Defensive turf war
- Updated: December 9, 2022
Friday basketball: Oxford, Carrollton put up strong defensive fronts in Davidson Classic; Weaver snaps losing streak; includes scores, highlights from Friday night’s high school basketball schedule in and around Calhoun County
BOYS GAMES
Alexandria 63, Lincoln 55
Anniston 46, Talladega 44
Cedar Bluff 65, Jacksonville Christian 49
Cleburne County 44, Munford 42 (OT)
Jacksonville 80, Cherokee County 49
Ohatchee 49, Wellborn 35
Piedmont 71, Albertville 65
Sand Rock 90, Fyffe 80
Spring Garden 64, Gaylesville 22
Sylacauga 71, Clay Central 66
Weaver 64, Ashville 53
Westbrook Christian 47, Hokes Bluff 45
White Plains 65, Saks 39
Winterboro 74, Talladega Co. Central 53
Larry & Connie Davidson Classic, Oxford
Northgate vs. Central-Phenix City
Carrollton (Ga.) 48, Oxford 42
GIRLS GAMES
Alexandria 58, Lincoln 30
Cherokee County 61, Jacksonville 21
Cleburne County at Munford
Jacksonville Christian 75, Cedar Bluff 55
Ohatchee 57, Wellborn 16
Sand Rock 54, Fyffe 44
Spring Garden 101, Gaylesville 11
Talladega at Anniston
Weaver at Ashville
White Plains 60, Saks 32
Winterboro 53, Talladega Co. Central 38
By Mark Everett Kelly
For East Alabama Sports Today
OXFORD – After starting their 2022 basketball schedule with six games away from home, the Oxford Yellow Jackets hoped to find their mojo by hosting out-of-state Carrollton, (Ga.) on the second night of the Larry & Connie Davidson Classic Friday.
Both teams pride themselves on defensive intensity as they combined to hold opponents under 60 points in seven of their 13 combined games this season. It was more of the same Friday, as the Trojans prevailed 48-42.
“Defense is what we hang our hat on,” echoed Trojans head coach Don Bray.
This was not a game; it was a battle of defensive wills. Which team would break first? Oxford’s defensive intensity forced nine turnovers in the first half, holding Carrollton to 36 percent shooting overall and 1-for-10 from beyond the arc.
Despite eight combined turnovers in the first quarter, each team scored 14 points. Both teams scored nine points in each of the next two quarters on a combined 25 percent from the field (9-of-36) to remain tied.
“You come across this Alabama line, and it’s like a turf war,” Bray said. “Both teams played hard and showed a lot of heart.”
O’Brien Watkins, the leading scorer at the half with 12 points, took the game over in the second half. The Carrollton junior led all scorers with 25 points, including eight in the fourth quarter when the Trojans pulled away from a 32-32 tie. He was 6-for-6 from the free throw line in the quarter.
“I feel like if I try to get my teammates involved, it opens up the game for me,” Watkins said.
While Carrollton thrived from the free-throw line in the final quarter (10-for-10), the Yellow Jackets struggled, making four of nine attempts. That was the margin of victory. Oxford’s youth manifested itself in the second half, matching Carrollton’s first-half turnover total with nine.
“We’ve got to be a lot better offensively,” Oxford coach Joel VanMeter said. “It’s not about making shots; we turn the ball over way too much, and we don’t make the right play, but we are young and learning.”
T.J. Allen led Oxford with 13 points. Brock Reaves, who led the Jackets with 10 points at the half, did not score in the second half. Oxford’s performance beyond the arc in the second half (4-of-10) hid its inability to make shots inside the arc (0-fpr-5 in the second half). The Jackets were 8-of-20 from 3-point range in the game.
CARROLLTON – O’Brien Watkins 25, Cameron Merritt 9, Austin Waters 4, Eli Pippins 5, Peyton Waters 5. Totals 13-30 15-20 48.
OXFORD – T.J. Allen 13, Brock Reaves 10, Jayden Lewis 6, Caleb Sanders 6, Jaylen Alexander 4, Marcus Perry 3. Totals 13-35 7-15 42.
