Making playoff plans
- Updated: January 5, 2019
Boys roundup: Oxford clinches area title, can start making playoff plans; Donoho’s LeCroy reaches 1,000-point plateau, and more
Friday’s boys scores
- Anniston 72, Lincoln 68 (OT)
- Clay Central 71, Cleburne County 53
- Donoho 71, Coosa Christian 59
- Etowah 77, Alexandria 63
- Hanceville 65, Glencoe 51
- Oxford 61, Albertville 53
- Piedmont 69, Hokes Bluff 41
- Pleasant Valley 62, Wellborn 37
- Ranburne 55, Horseshoe Bend 35
- Sacred Heart 55, Westbrook Christian 42
- Spring Garden 58, Faith Christian 39
- Sylacauga 80, Munford 25
- Talladega 84, Coosa Central 69
- Weaver 61, White Plains 59
- Winterboro 93, Fayetteville 33
By East Alabama Sports Today
OXFORD – The process may not have been pretty, but the end result couldn’t have been more beautiful for the Oxford basketball team.
The Yellow Jackets outslugged area rival Albertville 61-53 Friday night on Larry Davidson Court to clinch their championship and set up them up to host the area playoffs in February.
“It was an ugly win,” Oxford head coach Joel VanMeter said.
The Jackets (14-4) were playing without senior guard Eugene Leonard who has an injured arm. He tried to go for a couple of minutes and just wasn’t able, leaving Van Meter to go to sophomore Justin Moore and freshman Rylan Houck to make up the difference.
The Aggies (12-6) are one of the few teams that can match up height-wise with Oxford and it turned into an ugly physical battle that resulted in three technical fouls called on the Aggies and one of their fans was ejected due to unruly behavior. The Jackets won by 15 in Albertville earlier this year and the season sweep gave them the Area 13 championship.
Oxford pounded the ball inside to Zondrick Garrett and Rock Taylor all night long. Garrett ended up with 20 free throw attempts and Taylor five. The two combined to make 19 of the free throws.
Garrett ended up 15-of-20 from the line as part of a 20-point, eight-rebound night. Taylor had 16 points and eight rebounds. Mont McClendon got 15 points with some good outside shooting.
Oxford had the lead by 14 early in the second half, before the Aggies went on a 14-3 lead to cut it to 39-36. The Jackets turned up the defense in the final quarter and only allowed one field goal in the first six minutes to open up a 51-41 lead. The Jackets made their free throws down the stretch. The Aggies stayed in the game by making seven 3s.
“Sometimes you just have to win ugly,” VanMeter said. “We showed toughness and played well and showed that we are not a one-person team. Albertville is a good team; they beat second-ranked Huffman by 20 last week. Trinity Bell (11 points) scares me. He is a great player … We will see these guys again.” – Brant Locklier
Oxford 61, Albertville 53
ALBERTVILLE – Tristin Jordan 1 0-1 3, Ben Allen 4 0-0 11, Dane Harding 4 1-1 11, Brodie Canterbury 3 2-4 8, Timothy Bearden 2 2-2 7, Trinity Bell 3 5-6 11, John Baker 1 0-0 2. Totals 18 10-14 53.
OXFORD – Rylan Houck 1 0-0 2, Zondrick Garrett 2 15-20 20, Mont McClendon 5 4-5 15, Kobe Warren 1 6-8 8, Roc Taylor 6 4-5 16, Milas Jackson 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 29-40 61.
Albertville 11 10 15 17 – 53
Oxford 12 18 9 22 – 61
3-point goals: Albertville 7 (Jordan, Allen 3, Harding 2, Bearden); Oxford 2 (Garrett, McClendon).
DONOHO 71, COOSA CHRISTIAN 59
Jacob LeCroy is really glad he decided to play his senior season of basketball. Otherwise, he would have missed out on reaching one of the greatest achievements of a high school player’s career.
LeCroy, a senior guard, went over 1,000 career points in the Falcons’ victory over Coosa Christian. He needed 20 points coming into the game, scored 27, and passed the milestone in the fourth quarter. He was presented with a basketball emblazoned with “1,000” after the game to commemorate the feat.
