Focusing on details
- Updated: February 15, 2021
Lady Dawgs continue to sharpen as they move through the postseason; Oxford (2005), Ohatchee (2010) back in Sweet 16 for the first time in a while
MONDAY’S SUBREGIONAL SCORES
Girls Games
Class 1A: Coosa Christian 64, Appalachian 42
Class 1A: Jefferson Christian 62, Ragland 57
Class 1A: TCC 31, Loachapoka 30
Class 1A: Winterboro 52, Notasulga 24
Class 2A: Ider at Spring Garden (Tues., noon)
Class 3A: Ohatchee 82, Saks 25
Class 3A: Childersburg 57, Piedmont 46
Class 3A: Hokes Bluff at Plainview (Tues., 5 p.m.)
Class 4A: Anniston 57, Cherokee County 42
Class 4A: Handley 57, Jacksonville 40
Class 5A: Ramsay 59, Alexandria 52
Class 5A: Talladega 49, Pike Road 42
Class 6A: Oxford 60, Shades Valley 38
By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
It was a good 45 minutes after the game was over and Anniston coach Eddie Bullock was still breaking down the game with his players.
But this time of year, where one bad game gets you done, it’s all about the details and when it comes to his basketball team Bullock is nothing if not about disciplineand details.
It was the discipline to run certain aspects of the game plan he was concerned about Monday after the Lady Bulldogs beat Cherokee County 57-42 in their Class 4A Northeast sub-region game.
“We had a game plan coming out against them,”” Bullock said. “I knew they could shoot the ball well and the game plan was to run them off the 3-point line and we didn’t do that. We didn’t run them off like we should have. We gave them four in a row (in the second quarter).
“That’s something we got to get better at. It’s part of being young and part of being undisciplined … We won and I’ll take that, but you know as well as I do you can’t win a state championship making mistakes like that. Had we made mistakes like that last year against Deshler, who had tremendous shooters, (they’d have lost) and the year before against Rogers we went home.”
It was a game that started early to beat the weather but after sitting through Bullock’s post-mortem the players never got out of the gym until what would have been the normal start of the boys games had there been one.
“It felt pretty normal,” Dudley said. “He talked about how good we did and also the mistakes we made. Even though we won we still made mistakes and that’s what he was trying to get us to understand.
“He wants us to be the best team as possible, so he really enforces defense and understanding why we do certain things on defense and understanding that at this point in time we’re one and done so we need to win every game to win the state championship.”
Things couldn’t have started worse for Cherokee County. The Lady Warriors (22-8) lost Mary Hayes Johnson, one of their quickest guards and leading scorers, on the first trip down the floor to an ankle injury. She never returned, but the Lady Warriors made so excuses and hung in there throughout the game.
But in the end, Anniston had too much inside and too much Dudley.
Dudley scored 32 points, scoring 14 in the first quarter and going 8-for-8 from the free throw line in the fourth, to lead Anniston. Barclay had nine points and 15 rebounds.
Losing Johnson was a big blow for the Lady Warriors. Despite the setback, they bounced back from two seven-point deficits to get within one late in the second quarter before Dudley hit a 3 in the closing seconds to make it a four-point game at halftime.
One of Karlee Perry’s four 3-pointers got Cherokee County within 30-26 early in the third quarter, then Anniston zipped off the next seven points – the last five by Dudley – and never led by less than four the rest of the game.
The Lady Warriors got within four again with 2:23 left in the third, but Bullock called time and the Lady Dawgs came out if with an 8-2 run, with Serena Hardy and Tiauna Thomas hitting 3-pointers.
“I’m extremely proud of the way our team came in here and fought,” Lady Warriors coach Leah Nelson said. “(Losing Johnson) was a huge blow to the team, but I feel like they stepped up. We have a lot of reason to make excuses, but this team has not made excuses all year. They are very competitive. They always fight to stay in the game.
“In the third quarter we lost a little bit of momentum and trying to get that back against a really good team is difficult. When you’re outmatched, we’re trying to do the best we can.”
Audrey Green led Cherokee County with 18 points. Perry finished with 12 on her 3-pointers.
The Lady Dawgs will now await either Priceville or North Jackson Thursday for its regional opener. They have won their last 10 postseason games in a row.
Anniston 57, Cherokee County 42
CHEROKEE COUNTY (22-8) – Mary Hayes Johnson 0 0-0 0, Audrey Green 7 1-3 18, Emily Allen 1 1-2 3, Carson Coley 1 0-0 2, Karlee Perry 4 0-0 12, Sidney Johnson 1 0-0 3, Ella Garmany 2 0-2 4, Grayson Tucker 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 4-7 42.
