Making the finals
- Updated: December 21, 2018
Boys roundup: Oxford, White Plains, Piedmont all reach championship games of their respective tournaments with victories Friday night
FRIDAY’S BOYS SCORES
Batter Up! Classic, Childersburg
Sacred Heart 80, B.B. Comer 52
Helena 59, Dadeville 41
Ramsay 61, Childersburg 36
Hillcrest 51, Vestavia 49
Carrollton (Ga.) Holiday Tournament
(all times Central)
at Carrollton H.S.
Carrollton vs. Heard County, 4:30 p.m.
Therrell 50, South Paulding 47
at Univ. of West Georgia
Oxford 73, Gainesville 45
Marietta vs. Troup, 7:30 p.m.
Champions Sports Academy Boys Christmas Classic
Southside 58, Ohatchee 46
Alexandria 70, Ashville 45
Springville 78, Weaver 53
White Plains 54. Lincoln 41
Cherokee County Invitational, Cedar Bluff
Spring Garden 68, Sand Rock 43
Consolation game, Tuscaloosa County 62, Cedar Bluff 30
Championship game, Lafayette (Ga.) 71, Westbrook Christian 43
Oak Mountain Invitational
Leeds 68, Mortimer Jordan 64
Anniston 57, Spain Park 52
UMS-Wright 49, Briarwood 47
Pleasant Grove 62, Oak Mountain 51
Patrick Ball Memorial Christmas Classic
at Hokes Bluff
Piedmont 56, Glencoe 42
Hokes Bluff 66, Pleasant Valley 51
Sand Mountain Christmas Tournament
at DeKalb County Schools Coliseum, Rainsville
Boys Games
Fyffe 75, Sylvania 66
Plainview 95, Section 58
By East Alabama Sports Today
When the season first began White Plains basketball coach Chris Randall admitted he was really concerned about his team’s ability to play defense.
The Wildcats didn’t have the greatest mindset about it, but they could score the basketball, which could get them through some nights. Now the worm has turned and it’s their defensive posture has them winning games.
It came about again Friday night when Wildcats took down Lincoln 54-41 to reach the championship game of the Champions Christmas Classic.
The Wildcats will face undefeated Springville in tonight’s 7:30 p.m. final and Randall suspects it will take their most well-rounded effort to keep them in it long enough to have a shot in the fourth quarter.
“Tonight just keeps reinforcing what we’re trying to teach the guys, that everything’s got to start on the defensive end,” Randall said. “Coming into the season, when practice started, I was really, really concerned defensively. I didn’t like the mentality, but I thought we could really score it.
“Now, we’re not scoring it great, we’re struggling shooting, but we’re rebounding and playing defense and limiting turnovers. Those three things don’t take a night off because those are choices. I feel like we’ve done a good job about that.”
When it came to their defensive effort against the Golden Bears, the spotlight clearly fell on Jaden Chatman. He drew the assignment on Lincoln’s Brian Garrett and held the player who went for 32 the night before to just half that total and nothing in the fourth quarter. Two of the baskets Garrett did get in the second half came when he made a steal and layup.
“I thought Jaden did an outstanding job on him,” Randall said.
Not to be overlooked were the four charges courageously taken by Matthew Clay.
Although it was the defense that won them praises, the Wildcats did have their share of offense. Sophomore Brody Baker came off the bench – as usual – and scored a game-high 25 points. He pumped in 20 during the middle two quarters, going 10-of-13 from the floor.
“He’s been our most consistent offensive player, without a doubt,” Randall said. “He’s been steady, his decision making has been really good, but he’s one of the best teammates we have. He says I’ll do whatever you tell me to. He’s just so team-first. To watch him grow up has been a lot of fun.”
Champions Christmas Classic
White Plains 54, Lincoln 41
WHITE PLAINS – Coleman Messer 0 0-0 0, Quin Wilson 1 2-2 4, Jaden Chatman 3 0-0 6, Simeon Shadrix 4 1-2 10, Jacob Wheeler 1 0-0 3, Brody Baker 11 3-4 25, Matthew Clay 1 2-4 4, Jaden Harris 0 0-0 0, Kahlil Williams 0 0-0 0, Gavin Burrage 1 0-0 2. Totals 22 8-14 54.
LINCOLN – Brian Garrett 7 1-1 16, Cam Reynolds 1 0-0 3, Tre Garrett 4 2-3 13, Jakahri Howard 1 0-0 2, Steve White 0 0-2 0, Xavier Ragland 1 0-0 2, Kevon Moore 0 0-0 0, Jack Wood 2 0-0 5, Trevon Hines 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 3-6 41.
White Plains 13 14 15 12 – 54
Lincoln 8 11 15 7 – 41
3-point goals: White Plains 2 (Shadrix, Wheeler); Lincoln 6 (B. Garrett, Reynolds, T. Garrett 3, Wood). Technical fouls: T. Garrett. Total fouls: White Plains 9, Lincoln 18. Officials: Wood, Warren, Robinson.