“It’s an awesome accomplishment,” he said. “I’ve always been known as a golfer by the people who play golf with me. And I’ve always been known as a basketball player by the people I play basketball with. I’m lucky to have been given amazing talents by God that he has allowed me to use this far in my life.”
LeCroy signed a golf scholarship with South Alabama earlier this fall and is looking forward to defending his state championship. He almost chose to not play basketball this season to concentrate on his sport of choice, but decided just about the time practice was about to begin that he would play, giving coach Jeremy Satcher another weapon for the Falcons’ high-scoring offense and a reliable go-to guy when the game’s on the line.
He scored 22 points in the second half against the Conquerors, going 14-of-17 from the free throw line, 8-of-10 in the fourth quarter. The game was tied at 44 going into the fourth.
“I’m a multi-sport athlete,” he said. “I love competing and just having fun, most of all. I could’ve spent my time golfing over this winter, but, man, this would be a moment I would never have gotten to come back to. That’s something my brothers, my dad and my coaches taught me about.
“To accomplish this means I have just been blessed. This makes the season worth it. This makes everything I have done in the past worth it. No regrets. When my game is done I won’t be sad, but just overjoyed by what all has happened in my life and people God has put around me.” – Al Muskewitz
Donoho 71, Coosa Christian 59
COOSA CHRISTIAN – Deontae Ford 0 0-0 0, Joseph Moneyham 1 0-0 3, Caleb Cates 3 0-1 6, Clay Waits 9 1-3 19, Mikell Moneyham 4 3-4 13, Evan Delp 5 2-2 12, Noah Davidson 2 0-0 4, Caiden Lipscomb 1 0-0 2. Totals 25 6-10 59.
DONOHO – Seth Ford 3 3-3 12, Amari Smedley 2 3-6 7, Rod Elston 5 0-2 11, Reid Williamon 4 1-2 12, Jacob LeCroy 6 14-19 27, Conor Goodson 0 0-0 0, Dekari Garrett 0-0 0-0 0, Chandler Armstrong 1 0-0 2. Totals 21 21-32
Coosa Christian 18 10 16 15 – 59
Donoho 16 10 18 27 – 71
3-point goals: Coosa Christian 3 (J. Moneyham, M. Moneyham 2); Donoho 8 (Ford 3, Elston, Williamon 3, LeCroy). Technical fouls: M. Moneyham 2, Elston. Fouled out: D. Ford, M. Moneyham, Delp. Total fouls: Coosa Christian 27, Donoho 14. Officials: McCombs, Tillery, Horn.
PLEASANT VALLEY 62, WELLBORN 37
Josh Ballew was coming off a 31-point career night and his first bucket of this game against the Panthers was a 3-pointer that beat the first-quarter horn and broke a 13-all tie sparking a run that sent the Raiders to victory.
The trey, one of three Ballew hit in the first three quarters, was part of a 16-2 spree that carried the Raiders from a 13-10 deficit to a 26-15 lead. Ballew hit another one late in the second quarter to shake them from another lull and his third during a 9-0 run early in the third quarter.
“It just got us going,” he said. “We started hitting a couple shots in the second and it got us going. It motivated us. That’s how we got our big lead at the end.”
Ballew finished with 13 points. Wyatt Ingram, in his second game back after missing four before Christmas with an illness, led the Raiders with 17 points. He had nine – all in the second half – the night before.
“I think Wyatt’s a really good offensive player,” PV coach Ryan Chambless said. “I thought he played well (Thursday) night. He hadn’t gotten a chance to get in a rhythm because he got sick and missed four games. He’s coming on.”
Before Ballew’s first 3, Wellborn had taken a 13-10 lead on a Khavion Wesley basket. Wesley led the Panthers (0-13) with 16 points, but fouled out late in the third quarter leaving them without a scoring threat the rest of the game.
The loss was Wellborn’s 35thin a row on the floor. The Panthers went 0-22 last year, but was awarded a win due to Faith Christian’s use of an ineligible player, but coach Jordan Angle doesn’t consider the asterisk.
