Jackets moving forward
- Updated: January 27, 2018
5 double-figure scorers, 3 double-doubles lift Oxford past Ramsay; Dickerson leads Talladega to County Tournament title
Oxford’s Eugene Leonard tries to get through a Ramsay roadblock on his way to the basket. On the cover, Markise Davis puts up a shot. (Photos by B.J. Franklin/GungHo Photos)
BOYS GAMES
Hokes Bluff 65, Piedmont 51
Oxford 87, Ramsay 82
Lincoln 64, Talladega Co. Central 57
Talladega 77, Sylacauga 73
GIRLS GAMES
Hokes Bluff 59, Piedmont 45
Talladega Co. Central 54, Lincoln 33
By Brant Locklier
For East Alabama Sports Today
OXFORD – The Oxford Yellow Jackets are showing signs they’re getting ready for the post-season and they took another step forward Saturday as they outgunned Ramsay 87-82 at the Oxford Sports Arena.
Eugene Leonard sank two free throws with one second left to finally put away the Rams. The Yellow Jackets led 81-69 with 3:16 to go, but the Rams kicked into another gear and cut the lead to 85-82 with seven seconds to go before Leonard’s icing free throws.
Oxford coach Joel Van Meter watches intently as Simeon Shadrix (2) puts up one of his five 3-pointers for the Jackets. (Photo by B.J. Franklin/GungHo Photos)
There were many stars in the Oxford sky on this night. Five Jackets scored in double figures and three had double-doubles Freshman Roc Taylor had 16 points and 10 rebounds, Markise Davis had 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Braden Mack had 14 points and 11 boards. Simeon Shadrix buried five 3-pointers and the Jackets had 10 as a team.
Five different players scored as Oxford raced to a 12-6 lead in the first three minutes, but Ramsay reeled off the next seven points to take the lead at 13-12. Both teams picked up their defensive intensity at his point and the quarter ended up tied at 17.
Taylor scored the first six points of the second quarter and Shadrix scored the last five as Oxford took a 41-32 lead into the half. “We call Rock the Young Bull,” Oxford coach Joel Van Meter said.
The third quarter was a war as both teams scored 27 points. Shadrix drained three consecutive 3s as Oxford closed the quarter with a 68-59 lead.
“We have been working on the shooting the 3 a lot; the work is showing,” Van Meter said. “I have told our kids to be confident and take the shot and they were falling tonight.”
The rugged schedule continues this week as they keep preparing for the playoffs. They play Alexandria, Talladega and Hazel Green, all of whom have been ranked in the Top Ten in their respective classes at various points in the season.
They played four games in five days last week.
”We are not concerned about our record – we want to win of course – but we want to play quality competition night in and night out,” said Van Meter. ”That is what the good teams in the state do.
“These games have helped us immensely. We have been in a lot of adversity and have learned how to handle adversity. We have become a good basketball team that is trying to get ready for the post-season and playing basketball teams that will prepare us for the up-coming play-offs.
“We have to be challenging ourselves in every game that we play. This has resulted in our guys maturing as the season has gone on and hopefully we will see that in the post season.”
To see a photo gallery from the game visit www.bjfranklin.smugmug.com
Hokes Bluff 65, Piedmont 51: Braydon Hill and Landon Johnson combined for 40 points to lead Hokes Bluff. The Eagles hit seven of their eight 3-pointers in the first half – three by Dylan Teague — to open a 16-point halftime lead. Carl Myers led Piedmont with 21.
Lincoln 64, TCC 57: Javion Surles scored 12 of his 16 points in the middle two quarters and Jack Wood scored eight of his 13 in the third quarter when the Golden Bears were taking control. TCC’s Makhail Simmons led all scorers with 28 points.
GIRLS GAME
Hokes Bluff 59, Piedmont 45: The Lady Eagles hit all seven of their 3-pointers in the first half – four by Logan Black – to jump out to a big lead. Sydney Prater scored nine of her 19 points in the fourth quarter as the Lady Bulldogs closed their deficit.
Tigers win another county title
Tournament MVP Fred Dickerson (Red 2) drives to the basket during Talladega’s 77-73 win over Sylacauga in the Talladega County Tournament title game. (Special photo)
TALLADEGA – Don’t let Fred Dickerson’s size fool you. At 5-foot-10, 150 pounds he can take over a game, and often does.
The Talladega senior guard was in the middle of it all night Saturday – as usual – and led the Tigers to a 77-73 win over rival Sylacauga at the Chuck Miller Arena for another Talladega County Tournament title.
Dickerson scored 28 points, including 14-of-18 from the foul line, went over 1,000 points for his career, and was named tournament MVP as the Tigers won their fourth county title in the last five years and 11th in coach Chucky Miller’s 18-year tenure. The one they missed in that five-year run came when their potential game-winner at the buzzer was disallowed.