Springville 78, Weaver 53
SPRINGVILLE – Hudson Kersh 2 16-17 20, Aaron Byars 1 0-0 2, Brandon Daniels 1 0-2 2, Max Harrison 2 1-2 5, Justin Bromley 2 0-0 6, Cameron Bonner 3 0-2 7, Jace Hayes 0 0-0 0, Chase Isbell 5 5-6 16, Jacob Goolsby 4 0-2 9, Cole Clark 1 0-0 2, Ben Bianchi 3 3-5 9. Totals 24 25-36 78.
WEAVER – Taylor Deck 0 0-0 0, Brandon Heath 0 6-9 6, Robert Gaines 4 0-1 8, Shamar Spinks 4 5-9 13, Gary Wallace 1 1-4 3, Marcello Dambrosia 1 1-3 3, Austin Bryant 1 0-1 2, DeAndre McCain 1 0-0 2, Amardric Elston 6 2-2 14, Taber Stephens 0 0-0 0, Colby Thompson 0 2-2 2. Totals 18 17-31 53.
Springville 15 19 21 23 – 78
Weaver 8 16 16 13 – 53
3-point goals: Springville 5 (Bromley 2, Bonner, Isbell, Goolsby). Fouled out: Gaines, McCain, Elston. Total fouls: Springville 25, Weaver 28.
Alexandria 70, Ashville 45
ALEXANDRIA – Seth Slaton 3 0-0 9, Adam Young 1 1-2 4, Dustin Warren 0 0-0 0, Collin Taylor 1 0-4 3, Julian Wright 2 0-0 4, Joe Tucker 2 0-0 4, Landan Comer 1 1-2 4, Romeo Dye 3 2-2 9, Jared Ponder 0 0-0 0, Khahlil Francis 3 1-2 10, Jalen Borders 2 1-2 5, Landan Williams 7 4-7 18. Totals 25 10-21 70.
ASHVILLE – Daniel Welch 2 2-2 8, John Phillips 0 2-2 2, Adam Lapano 1 0-0 2, Cesar Segura 1 1-2 3, Chris Sanders 5 8-11 18, Jonah Carden 1 0-0 2, Dalton Cone 1 5-6 8, Landon Vann 1 0-0 2. Totals 12 18-23 45.
Alexandria 25 15 17 13 – 70
Ashville 8 17 14 6 – 45
3-point goals: Alexandria 10 (Slaton 3, Young, Taylor, Comer, Dye, Francis 3); Ashville 3 (Welch 2, Cone). Total fouls: Alexandria 18, Ashville 14.
Southside 58, Ohatchee 46
OHATCHEE – Parker Alexander 0 0-0 0, Trey Pesnell 1 0-0 2, Grayson Alward 3 1-4 7, Todd Dover 0 0-0 0, Cameron Foushee 4 0-0 11, Evan Keller 5 1-1 14, Bayley Tillison 1 0-0 3, Austin Wyatt 2 1-2 5, Briley Hale 2 0-0 4. Totals 18 3-7 46.
SOUTHSIDE – Ravi Patel 0 0-0 0, Jordan Grantland 1 2-2 4, Blake Habyan 3 7-10 13, Brock Lawley 0 0-0 0, Cotton Morrison 3 3-4 10, Tyler Rose 0 0-0 0, Tommy Simmons 1 0-0 2, Brock Habyan 9 5-7 27, David Bachus 0 0-0 0, Parker Crask 1 0-0 2. Totals 18 17-23 58.
Ohatchee 9 14 8 15 – 46
Southside 12 14 16 16 – 58
3-point goals: Ohatchee 7 (Foushee 3, Keller 3, Tillison); Southside 5 (Morrison, Br. Habyan 4). Fouled out: Alward, Hale. Total fouls: Ohatchee 19, Southside 8. Officials: Russell, Dupree, Pate.
Carrollton (Ga.) Holiday Tournament
Jackets’ streak reaches 8
CARROLLTON, Ga. – Roc Taylor led three Oxford scorers in double figures with 21 points and the Yellow Jackets extended their winning streak to eight games in a 73-45 rout of Gainesville to reach the finals of the Carrollton (Ga.) Holiday Tournament.
The Yellow Jackets will play Therrell, currently ranked No. 2 in Class 2A in Georgia, for the championship.
Therrell erased a seven-point halftime deficit to beat 6A No. 5 South Paulding 50-47. The Panthers were led by RaSean Frederick’s 19 points and nine rebounds and Robbie Armbrester’s 14 points and 10 boards.
“This is a very strong team that’s ranked in their class,” Oxford coach Joel VanMeter said. “It will be a great challenge for us as a group.”
The Yellow Jackets (11-3) have weathered most of the storms they’ve faced this season with balanced scoring and unselfish play across the board, and Friday night was no exception.
