Jackets keep finding a way
- Updated: January 28, 2019
Boys roundup: Oxford comes up big in the fourth quarter again to get past Alexandria; Saks trounces Wellborn, JCA nearing 20 wins
MONDAY’S BOYS SCORES
Faith Christian 66, Gaylesville 60
Hokes Bluff 58, White Plains 47
Jacksonville Christian 72, Valley Head 54
Oxford 63, Alexandria 49
Piedmont 60, Weaver 47
Saks 84, Wellborn 36
Randolph County at Cleburne County
Sylacauga 80, Clay Central 70
Winterboro 84, Munford 82
Wadley 49, Ranburne 45
By Brant Locklier
For East Alabama Sports Today
OXFORD – Oxford won for the 18thtime in 19 games and beat Alexandria for the second time in a week when the Jackets took down the Valley Cubs 63-49 Monday night.
“This team just keeps figuring out how to win games against teams with different styles,” Oxford coach Joel Van Meter said. “I don’t know what their record is (11-10) but those guys are tough. That match up with us in height, can shoot the 3-ball and are well coached.”
The Jackets (21-4) needed to pull away in the fourth quarter to beat the Valley Cubs in their Calhoun County Tournament opener last week. They won the tournament by beating Sacred Heart Saturday night.
Alexandria came out quickly on Joe Tucker’s 3-pointer and Julian Wright’s layup to grab a 5-0 lead. Oxford roared back with a myriad of dunks and 3-pointers to race out to a 26-16 lead midway through the second quarter.
Oxford junior center Zondrick Garrett was leading that charge until he picked up his second foul in the second quarter.
The Valley Cubs went inside and outside and score 13 straight to take a 29-26 lead. Kobe Warren scored five points in the last minute to rally Oxford to a 33-32 halftime lead.
Alexandria slowed things down in the third quarter and Tucker hit a pair of 3 pointers to tie the game at 45 entering the final quarter. Tucker buried five 3s in the game and ended up with 20 points. Freshman Wright held his own down low and ended up with 13 points.
Garrett and Rock Taylor took control in the fourth as they controlled the boards and had five and six points, respectively, as the Yellow Jackets pulled away.
“I have to give our guys credit,” VanMeter said. “They are responding to different challenges by some very good teams. They sort of figured things out in the third quarter and how to beat their defense.”
Garrett ended up with 16 points, 14 rebounds and seven blocked shots. Taylor had 11 points and eight rebounds. Mont McClendon had 10 points, while Eugene Leonard and Kobe Warren had nine each. Sophomore Justin Moore had eight points coming off the bench.
This story will be updated. To see photos from this game, visit www.bjfranklin.smugmug.com
Oxford 63, Alexandria 49
ALEXANDRIA – Adam Young 0 0-0 0, Julian Wright 6 1-2 13, Joe Tucker 7 1-2 20, Romeo Dye 3 0-0 8, Jared Ponder 0 2-2 2, Kahlil Francis 0 0-0 0, Jalen Borders 0 0-0 0, Jalen Borders 0 0-0 0, Landan Williams 3 0-0 6. Totals 19 4-6 49.
OXFORD – Rylan Houck 0 0-0 0, Zondrick Garrett 6 3-4 16, Eugene Leonard 2 5-5 9, Mont McClendon 4 0-0 10, Kobe Warren 3 1-2 9, Roc Taylor 5 1-1 11, Cordell Chatman 0 0-0 0, Justin Moore 4 0-0 8, Milas Jackson 0 0-0 0, Tranford 1 0-0 2. Totals 24 10-12 63.
Alexandria 14 18 13 4 – 49
Oxford 17 16 12 18 – 6
3-point goals: Alexandria 7 (Tucker 5, Dye 2); Oxford 5 (Garrett, McClendon 2, Warren 2). Technical fouls: Taylor. Total fouls: Alexandria 12, Oxford 13.
JCA 72, Valley Head 54
VALLEY HEAD – Kobe Messer was among three Thunder scorers in double figures and Chase Vinson scored a double-double as JCA (18-6) rolled.
Vinson had 23 points and 19 rebounds, while Messer scored 20 points and grabbed six boards. Brady Shadrix had 10 points and five of the Thunder’s 16 steals.
Jonathan Carter (8), Eli Fair (5), Nash Messer (5) and Tanner Wilson (1) completed the Thunder box score.
The Thunder have seven more victories than they had all of last season and with at least three more games to play have a shot a 20-win season.
Saks 84, Wellborn 36
Tyler Smith led four Saks scorers in double figures with 15 points. Kyle Goedde shad 14, while Daveon Dukes and Jordan Cosper each had 11. Smith, Dukes and Cosper scored six points apiece in the first quarter as the Wildcats opened a 22-4 lead. Goedde scored eight points in the second half. Six Saks players hit seven 3-pointers in the game.
Saks 84, Wellborn 36
SAKS – Tyler Smith 7 1-2 15, Zaejuan Johnson 0 0-0 0, Daveon Dukes 5 0-0 11, Conor Martin 4 0-0 9, Zay Elston 4 0-0 8, Benji Wilson 3 1-2 8, Kyle Goedde 7 0-2 14, Pat Williams 0 0-0 0, Jordan Cosper 2 5-6 11, Kamori Wilson-Hall 1 0-0 3, Miles McLaughlin 2 0-0 5. Totals 35 7-12 84.
WELLBORN – Khavion Wesley 6 6-9 19, Justin Berry 1 0-0 3, Max Searcy 1 1-3 3, Glenn Oliver 0 0-0 0, Austin Gamble 1 0-0 3, Tae Traylor 1 0-0 2, Rob Broom 0 4-5 4, Harley Kendall 1 0-0 2, Logan Grubbs 0 0-0 0. Totals 11 11-17 36.
Saks 22 28 21 13 – 84
Wellborn 4 10 17 5 – 36
3-point goals: Saks 7 (Dukes, Martin, Wilson, Cosper 2, Wilson-Hall, McLaughlin); Wellborn 3 (Wesley, Berry, Gamble). Total fouls: Saks 12, Wellborn 10.
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