ANNISTON – Allasha Dudley 9 10-11 32, Alisia Person 1 0-0 2, Serena Hardy 3 2-2 8, Aaliyah Henson 0 0-0 0, Tiauna Thomas 2 0-0 5, Akayla Perry 0 0-0 0, Asia Barclay 4 1-2 9. Totals 19 13-15 57.
Cherokee County 9 14 10 9 – 42
Anniston 16 11 18 12 – 57
3-point goals: Cherokee County 6 (Green, Perry 4, S. Johnson); Anniston 6 (Dudley 4, Hardy, Thomas). Fouled out: S. Johnson. Total fouls: Cherokee County 15, Anniston 10.
Oxford 60, Shades Valley 38
OXFORD – Freshman Xai Whitfield erupted for 10 straight third-quarter points as part of a 14-0 run that advanced the Lady Jackets through the Class 6A subregionals.
The Lady Jackets (24-6) will travel to play the winner of the Cheslea-Jasper game in the Northeast Regional semifinals.
It was the Lady Jackets’ fourth straight win and sends them to their first regional appearance since 2005, when they lost to Benjamin Russell in the regional finals.
“It’s a huge deal because it goes to show how hard these girls have worked,” Oxford coach Melissa Bennett said. “I’m so proud of them and excited about the preparation to get ready for the next round.
“I told the girls that 2005 was so long ago, that was the year I graduated; I got a little laugh out of them for that. It stinks we have to go on the road to a regional site instead of getting to play at JSU; I hate that for the girls. Any team should get the experience of the Sweet 16 at a regional location.”
The Jackets’ last regional appearance was in the Southeast Regional. Their last trip to the Northeast Regional was 2002. They haven’t been in a regional final since 1996.
The Jackets struggled shooting the ball in the first half and led only 24-22 at halftime. But they broke out in the third quarter, outscoring their visitors 22-8.
”We could not buy a basket in the first half,” Bennett said, “but we got some nice steals in the second half and got some easy shots down. Shades Valley did not quit however as they out hustled us and battled all the way. They were a very fast basketball team and they could get up and down the court in a hurry.”
Whitfield ended the game with 15 points and eight rebounds.
“I was just trying to hustle and help my team,” said Whitfield.
Leah Taylor scored 15 points and grabbed five rebounds, and Lisa Montgomery finished with six points and eight boards.
It was a sloppy first quarter as the Yellow Jackets were swarming all over the Mounties, creating eight turnovers but there was a lid on the basket and the Jackets missed many close in shots. Montgomery had the big quarter for Oxford with six points and four rebounds. Whitfield had five points.
The sloppiness continued into the second quarter as Shades Valley turned it over six times and Oxford five. Skylar Stewart scored nine of the 12 Mounties points in the quarter. – Brant Locklier
Oxford 60, Shades Valley 38
SHADES VALLEY – Tamyiah Bankhead 3 0-0 7, Fatima Diallo 0 0-0 0, Ke’aira Hollingsworth 1 1-2 3, Kelsey Lawrence 4 5-7 13, Skyler Stuart 6 0-1 13, Miya Thomas 1 0-0 2. Totals 15 6-10 38.
OXFORD (24-6) – Justice Woods 3 2-3 8, Xai Whitfield 5 4-4 15, Lauren Ellard 0 0-0 0, Mya McGrue 1 1-2 3, Leah Taylor 4 5-5 15, Emma McCullough 1 0-0 2, Lisa Montgomery 2 2-2 6, Ashley Paulson 0 0-0 0, Chloe Hulsey 0 0-0 0, Keziah Mickler 0 0-1 0, Aniya Elston 0 0-0 0, Jamea Gaston 2 0-0 4, Mikiya Wilson 1 4-6 6. Totals 20 18-23 60.
Shades Valley 8 12 8 10 – 38
Oxford 12 12 22 14 – 60
3-point goals: Shades Valley 2 (Stuart, Bankhead); Oxford (Whitfield, Taylor). Fouled out: Stuart, Hollingsworth.
Ramsay 59, Alexandria 52
The Lady Cubs were as resilient as they’ve been all season, coming back from deficit and after deficit to eventually take the lead in the fourth quarter, but rebounding and turnovers down the stretch conspired against them in the end of their Class 5A subregional game.
Ramsay jumped out to a 15-4 lead, but the Lady Cubs roared back and retied it by the end of the quarter. The Lady Rams (18-13) went back up by eight in the second quarter, but Alexandria (16-11) cut the deficit in half by halftime.