In addition to Taylor’s big game, the Jackets got 16 points from Zondrick Garrett and 10 from Eugene Leonard. Justin Moore added nine points and Kobe Warren eight. Garrett scored 14 of his points in the first half as Oxford opened a 44-17 lead. Taylor had seven in the first quarter and 14 in the second half.
The Red Elephants had no scorers in double figures.
“Defensively we seem to be clicking,” VanMeter said. “Our communication and connectivity are demonstrated through our defensive effort.
“It was another example of our team working as one on offense to create opportunities for each other. Balanced scoring all over and great unselfish play led to several guys being very productive.”
The winning streak is the longest in VanMeter’s memory in his tenure.
Oxford 73, Gainesville 45
OXFORD – Rylan Houck 1 1-1 3, Zondrick Garrett 5 4-4 16, Eugene Leonard 3 4-5 10, Mont McClendon 1 2-2 5, Kobe Warren 2 4-5 8, Roc Taylor 9 3-5 21, Cordell Chatman 0 0-0 0, Justin Moore 4 0-0 9, Milas Jackson 0 0-0 0, Trafton Houck 0 1-2 1, Andrew Cline 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 19-24 73.
GAINESVILLE – Walt Dixon 1 1-2 3, R. Littlejohn 1 0-0 2, D. Buffington 1 0-2 2, Brent Kelly 2 2-2 7, Rafael Rubel 3 2-2 8, M. Hector 1 1-2 3, Eli Pitts 2 0-0 6, J. Santana 0 0-0 0, R. Reisman 2 0-0 4, Makius Scott 1 0-0 2, Lake Shelton 1 0-0 2, J. Williams 3 0-0 6. Totals 18 6-10 45.
Oxford 24 20 14 15 – 73
Gainesville 6 11 12 16 – 45
3-point goals: Oxford 4 (Garrett 2, McClendon, Moore); Gainesville 3 (Kelly, Pitts 2). Fouled out: Buffington. Total fouls: Oxford 15, Gainesville 24.
Patrick Ball Memorial Classic
Unbeaten Piedmont pulls away in fourth
HOKES BLUFF – Piedmont used a 13-0 run at the start of the fourth quarter to break open a close game and pull away from Glencoe 56-42 to remain undefeated and reach the finals of the Patrick Ball Memorial Classic.
The Bulldogs (5-0) will play Hokes Bluff, a 66-51 winner over Pleasant Valley, in Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. title game. PV will play Glencoe. The Bulldogs have yet to lose in first-year coach JoJo Odam’s tenure.
Alex Odam scored 10 of his game-high 23 points in the fourth quarter for the Bulldogs, who only led by going entering the quarter.
“Our effort was better in the second half on the defensive end,” Piedmont coach JoJo Odam said. “Carl Myers got three steals in a row and that helped get us going. We also had a couple guys who were in foul trouble who did a good job of playing through it and stayed in the game.”
Piedmont 56, Glencoe 42
PIEDMONT (5-0) – Carl Myers 2 2-4 6, Kaedon Jenkins 3 0-0 7, Delo Foster 4 0-1 8, Silas Thompson 2 0-0 4, Alex Odam 10 2-4 23, T.J. Fairs 2 2-2 7, Malachi Jackson 0 0-0 0, Jakari Foster 0 0-0 0, Sean Smith 0 0-0 0, Elijah Johnson 0 1-2 1. Totals 23 7-13 56.
GLENCOE – Bryan Benefield 0 2-4 2, Braden Lamb 0 1-2 1, Cade McCarver 0 0-0 0, Colton Stone 0 0-0 0, Ethan Wells 4 2-4 13, Reed Holbrooks 0 0-0 0, Daniel Maye 0 0-0 0, Cam Harris 3 1-2 8, Collin Hardy 2 0-1 5, Brock Ondo 5 2-4 13, Collin Roberts 0 0-0 0, Issac Barkley 0 0-0 0, Caleb Wilson 0 0-0 0, Luke Booker 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 8-17 42.
Piedmont 13 8 11 24 – 56
Glencoe 11 7 12 12 – 42
3-point goals: Piedmont 3 (Jenkins, Odam, Fairs); Glencoe 6 (Wells 3, Harris, Hardy, Ondo). Total fouls: Piedmont 17, Glencoe 9.
Oak Mountain Invitational
Bulldogs rally in fifth-place game
OAK MOUNTAIN – Antonio Kite scored 20 points, the team went 14-of-16 from the foul line and Anniston rallied from a five-point halftime deficit to edge Spain Park 57-52 in the fifth-place game of the Oak Mountain Invitational.
The Bulldogs trailed by five at halftime, but battled back to get their deficit to one entering the fourth quarter. The surge continued in the final quarter as they went up by as many as eight.
In addition to Kite, Theron Montgomery had 12 points and William Fairley had 13. Montgomery made the all-tournament team.
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