Sharpest shooter
- Updated: January 20, 2018
Oxford’s Shadrix gets the chance to hit a shot from midcourt for $10,000 after winning the County Tournament 3-Point Shootout
Oxford’s Simeon Shadrix hit 16 3-pointers in Saturday’s qualifying round for a mid-court shot Monday worth $10,000. (Photos by B.J. Franklin/GungHo Photos)
By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
JACKSONVILLE – If Oxford basketball coach Joel Van Meter were a betting man, he’d lay down some good money on the grand prize in the Farmers & Merchants Bank 3-Point Shootout being won Monday night.
Not only does he have the utmost confidence in the player taking the shot — it’s one of his — he has seem him make them many times before.
Oxford junior guard Simeon Shadrix was the sharpest shooter in the 3-point shooting contest that took place at halftime of the Calhoun County Tournament semifinal games Saturday night. That made him eligible to take the half-court shot for $10,000 at halftime of the girls championship game Monday at Jacksonville State.
“Him making it? I’d put my money on it,” Van Meter said. “He can make it now, no doubt.
“Here’s what I’ll tell you: We had a half-court shooting competition for two straight years at our Hoops Hysteria and he made them. Not just one, but like five of them.”
Shadrix hit 16 3-pointers in the first wave of the contest that pitted players from each of the county’s boys and girls teams. Then he hit three in the Jackets’ 84-31 rout of Saks in the last game of the night.
“I was out there having fun just shooting it,” he said.
Anniston’s James Haynes came the closest to toppling him with 15 in the final boys rotation of the night. Donoho’s Seth Ford hit 14. Anniston’s Allasha Dudley, the star of the Lady Dawgs’ semifinal win over Piedmont, and JCA’s Walker Messer each hit 13. Dudley hit eight in a row at one point and 10 of 12 — after hitting five in the Anniston win.
White Plains’ Grey Young took the $10,000 shot last year.
Shadrix has never won a game with a half-court shot before, but he’s looking forward to the chance to ring the cash bell Monday night.
“I’m excited,” he said. “I’m going to be confident. There’s no telling (what will happen), but I’m going to shoot it expecting to make it.”
His coach is expecting it, too.
F&M BANK 3-POINT SHOOTOUT
GIRLS STANDINGS: Allasha Dudley, Anniston 13; Mac Parris, Pleasant Valley 12; Anna Bolton, Oxford 11; Anastasia O’Neil, Donoho 10; Allison Bonds, Alexandria 10; Kourtney Shuler, Ohatchee 9; Kristin Covington, Faith Christian 9; Kyra Williams, Jacksonville 8; Vanessa Carter, Wellborn 8; Briah Cupp, JCA 7; Chasity Nelson, White Plains 7; Iemyiah Harris, Sacred Heart 5; Emily Reed, Weaver 5; Kaitlyn Ridley, Piedmont 5; Miracle Dennard, Saks DNS.
BOYS STANDINGS: Simeon Shadrix, Oxford 16; James Haynes, Anniston 15; Seth Ford, Donoho 14; Walker Messer, JCA 13; Matthew Clay, White Plains 12; DeAndre McCain, Jacksonville 9; Eric Johnson, Wellborn 9; Malcolm Carlisle, Faith Christian 9; Dalton Dodd, Alexandria 8; Kendarious Harris, Sacred Heart 6; Ben Glass, Ohatchee 5; Caden Turner, Pleasant Valley 5; Lee Stanley, Piedmont 0; London Knight, Weaver DNS; Laderrick Bell, Saks DNS.
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