Carrollton 14 9 9 16 – 48
Oxford 14 9 9 10 – 42
3-point goals: Carrollton 1-14, Oxford 8-20.
PIEDMONT 71, ALBERTVILLE 65: Alex Odam scored 31 points and came within one rebound of a quadruple-double to lead the Bulldogs. He also had 10 assists and 10 steals for his second triple-double in three games.
Rollie Pinto (16), Ish Bethel (11) and Cole Wilson (11) also scored in double figures for Piedmont. They combined for all 10 of the Bulldogs’ 3-pointers – eight in the first half.
Piedmont took the game last-minute after Fort Payne told Albertville it wasn’t playing the return game over fears of retaliation after an in-game incident between the teams earlier in the week.
PIEDMONT – Alex Odam 11 9-13 31, Rollie Pinto 5 2-2 16, Ish Bethel 4 0-1 11, Colton Proctor 0 0-0 0, Rhett Alford 0 0-1 0, Luke Rhinehart 1 0-0 2, Trevor Pike 0 0-0 0, Cole Wilson 4 0-0 11. Totals 25 11-17 71.
ALBERTVILLE – Keandre Yancey 5 0-3 11, Emmanuel Hardaway 2 2-2 6, Sam Barclift 6 2-2 17, Hayden Peek 4 2-4 11, Hunter Smith 0 0-0 0, Tyler Snider 0 0-0 0, Jakob Duquette 0 0-0 0, Conner Lowrey 1 0-0 2, Cooper Colvin 2 0-1 5, Reed Kitchens 0 0-0 0, Tillman Plunkett 1 0-1 2, John Wesley Seay 3 3-3 11. Totals 24 9-16 65
Piedmont 18 20 17 16 – 71
Albertville 14 18 17 16 – 65
3-point goals: Piedmont 10 (Pinto 4, Bethel 3, Wilson 3); Albertville 8 (Yancey, Barclift 3, Peek, Colvin, Seay 2). Technical fouls: A. Odam, Piedmont coach Odam. Total fouls: Piedmont 19, Albertville 19. Officials: Moon, Armstrong, Scott.
WEAVER 64, ASHVILLE 53: When Tristan Brown and Armane Burton are scoring together, Weaver has the chance of things going its way. When they get a third piece in the mix, they’re almost a lock.
Tristan Brown scored 23 points, Armane Burton had 20 and Dawson Brooks threw in 14 to help the Bearcats snap a nine-game losing streak.
WEAVER – Tristan Brown 10 0-0 23, Elijah Smith 0 0-0 0, Jeffrey Miles 3 0-0 7, Dawson Brooks 6 0-1 14, Williams 0 0-0 0, Armane Burton 9 2-2 20. Totals 28 2-3 64.
ASHVILLE – Walker Griffith 3 0-0 7, Jrey Colley 0 0-2 0, Ryan Harris 2 1-2 5, John Potter 11 0-0 24, Dalton Rice-Thompson 3 0-0 7, Parker Smith 1 0-0 2, Nate Huckbay 0 0-0 0, Dickinson 2 1-2 6, Austin Dickey 1 0-0 2. Totals 23 2-6 53.
Weaver 22 16 13 13 – 64
Ashville 15 14 10 14 – 53
3-point goals: Weaver 6 (Brown, 3 Miles, Brooks 2); Ashville 5 (Griffith, Potter 2, Thompson, Dickinson). Total fouls: Weaver 9, Ashville 6. Officials: Batey, Bearden, Ratliff.
JACKSONVILLE 80, CHEROKEE COUNTY 49: John Broom and Caden Johnson outscored the Warriors by themselves and Cam Johnson threw in another 18 points for good measure. Broom hit 10 of 18 shots from the field en route to a game-high 28 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots. Caden Johnson scored 23 points.