“One of your main goals at the start of the year is to win the county tournament,” Miller said. “These kids know each other, so you’ve got to come play the game. Sylacauga is one of our toughest competitors for years now. It’s just a great honor (to win it).”
The game was tight throughout and was tied in the fourth quarter. The Tigers took the lead for good with about two minutes left and Dickerson was right in the middle of it.
J.Q. Wilson took a full-court pass from Ashton Duncan and laid it in to give Talladega a two-point lead, then Dickerson stole the inbounds pass and scored to put the Tigers up four. He now has 1,005 career points, the 22nd player in the school’s 1,000-Point Club and first since Tyler Mosley joined in 2010.
The Aggies responded to Dickerson’s play with a three-point play to make it a one-point game but they never got any closer.
“He’s a one-of-a-kind player,” Talladega coach Chuck Miller said of Dickerson. “Fred has a unique game for his size. He’s maybe 5-10, 150, but he can control the game. After he hit two 3s to start they played him on that and he just took it to the basket. He’s just very hard to guard.”
Sylacauga guarded Talladega gunner Ashton Duncan tightly in the first half and that opened the door for Dickerson to score 20 before the break. Once the Aggies started keeping an eye on Dickerson, Duncan exploited them for 13 of his 17 points in the second half.
“Fred really dominated the first half,” Miller said. “They’ve just got to sometimes pick your poison which one to go after the most and the other person has to step up.”
Duncan, Chaztin Tanner and Kobe Simmons joined Dickerson on the all-tournament team. Malik Crawford led Sylacauga with 24 points but fouled out in the fourth quarter.
SATURDAY’S BOYS BOX SCORES
Oxford 87, Ramsay 82
RAMSAY – Walter Garfield 0 2-2 2, Kisean Johnson 1 4-4 7, Keyshawn Murphy 0 0-0 0, Terrell Gardner 7 2-3 20, R.J. Harrington 4 0-0 11, Christian Lee 0 0-0 0, Todd Battle 0 0-0 0, Grant Bend 0 2-2 2, Brian Sims 7 9-13 23, Nathan Orebeaux 1 2-2 4, Terrance Anderson 3 0-0 6, Raymond Banks 3 0-0 7. Totals 26 21-26 82.
OXFORD – Markise Davis 6 1-2 15, Simeon Shadrix 6 0-0 17, Mont McClendon 1 0-2 2, Roc Taylor 8 0-0 16, Kendrick Foster 6 0-0 14, Eugene Leonard 2 4-6 8, Kobe Warren 0 1-2 1, Braden Mack 4 5-7 14, Rylen Houck 0 0-0 0, Tacorrie Russell 0 0-0 0. Totals 33 11-19 87.
Ramsay 17 15 27 23 — 82
Oxford 17 24 27 19 — 87
3-point goals: Ramsay 9 (Johnson, Gardner 4, Harrington 3, Banks); Oxford 10 (Davis 2, Shadrix 5, Foster 2, Mack 1).
Hokes Bluff 65, Piedmont 51
HOKES BLUFF – Ashton Gulledge 1 0-2 2, Peyton Moore 2 2-3 8, Braydon Hill 7 5-7 19, Dylan Teague 3 0-0 9, Jeffrey Contris 0 0-0 0, Jace Stewart 0 2-2 2, Landon Johnson 7 4-7 21, Robert Greaves 1 0-0 3, Hayden Lipscomb 1 0-0 2. Totals 22 13-21 65.
PIEDMONT – Carl Myers 8 2-3 21, Kaedon Jenkins 2 2-3 7, Delo Foster 0 0-2 0, Ryley Kirk 3 5-6 11, Logan Pruitt 0 0-0 0, Lee Stanley 3 3-3 9, T.J. Fairs 1 0-1 3, Malachi Jackson 0 0-1 0. Totals 17 12-19 51.
Hokes Bluff 19 20 17 9 — 65
Piedmont 13 10 13 15 — 51
3-point goals: Hokes Bluff 8 (Moore, Teague 3, Johnson 3, Greaves); Piedmont 5 (Myers 3, Jenkins, Fairs). Fouled out: Lipscomb. Total fouls: Hokes Bluff 13, Piedmont 11. Officials: Batey, Boyd, Barber.
Lincoln 64, Talladega Co. Central 57
TCC – Darrell Maple 2 2-2 8, Jaylon Dykes 0 0-0 0, Kentrell Duncan 1 0-0 3, Jaylon Swain 3 0-0 6, Makhail Simmons 10 8-8 28, Jayden Jones 1 0-0 3, Kylen Cross 0 2-3 2, Devin Dates 3 1-3 7. Totals 20 13-16 57.
