JCA doubles down
- Updated: January 19, 2019
Thunder plays Vinson, Messer in same position, same time to maximize effectiveness; Ohatchee’s offense continues to roll
By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
PIEDMONT – Science tells us two objects cannot occupy the same space at the same time. Don’t tell the Jacksonville Christian basketball team that.
When JCA coach Tommy Miller saw the way underdog Wellborn was playing his team in Saturday’s opening round of the Calhoun County Tournament he decided to do something he hadn’t done all season.
He put post Chase Vinson and his best 3-point shooter, Kobe Messer, in the same down low position – at the same time – and they were as dynamic as ever.
Messer scored 31 points with 3-pointers early and bunch of layups later and Vinson delivered another down low double-double with 17 points and 20 rebounds as the Thunder rolled 65-30.
“It worked this time,” Miller said. “When those two are working down low we’re better than when we’re trying to throw those 3s. It’s not that we don’t have any confidence in (the 3-point shooting of) Kobe and Nash (Messer) and Eli (Fair), but that’s not what we need to win.
“Today we kept going in there and getting those points inside. We had two or three 3s, but the inside game is what won the ballgame.”
Messer was 14-of-21 from the field, 11-of-16 on shots from inside the arc. He hit two 3s in the first quarter and had 14 points in the third after the Thunder (17-5) built a 33-20 halftime lead. The double-double was Vinson’s 20ththis season.
“I like shooting the ball, I want to all the time, but shooting layups is way more easier than shooting 3s,” Messer said. “Coach is always saying drive in more, so I’m starting to do that more.”
The 10th-seeded Thunder will now face seventh-seeded Jacksonville at 7:30 p.m. Monday when the tournament moves to Jacksonville State. It’s the third straight odd-numbered year the teams have met in the tournament.
With the success he enjoyed with Saturday’s approach which way would Messer prefer in the second round against the Golden Eagles. The Thunder beat Jacksonville the last time they played in the tournament (2017).
“I’m thinking about going on the inside more,” he said, with Miller smiling approvingly a few feet away.
Jacksonville Christian 65, Wellborn 30
WELLBORN (0-18) – Khavion Wesley 3 4-7 11, Justin Berry 0 0-0 0, Lewis Patterson 0 0-0 0, Max Searcy 4 0-1 10, Glenn Oliver 0 0-0 0, Tae Traylor 2 0-0 5, Rob Broom 0 0-0 0, Jackson 1 0-0 2, Harley Kendall 0 0-4 0, Logan Grubbs 1 0-0 2. Totals 11 4-12 30.
JCA (17-5) – Tanner Wilson 0 2-2 2, Jeremy Cockrell 0 2-2 2, Johnny Alford 0 0-0 0, Brady Shaddix 1 0-2 2, Eli Fair 1 0-0 2, Nash Messer 2 1-2 6, Jack Henry Harrelson 0 0-0 0, Kobe Messer 14 0-0 31, Jonathan Carter 0 3-4 3, Mason Johnson 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 11-17 65.
Wellborn 10 10 6 4 – 30
JCA 16 17 21 11 – 65
3-point goals: Wellborn 4 (Wesley, Searcy, Traylor); JCA 4 (N. Messer, K. Messer 3).
Fouled out: Patterson, Traylor. Total fouls: Wellborn 13, JCA 12. Officials: Shane Kendall, Horace Williams, Kevin Holston.
OHATCHEE 64, FAITH CHRISTIAN 30
The 10th-seeded Indians got the fast start they were looking for and cruised into a second-round matchup with No. 6 Weaver 6:30 Monday at Jacksonville State.
They held Faith to five points in the first quarter while opening a seven-point lead, then broke it open with a 24-point second quarter. Evan Keller scored nine points in the quarter and had all 10 of his points in the first half.
The Indians got scoring from nine players; Grayson Alward also scored 10 for Ohatchee. It was the fourth time in the last five games they’ve scored at least 60; all four have been victories.
“I think we’re peaking at the right time, girls and guys,” Ohatchee coach Bryant Ginn said. “I feel like we’re doing a good job moving the ball, making less turnovers and all that stuff.”
Faith’s Jacques Prater led all scorers with 13 points. He hit three 3-pointers.
Ohatchee 64, Faith Christian 30
FAITH CHRISTIAN (8-11) – C.J. Gomez 2 1-6 5, Seth Cravens 0 2-2 2, Mike McGraw 3 1-1 8, Chase Gibbins 0 0-0 0, Jacob Cleckler 1 0-0 2, Bailey Thomas 0 0-0 0, Dalton Rogers 0 0-0 0, Seth Abston 0 0-0 0, Jacques Prater 3 4-4 13. Totals 9 8-13 30.
OHATCHEE (12-9) – Parker Alexander 2 0-0 6, Nathan Higgins 3 1-3 8, Trey Pesnell 2 0-0 6, Grayson Alward 3 4-6 10, Todd Dover 1 1-2 3, Cameron Foushee 3 0-0 7, Evan Keller 3 3-4 10, Bayley Tillison 4 0-0 9, Briley Hale 2 1-4 5. Totals 23 10-19 64.
Faith 5 8 11 6 – 30
Ohatchee 12 24 10 18 – 64
3-point goals: Faith 4 (McGraw, Prater 3); Ohatchee 8 (Alexander 2, Higgins, Pesnell 2, Foushee, Keller, Tillison). Total fouls: Faith 17, Ohatchee 16.
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