“We’re getting better,” Angle said. “They’re figuring it out and I think they’re finally a little fed up (with the losing streak). Anybody who watches them play, it’s not their effort. We’re just young and inexperienced.”
Pleasant Valley 62, Wellborn 37
PLEASANT VALLEY – Austin Johnson 2 2-5 6, Jake Malsy 0 1-4 1, Brayden Wright 0 0-0 0, Josh Ballew 3 4-4 13, Wyatt Ingram 7 3-4 17, Coleman Haynes 1 2-4 5, Connor Wolfe 1 0-0 2, Garrett Cranmer 1 3-6 5, Jackson Almaroad 1 1-1 3, Colby Gaines 4 2-5 10. Totals 20 18-32 62.
WELLBORN – Khavion Wesley 6 4-6 16, Justin Berry 0 0-0 0, Lewis Patterson 3 1-4 9, Max Searcy 1 0-2 2, Glen Oliver 0 0-0 0, Austin Gamble 0 0-0 0, Tae Traylor 1 0-0 3, Robert Broom 2 0-0 5, Harley Kendall 1 0-0 2, Logan Grubbs 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 5-12 37.
Pleasant Valley 16 15 23 8 – 62
Wellborn 13 7 11 6 – 37
3-point goals: Pleasant Valley 4 (Ballew 3, Haynes); Wellborn 4 (Patterson 2, Traylor, Broom). Technical fouls: PV coach Chambless, Ingram, Wesley. Fouled out: Wesley. Total fouls: Pleasant Valley 15, Wellborn 24. Officials: Ortiz, Weeks, Dickerson.
SACRED HEART 55, WESTBROOK CHRISTIAN 42
Khalil Watkins scored 21 points and Jayden Stone added 13 to lead the Cardinals. Sacred Heart took control of the game on an eight-point possession midway through the second quarter. It started with a basket, followed by four free throws from two technical fouls and ended with a basket before Westbrook touched the ball again.
SPRING GARDEN 58, FAITH CHRISTIAN 39
The Panthers broke open a close game with a 13-0 run at the end of the third quarter and Faith just didn’t have the firepower to answer back. It was 20-18 at halftime.
MORE BOYS BOX SCORES
Anniston 72, Lincoln 68 (OT)
ANNISTON – Antonio Kite 10 4-5 25, LaDreka Hall 3 0-0 6, Kwame Milton 4 1-2 12, Jordan Caldwell 1 1-2 3, William Fairley 3 0-0 7, Tyree Carmichael 1 0-0 2, Hunter Rouse 1 0-0 3, Theron Montgomery 5 2-5 12, Jordan Ferrell 0 0-0 0. Totals 28 8-14 72
LINCOLN – Brian Garrett 9 3-3 25, Cam Reynolds 4 1-3 10, Tre Garrett 5 3-8 16, Jakahri Howard 3 0-0 9, Steve White 1 0-2 2, Xavier Ragland 0 0-0 0, Kevon Moore 1 0-0 2, Jack Wood 0 0-0 0, Kye Patterson 1 0-0 3. Totals 24 7-16 68.
Anniston 19 21 17 7 8 – 72
Lincoln 13 16 25 10 4 – 68
3-point goals: Anniston 6 (Kite, Milton 3, Fairley, Rouse); Lincoln 11 (B. Garrett 4, Reynolds, T. Garrett 3, Howard 3). Total fouls: Anniston 16, Lincoln 15. Officials: Burroughs, Ortiz, Hollingsworth.
Notes: Kite scored all eight of Anniston’s points in overtime and finished with 25 for the game. He also scored 10 in the second quarter. Brian Garrett led Lincoln with 24.
Talladega 84, Coosa Central 69
COOSA CENTRAL – Omar Gaddis 7 10-13 25, Javon Richardson 8 1-2 20, Christian Lee 0 1-2 1, Casson Robbins 1 0-0 3, Quin Brooks 3 0-1 6, Corey Sandlin 1 0-0 2, Joshua McGhee 4 4-6 12, Keontae Hines 0 0-0 0. Totals 24 16-24 69.