LINCOLN (13-10) – Javion Surles 6 2-7 16, Joseph Gaston 2 0-0 4, Conner Thomas 2 0-0 4, Shamar Hampton 1 0-0 2, Jack Wood 5 0-2 13, Shawn Davis 2 1-2 5, Josh Jackson 4 3-4 11, Brian Garrett 3 0-1 6, Jakahri Howard 1 0-0 2. Totals 26 6-16 64.
TCC 13 15 11 18 — 57
Lincoln 15 20 20 9 — 64
3-point goals: TCC 4 (Duncan, Maple 2, Jones); Lincoln 6 (Surles 2, Thomas, Wood 3). Technical fouls: Maple, Jackson. Fouled out: Maple, Jackson. Total fouls: TCC 16, Lincoln 15. Officials: Kelley, Williams, Pratt.
TALLADEGA COUNTY TOURNAMENT
Boys Championship Game
Talladega 77, Sylacauga 72
SYLACAUGA – Malik Crawford 7 6-7 24, Erron Bryant 1 2-5 4, Keaton Wilson 4 1-1 11, Darian Garrett 4 6-7 15, Malik Powell 2 2-2 7, Roderick Milliner 0 0-0 0, Caden Lunsford 1 0-0 2, Aametrius Sanders 0 2-4 2, Jordan Robinson 1 2-3 4, Shannon Grant 2 0-0 4. Totals 24 21-29 73.
TALLADEGA – Fred Dickerson 6 14-18 28, Chaztin Tanner 4 1-2 9, Tyrese Scales 1 0-0 2, Ashton Duncan 6 4-7 17, Decorvious Wilson 0 0-2 0, Rontavious Barclay 0 2-2 2, Jay Patterson 2 1-2 5, J.Q. Wilson 5 2-4 12, Kobe Simmons 1 0-0 2. Totals 25 24-37 77.
Sylacauga 18 15 19 21 — 73
Talladega 18 18 20 21 — 77
3-point goals: Sylacauga 4 (Wilson 2, Garrett, Powell); Talladega 3 (Dickerson 2, Duncan). Fouled out: Crawford, Grant. Total fouls: Sylacauga 26, Talladega 21.
SATURDAY’S GIRLS BOX SCORES
Hokes Bluff 59, Piedmont 45
HOKES BLUFF – ReRe Payton 1 0-0 2, Madi Wolfe 2 1-1 5, Kelsee Otwell 2 1-2 5, Haley Simpson 1 0-0 3, Maddy Smith 0 2-2 2, Amanda Noah 6 3-4 17, Kristen Shields 2 1-1 5, Margaret Wetzel 1 1-1 3, Logan Black 5 0-0 14, Jayden Presley 0 3-4 3, Madison Ingram 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 12-15 59.
PIEDMONT – Kayley Kirk 1 0-0 2, Kaitlyn Ridley 3 0-1 6, Pinky Nation 6 5-7 18, Cassidy Jackson 0 0-0 0, Sydney Prater 5 9-12 19, Kiara Jackson 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 14-20 45.
Hokes Bluff 17 21 10 11 — 59
Piedmont 6 12 10 17 — 45
3-point goals: Hokes Bluff 7 (Simpson, Noah 2, Black 4); Piedmont 1 (Nation). Total fouls: Hokes Bluff 14, Piedmont 17. Officials: Boyd, Batey, Barber.
Talladega Co. Central 54, Lincoln 33
TCC – Devona Gover 1 2-2 5, JaMyia Whitson 2 0-0 6, Alisha Morris 2 0-2 5, Deja Gover 1 0-2 3, Tamiya Curry 0 0-0 0, Davionna Stockdale 3 1-4 7, Marlonda Pemberton 2 0-0 4, Evianna Johnson 3 0-0 7, Jamiyah Garrett 0 0-0 0, Anysiah Taylor 4 3-4 11, Janyia Wallace 2 0-2 6. Totals 20 6-16 54.
LINCOLN – Bailey Gowers 1 0-0 2, Kaziyah Gaston 1 0-0 2, Jayla Morris 5 2-5 13, Abbey Smith 0 2-2 2, Shaniyah Twyman 1 3-6 5, Hannah Carmichael 0 0-2 0, Zariah Orr 0 0-1 0, Taylor Conway 4 1-2 9. Totals 12 8-16 33.
TCC 18 13 13 10 — 54
Lincoln 6 10 13 4 — 33
3-point goals: TCC 8 (Dv. Gover, Whitson 2, Morris, Dj. Gover, Johnson, Wallace 2); Lincoln 1 (Morris). Total fouls: TCC 17, Lincoln 10Officials: Pratt, Kelley, Snellgrove.
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