It was a nine-point game with 2:15 left in the third, but the Lady Cubs stormed back and took their first (and only) lead of the game 48-46 on TyShica Woodgett’s put back with 3:56 to play.
“That just tells you about the character of our kids,” Alexandria coach Craig Kiker said. “They never got down. I don’t know if we’ve played a much better game than that as far as resilience. It seemed like we would get down and come back every time.”
“We were just fighting as hard as we could trying to win it,” leading scorer Ashley Phillips said.
Ramsay answered with a bucket to retie the game, then took the lead for good when Tahli King went over the Lady Cubs on a missed free throw and put it back in to make it 50-48. King had 14 rebounds in the game despite early foul trouble.
“Offensive rebounds and turnovers were the story of the game for us, which when we get beat is normally the case,” Kiker said.
Jaleigh Miller blocked Jordyn Walker’s jumper moments later and Makayla Lumpkin turned it into a 3-pointer hit a 3-pointer to put the visitors up 53-48 with 1:52 to play.
The Lady Cubs got it back within three after two Phillips free throws and had a bunch of fouls still to give to force the Lady Rams to inbounds the ball, but got no closer.
Phillips finished with 25 points. She was 12-for-12 from the free throw line in the game, 28-for-33 in Alexandria’s three postseason games. Walker had 12 points and six rebounds.
“I thought Jordyn played really well; this was a really good game for her,” Kiker said. “And Ashley just did what she’s been doing all year.” – Al Muskewitz
Ramsay 59, Alexandria 52
RAMSAY (18-13) – Kennedi Wagner 3 0-0 8, Makayla Lumpkin 6 2-3 16, Brittany Chavez 5 2-2 14, Keilley Brown 4 0-0 8. Jaleigh Miller 0 0-2 0, Tahli King 2 2-2 6, Faith Reynolds 0 0-0 0, Janiya Rutledge 1 0-0 2, Kamiya Manyama 0 0-0 0, Sydnei Clemons 0 0-0 0, Nalah Gooden 2 1-2 5. Totals 23 7-11 59.
ALEXANDRIA (16-11) – Ashley Phillips 6 12-12 25, Jordyn Walker 4 4-4 12, Jill Cockrell 2 1-2 6,Kirsten Heathcock 0 0-0 0, Sarah Pelham 2 0-0 5, TyShica Woodgett 1 2-4 6. Totals 15 19-22 52.
Ramsay 15 15 14 15 – 59
Alexandria 15 11 10 16 – 52
3-point goals: Ramsay 6 (Wagner 2, Lumpkin 2, Chavez 2); Alexandria 3 (Phillips, Cockrell, Pelham). Total fouls: Ramsay 19, Alexandria 13. Officials: Calkins, Batey, Railey.
Ohatchee 82, Saks 25
OHATCHEE – Every time the Lady Indians have stepped on the floor in this postseason it seems they’ve made some kind of history.
Jorda Crook scored 19 points in a 30-point first quarter and finished with 32 in the game to send the Lady Indians to the Northeast Regionals for the first time since 2010. The win snapped a three-game sub-regional losing streak (2020, 2019, 2016)
The last time the Lady Indians made it to the regionals they beat Thorsby in the subregional before falling in the Sweet 16 to North Sand Mountain.
They’ll play either Collinsville or Sylvania Thursday for a chance to play for their first regional championship at Jacksonville State.
“This is a great group of kids who deserve this,” Ohatchee coach Bryant Ginn said. “They have worked hard for years and it’s paying off. I couldn’t be happier for them.”
Behind Crook’s fast start, Ohatchee roared to a 54-20 halftime lead and then held Saks scoreless in the third quarter.
Ohatchee 82, Saks 25
SAKS – Alicia Gooden 0 0-0 0, Keilynn Williams 2 0-0 5, Matasia Truss 1 0-0 3, Kayleigh Thomas 2 3-4 7, Miracle Bass 5 0-0 10, Kendale Welch 0 0-0 0, Camrie Denham 0 0-0 0. Totals 10 3-4 25.
OHATCHEE – Gracyn Snow 2 2-4 6, Lyda Elders 1 0-0 3, Rachel Dunaway 4 0-0 9, Tori Vice 5 0-0 11, Whitney McFry 2 0-0 4, Morgan Foushee 1 0-0 2, Gracie George 1 2-4 4, Millie Rainwater 0 0-0 0, Jorda Crook 15 2-5 32, Mia Waters 2 1-2 5, Laci Teem 1 0-0 2, Alyssa Davis 2 0-0 4. Totals 36 7-15 82.