TALLADEGA (13-5) – Nigel Scales 2 0-0 4, Chaztin Tanner 5 1-2 12, Jaquon Chatman 2 2-2 7, Aaron Green 3 5-6 11, Rontavious Barclay 6 3-4 15, D’Corian Wilson 5 0-0 11, Roderrius Montgomery 0 0-0 0, J.Q. Wilson 1 0-0 2, Kobe Simmons 10 1-3 22. Totals 34 12-17 84.
Coosa Central 19 17 22 11 – 69
Talladega 21 31 15 17 – 84
3-point goals: Coosa Central 5 (Gaddis, Richardson 3, Robbins); Talladega 4 (Tanner, Chatman, D. Wilson, B. Simmons). Total fouls: Coosa Central 16, Talladega 19. Officials: Holmes, Montgomery, Evans. Notes: The Tigers used a 52-point first half, a double-double by Kobe Simmons and five scorers in double figures to avenge an earlier loss to Coosa Central. Simmons had 10 rebounds to go with 22 points. Green had eight rebounds and five steals to go with his 11 points. D’Corian Wilson grabbed nine rebounds.
Piedmont 69, Hokes Bluff 41
HOKES BLUFF – Payton Lemons 1 0-0 2, Achton Gulledge 1 4-5 6, Jonathan Wise 0 0-0 0, Caleb McGinnis 2 0-0 4, Braydon Hill 1 0-0 2, Tucker Marsh 1 0-0 2, Dylan Teague 0 0-0 0, Matthew Johnson 3 0-0 8, Hayden Lipscomb 4 1-2 9, Donovan Greaves 2 0-0 6, Cory Cross 1 0-0 2. Totals 16 5-7 41.
PIEDMONT – Carl Myers 3 0-0 8, Kaedon Jenkins 1 1-2 3, Delo Foster 4 0-3 9, Silas Thompson 3 2-3 9, Alex Odam 9 0-0 22, T.J. Fairs 5 0-0 11, Malachi Jackson 1 0-0 2, Jakari Foster 1 0-2 2, Sean Smith 1 1-3 3. Totals 28 4-13 69.
Hokes Bluff 12 8 11 10 – 41
Piedmont 19 13 22 15 – 69
3-point goals: Hokes Bluff 4 (Johnson 2, Greaves 2); Piedmont 9 (Myers 2, Foster, Thompson, Odam 4, Fairs). Total fouls: Hokes Bluff 14, Piedmont 9. Officials: L. Batey, S. Batey, Kelley.
Notes: The Bulldogs won their second straight to open this gauntlet of nine games in 14 days with everyone getting in the scoring column. Odam and Myers combined for 15 points in the first quarter. Odam scored 15 in the third quarter. Thompson had nine rebounds to go with his nine points. Foster had five rebounds and four blocked shots to go with his nine points.
Etowah 77, Alexandria 63
ETOWAH – Devin Lester 2 0-0 6, Chris Griffin 8 0-0 19, DeAundrea Williams 0 0-0 0, Davian Smith 1 0-0 2, Cyrus Smith 2 1-2 5, Eric Edge 1 0-0 3, T. Davis 2 0-0 5, Jamin Graham 2 1-3 5, B. Troup 6 1-2 15, David Berry 7 0-0 17. Totals 31 3-7 77.
ALEXANDRIA – Seth Slaton 0 2-2 2, Julian Wright 5 0-0 10, Joe Tucker 7 1-1 17, Romeo Dye 1 0-0 2, Jared Ponder 2 2-2 7, Khahlil Frances 2 0-0 5, Jalen Borders 2 0-0 4, Landan Williams 7 1-2 16.
Etowah 14 16 33 14 – 77
Alexandria 12 16 18 17 – 63
3-point goals: Etowah 12 (Lester 2, Griffin 3, Edge, Davis, Troup 2, Berry 3); Alexandria 5 (Tucker 2, Ponder, Frances, Williams). Total fouls: Etowah 11, Alexandria 10. Officials: Robinson, Stringer, Poluck.
Notes: The Blue Devils hit five of their 12 3-pointers in the 33-point third quarter that gave them control of the game. Tucker and Williams combined for 20 points in the second half of Alexandria.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login