JACKSONVILLE – John Broom 10-18 6-6 28, Caden Johnson 9-15 5-5 23, Cam Johnson 8-14 1-3 18, Jaquan Ervin 2-4 0-0 6, Jaleik Long 1-5 1-4 3, Ethan Duke 1-3 0-0 2, Dee Prothro 0-1 0-0 0, Kyrdric Fisher 0-3 0-0 0, Imoree Young 0-2 0-0 0, DaMonte Sinclair 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 31-65 13-18 80.
CHEROKEE COUNTY – Landon Caldwell 9-18 0-1 18, Jaden Wilson 4-6 3-6 11, Malachi Horton 2-10 2-6 7, Cade Hopper 2-4 0-0 6, Jackson Amos 1-5 0-0 2, Jackson Neyman 1-3 0-0 2, Eli Martin 1-2 0-0 2, Niam Dobbins 0-1 1-7 1. Totals 20-49 6-20 49.
Jacksonville 11 26 22 21 – 80
Cherokee County 16 6 9 18 – 49
3-point goals: Jacksonville 5-16 (Broom 2-5, Cd. Johnson 0-2, Cm. Johnson 1-3, Ervin 2-2, Long 0-3, Fisher 0-1); Cherokee County 3-10 (Caldwell 0-1, Horton 1-1, Hopper 2-4, Amos 0-4). Rebounds: Jacksonville 48 (Broom 9, Cm. Johnson 8, Dee Prothro 7); Cherokee County 31 (Caldwell 8, Horton 6). Total fouls: Jacksonville 15, Cherokee County 11.
WHITE PLAINS 65, SAKS 39: Carter Johnson scored a team high 18 points and all nine White Plains players who got in the game scored. Five of them made at least one 3-pointer. Anthony Bothwell led Saks with 18 points with four 3s.
WHITE PLAINS – Paul Laube 3 3-4 11, Silas Hines 2 0-0 4, Josh Wheeler 4 0-1 11, Coleman Ray 1 1-2 4, Cam Almon 1 0-0 2, Daniel Williams 1 0-0 2, Collin Spivey 2 0-0 5, Luke Bussey 4 0-0 10, Carter Johnson 8 0-0 16. Totals 26 4-7 65.
SAKS – Jakari Streeter 0 0-0 0, Christian Smith 4 6-7 14, Darrien Walker 1 0-1 3, Anthony Bothwell 6 2-5 18, Dee Elston 0 0-0 0, Keondre Johnson 2 0-1 4. Totals 13 8-14 39.
White Plains 19 12 21 13 – 65
Saks 3 11 10 15 – 39
3-point goals: White Plains 9 (Laube 2, Wheeler 3, Ray, Spivey, Bussey 2); Saks 5 (Walker, Bothwell 4). Total fouls: White Plains 14, Saks 10. Officials: Hall, Allen, Fletcher.
OHATCHEE 49, WELLBORN 35
OHATCHEE – Eli Teem 0 0-2 0, Jake Roberts 5 1-2 11, Jesse Baswell 2 0-1 4, Alston Carroll 0 2-3 2, Colby Hester 1 3-6 5, Jake Roberson 1 1-2 4, Ethan Blackburn 1 0-0 3, Nate Dover 1 0-0 2, Luke Vinson 2 0-0 4, Kelbe Crook 3 6-12 12, Galen Lower 0 2-2 2. Totals 16 15-30 49.
WELLBORN – Conner Woodard 0 0-0 0, Xavier Parker 0 0-0 0, Avery Odom 3 4-4 10, Carlos Hubbard 1 3-4 5, Jesse Lewis 0 0-2 0, Jay’lon Gilbert 0 0-0 0, Ollie Boot 2 4-8 8, Raymond Williams 0 0-0 0, Ethan Tidwell 5 0-0 11, Jackson Long 0 1-2 1, Trey Downs 0 0-0 0. Totals 11 12-20 35.
Ohatchee 13 9 11 16 – 49
Wellborn 7 13 9 6 – 35
3-point goals: Ohatchee 2 (Roberson, Blackburn); Wellborn 1 (Tidwell). Technical fouls: Downs, Fouled out: Long, Odom. Total fouls: Ohatchee 18, Wellborn 25. Officials: Pratt, Mallicoat, Royster.
