Lady Cubs open up
- Updated: January 17, 2022
Alexandria girls play ‘like we’re supposed to’ early on, rout Saks in County Tournament opener
CALHOUN COUNTY BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
GIRLS BRACKET
Monday’s Games
Alexandria 47, Saks 10
White Plains 42, Piedmont 36 (OT)
Tuesday’s Games
No. 1 Oxford vs. Pleasant Valley, 3 p.m.
No. 2 Anniston vs. Jacksonville, , 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 19
No. 4 Ohatchee vs. Alexandria, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 20
Semifinals, 3 p.m.
Semfinals, 6 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 21
Championship game, 6 p.m.
By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
JACKSONVILLE – Alexandria came out in its Calhoun County Tournament opener Monday and played like “we were supposed to play,” and that made coach Craig Kiker happy.
The Lady Cubs scored the first 10 points of the game, held Saks to three points in the first half and rolled to a 47-10 victory. They led 16-3 after the first quarter and 33-3 at halftime.
They haven’t played like that lately, so and it was good to see the turnaround.
“It’s good to get to play a game in here and gain some confidence; that’s kind of where we were,” Kiker said. “We wanted to have a lot of confidence playing in this gym and I thought we did that.
“We came out and played like we were supposed to play early on, which was good because we haven’t done that the last few games; that was a good feeling, too.”
Ashley Phillips led the Lady Cubs with 13 points. Jordyn Walker scored 11. They combined for 10 points in the first quarter.
Phillips has scored 74 points in her last four County Tournament games, including last year’s tourney-opener exhibition created by a first-round COVID forfeit.
“It seems like she’s been playing since I’ve been coaching,” Kiker said of his senior guard. “She just has that experience. I think she’s one of the better guards in the county this year. I don’t know if the stat sheet showed it today or not, but she’s a heck of a player. She knows what we’re trying to do and knows what to tell people where to be. She’s just very valuable to have on the floor.”
The Lady Cubs draw a popular county tournament opponent in the next round, Ohatchee, Wednesday at 6 p.m. It’ll be a classic size vs. speed matchup with Alexandria’s Phillips and Walker vs. Ohatchee’s Jorda Crook and Gracie George.
The teams didn’t play last year in the tournament, but they did meet in 2019 and 2020.
“I think we’ve played Ohatchee about every year in the County Tournament; it’s always a battle,” Kiker said. “It ought to be two different (styles) going on, but it’ll be a battle.”
Alexandria 47, Saks 10
SAKS – Alayzia Neal 0 0-0 0, Keilynn Williams 1 0-0 3, Kendale Welch 0 0-0 0, Sania Angel 1 0-0 3, Kayleigh Thomas 2 0-2 4, Kennedy Robinson 0 0-0 0, Trenzly Bolding 0 0-0 0, Alonna Crews 0 0-2 0. Totals 4 0-4 10.
ALEXANDRIA – Ashley Phillips 4 5-6 13, Jordyn Walker 4 2-2 11, Kirsten Heathcock 1 0-0 2, Jill Cockrell 1 3-4 6, Charlee Parris 2 0-3 4, Kailey Dickerson 0 0-0 0, Sumira Duncan 3 1-3 7, Chloe Gattis 2 0-0 5. Totals 17 11-18 47.
Saks 3 0 2 5 – 10
Alexandria 16 17 9 5 – 47
3-point goals: Saks 2 (Williams, Angel); Alexandria 3 (Walker, Cockrell, Gattis). Fouled out: Thomas. Total fouls: Saks 16. Alexandria 6. Officials: Corley, Corley, Madsen.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login