Saks 13 7 0 5 – 25
Ohatchee 30 24 15 13 – 82
3-point goals: Saks 2 (Williams, Truss); Ohatchee 3 (Elders, Dunaway, Vice). Total fouls: Saks 11, Ohatchee 8. Officials: Graves, Tinsley, Ingram.
Handley 57, Jacksonville 40
JACKSONVILLE – The Golden Eagles picked the wrong time to go cold.
Jacksonville shot 26 percent from the floor in their Class 4A subregional game and was just 2-of-21 from 3-point range. Handley, meanwhile, shot 50 percent as a team.
Grant Rittenhouse and Teanna Watts led the Lady Tigers with 14 points apiece. They were a combined 13-of-21 from the floor, with Rittenhouse going 7-for-9.
Amiyah Buchanan led Jacksonville with 13 points, eight rebounds and six blocked shots.
Handley 57, Jacksonville 40
HANDLEY (21-11) – Grace Rittenhouse 7-9 0-0 14, Teanna Watts 6-12 2-2 14, Jamiya Heard 2-2 4-6 8, Ariana Kyles 3-8 1-2 7, Takeriauna Mosley 1-2 2-3 5, Emelia Askew 2-9 0-3 4, Zanautika Smith 1-1 0-0 3, Shaniah Allen 1-2 0-0 2, Jayla Trammell 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 23-46 9-16 57.
JACKSONVILLE (17-6) – Amiyah Buchanan 5-6 3-3 13, Amarie Curry 3-6 4-6 10, Kayla Broom 2-9 3-6 7, Patience Carr 2-5 0-0 5, Rebekah Gannaway 1-9 0-0 3, Maggie Anderson 1-10 0-0 2, Ashley Grant 0-7 0-0 0.Totals 14-52 10-15 40.
Handley 15 18 12 12 – 57
Jacksonville 7 10 10 13 – 40
3-point goals: Handley 2-3 (Watts 0-1, Mosley 1-1, Smith 1-1); Jacksonville 2-21 (Broom 0-2, Carr 1-1, Gannaway 1-7, Anderson 0-7, Grant 0-4). Rebounds: Handley 33 (Kyles 6); Jacksonville 39 (Buchanan 8, Broom 7). Fouled out: Carr. Total fouls: Handley 15, Jacksonville 15.
Childersburg 57, Piedmont 46
CHILDERSBURG – Piedmont had its Class 3A subregion game moved up a few hours to beat traveling in bad weather, but when they arrived it took the Lady Bulldogs a little while to get back on schedule.
The teams played it close in the first quarter, but Childersburg outscored the Lady Bulldogs 30-17 over the middle two quarters to take control.
The Lady Tigers hit six 3-pointers in the first half to open a 28-19 halftime lead. Kamareona Simmons and Rakiya Spell scored 16 points each in the game and combined for 20 in the second half.
The Lady Bulldogs (11-14) made a run in the fourth quarter with LeLe Ridley hitting three 3-pointers and scoring 11 and Ava Pope going 7-of-8 from the free throw line. Ridley finished with 14 points and Pope finished with 10.
Ridley had 13 rebounds and Pope had six steals. Armoni Perry had eight points and eight rebounds. Emily Farmer scored three points, but had seven rebounds.
Childersburg 57, Piedmont 46
PIEDMONT (11-14) – Ava Pope 1 7-8 10, Jaycee Glover 2 0-0 5, LeLe Ridley 5 1-4 14, Cayla Brothers 0 0-0 0, Armoni Perry 3 1-4 8, Gracie Naugher 0 0-0 0, Z’Hayla Walker 2 2-3 6, Emily Farmer 1 0-0 3. Totals 14 11-17 46.
CHILDERSBURG – Kamareona Simmons 5 5-12 16, Rakiya Spell 6 2-4 16, Shakira Harrison 2 0-0 5, Jada Swain 3 7-8 15, Morgan Townsend 2 0-0 5, Mikayla Wells 0 0-0 0, Lakenya Swain 0 0-2 0. Totals 18 14-26 57.
Piedmont 9 10 7 20 – 46
Childersburg 11 18 12 16 – 57
3-point goals: Piedmont 7 (Pope, Glover, Ridley 3, Perry, Farmer); Childersburg 7 (Simmons, Spell 2, Harrison, J. Swain 2, Townsend). Fouled out: J. Swain. Total fouls: Piedmont 15, Childersburg 14. Officials: Caldwell, Smith, Askew.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login