 8 (Harrison 5, Kersh 3); Piedmont 4 (C. Myers, Odam 3). Total fouls: Springville 12, Piedmont 2. Officials: Battles, Ingram, Childs.

Regular season
Talladega 79, Sylacauga 69
TALLADEGA – Fred Dickerson 6 4-6 16, Chaztin Tanner 7 2-3 21, Tyrese Scales 1 2-2 4, Ashton Duncan 9 7-8 26, Rontavious Barclay 0 0-0 0, Jay Patterson 3 0-2 6, J.Q. Wilson 1 0-0 2, Kobe Simmons 2 0-0 4. Totals 29 15-21 79.

SYLACAUGA – Malik Crawford 6 2-4 14, Erron Bryant 9 0-0 18, Keaton Wilson 1 0-0 3, Darrian Garrett 4 2-4 12, Malik Powell 0 0-0 0, Rod Millner 0 0-0 0, Dermon Jones 3 1-2 7, Tommie Gaddis 2 0-0 5, Caden Lunsford 1 0-0 2, Jordan Robinson 0 2-2 2, Shannon Grant 3 0-0 6. Totals 29 7-12 69.

Talladega 29 13 21 16 — 79
Sylacauga 20 17 16 16 — 69

3-point goals: Talladega 6 (Tanner 5, Duncan); Sylacauga 4 (Wilson, Garrett 2, Gaddis). Technical fouls: Wilson, Bryant. Total fouls: Talladega 11, Sylacauga 21. Officials: Robinson, Woods, Baker.