Tigers back on top
- Updated: January 25, 2020
Talladega starts fast, withstands two threats and pulls away for 12th County Tournament title under Miller
By East Alabama Sports Today
SYLACAUGA – The Talladega players remember the feeling of watching Sylacauga celebrate winning the county tournament with a last-minute win last year. This year, they were the ones doing the celebrating, this time on Sylacauga’s floor.
The Tigers got off to a fast start, withstood two challenges and were perfect from the foul line in the fourth quarter to beat the Aggies 79-68 for their 12th Talladega County Tournament title in coach Chucky Miller’s 20 seasons and fourth in the last five years.
The Tigers scored the first nine points of the game and opened a 20-5 lead inn the first quarter, which was plenty even though the Aggies outscored them over the lsat three quarters. They sealed it by going 12-for-12 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter.
“We set a good tone in the first quarter and played off that the rest of the night,” Miller said. “We’ve done that a couple times. What we’ve found out this year is everybody is so up to play us they treat it like the seventh game of the NBA Finals. We’re getting better coming out and playing (from the start) and not just feeling out the game.”
Kobe Simmons and D’Corian Wilson led the Tigers with 20 and 19, points respective. Simmons also had 12 rebounds, while Wilson had eight rebounds, three blocked shots and went 8-for-8 from the line in the fourth quarter. Wilson was named the tournament’s offensive MVP. Sylacauga’s Shannon Grant was the defensive MVP. Lincoln’s Javion Surles was also recognized.
“My goodness, Kobe Simmons had three dominating performances all three games; both of them could easily have had 40 (Friday) night,” Miller said. “It’s a shame they don’t have an offensive and total MVP because Kobe Simmons should be getting something.”
The Tigers had to weather two storms in the middle two quarters. They went up as much as a 30-10 midway through the second quarter, but the Aggies got within seven with 50 seconds left in the half. The Tigers scored the last five points to take a 40-28 halftime lead.
They went up 16 with three minutes left in the third quarter, but the Aggies rallied again, cutting it back six on Crews Proctor’s 3-pointer with 1:52 left in the quarter. This time the Tigers scored the last four points of the quarter to carry a 10-point lead into the fourth.
Nigel Scales scored 14 points, dished six assists and had three steals. Arron Green had nine points and four rebounds and Rontavious Barclay had eight points. Proctor led Sylacauga with 19 points. Grant had 17, Genesis Kendrick 11 and Chris Twymon 10.
“It was just a team effort,” Miller said. “They wanted to bring the trophy back home.”
BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Talladega 79, Sylacauga 68
SYLACAUGA – Genesis Kendrick 4 0-0 11, Maleek Pope 0 0-0 0, Crews Proctor 7 3-4 19, Gabe Cox 0 0-0 0, Desmond Armour 0 0-0 0, Caderous Hall 1 0-0 2, Shannon Grant 6 3-8 17, Caleb Burns 0 0-0 0, Keindre Pearson 0 0-0 0, Shindereous Garrett 2 0-0 6, Chris Twymon 3 4-7 10, Lakeston Williams 1 0-0 3. Totals 24 10-19 68.
TALLADEGA – Nigel Seals 4 4-4 14, Jay Spratling 0 0-0 0, Arron Green 2 3-4 9, Michael McGregor 2 0-2 4, Rontavious Barclay 4 0-0 8, D’Corian Wilson 5 8-8 19, Raderius Montgomery 1 0-0 2, Kobe Simmons 8 3-4 20, Keontae Funderburg 1 2-2 4. Totals 27 20-24 79.
Sylacauga 7 21 17 23 – 68
Talladega 22 18 15 24 – 79
3-point goals: Sylacauga 10 (Kendrick 3, Proctor 2, Grant 2, Garrett 2, Williams); Talladega 5 (Scales 2, Green, Wilson, Simmons). Fouled out: Proctor. Total fouls: Sylacauga 18, Talladega 17. Officials: Estes, Howell, Bretnar.
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