CLEBURNE COUNTY 44, MUNFORD 42 (OT): Dawson Haynes went 6-for-7 from the free throw line in overtime, including two with three seconds to play, to lift Cleburne County over the Lions.
The winning sequence began after Munford turned it over with 20 seconds left and the game tied. The Tigers called time to set up the final play. The ball went to Haynes, who missed a shot in the paint but was fouled and made the two decisive free throws. He scored all nine of their points in overtime.
The Tigers trailed by 12 entering the fourth quarter, but Jackson Miller hit nine of his 12 points in it to help bring them back.
CLEBURNE COUNTY – Jacob Cavendar 0 0-0 0, Dawson Haynes 4 8-14 17, Jackson Miller 3 3-4 12, RicoH uguley 1 0-0 2, James Cotton 0 0-0 0, Nathan Adams 2 1-2 5, Jake Littleton 1 0-4 2, Greyson Freeman 3 0-2 6. Totals 14 12-26 44
MUNFORD – Demetrius Norwood 3 3-6 9, Keyshawn Castleberry 1 0-1 2, Tanner Smith 0 0-1 0, Alex Petty 0 2-4, Lathan Stephens 3 4-8 10, B.J. Anderson 2 2-7 6, Austin Wynn 0-2 2, Kelby Tucker 1 0-1 2, Javion White 5 1-3 11. Totals 14 12-33 42.
Cleburne County 4 3 9 19 9 – 44
Munford 11 6 11 7 7 – 42
3-point goals: Cleburne Co. 4 (Miller 3, Haynes). Fouled out: Miller. Total fouls: Cleburne Co. 25, Munford 21. Officials: Jackson, McClung, Daniel.
ANNISTON 46, TALLADEGA 44: Games in this series are always a battle and Anniston pulled out their third close game this week. The Bulldogs have won now six in a row – over the last eight days.
Girls games
JACKSONVILLE CHRISTIAN 75, CEDAR BLUFF 55: Kara Grace scored 22 points and grabbed 16 rebounds and Erin Prater had 23 points and seven steals as the Lady Thunder improved to 5-3 under acting coach Cindy Fair. Fair has been directing the team while head coach Katy Bryant is on maternity leave. Bryant brought a son Kase into the world Thursday and is back home resting comfortably. The timetable for her to return to the team has not been determined.
“She is doing great right now,” said Fair, in her second winning stint as the girls’ acting coach. “I won’t be surprised anytime she pops back in.”
CEDAR BLUFF – Kylie Vadon 4 0-0 8, Hayden Cannon 2 1-1 5, Caley Bruce 7 3-12 17, Kija Green 0 0-0 0, Zaiviya Kyle 6 3-5 15, Ciara Smith 0 0-0 0, Anslee Evans 1 0-0 2, Kindal Grace 3 0-0 6, Rylie Wallace 1 0-0 3. Totals 24 7-18 55.
JACKSONVILLE CHRISTIAN – Katie Beth Hudson 3 3-4 9, Addy Lee 0 4-5 4, Rebekah Carter 2 5-6 9, Erin Prater 8 0-2 23, Kara Grace 10 2-4 22, Kirsten Walker 2 1-2 6, Peyton Walker 1 1-1 3. Totals 26 16-24 75.
Cedar Bluff 15 10 19 11 – 55
JCA 10 27 17 21 – 75
3-point goals: Cedar Bluff 1 (Wallace); JCA 7 (Carter, Prater 5, K. Walker). Fouled out: Bruce. Total fouls: Cedar Bluff 21, JCA 17. Officials: Merritt, Hanson, Warren.
WHITE PLAINS 60, SAKS 32
WHITE PLAINS – Cooper Martin 4 0-0 12, Isabella Higgins 7 0-2 14, Abbie Dickeson 0 0-0 0, Anna Fouche 0 0-0 0, Hallie Williams 3 0-0 8, Addison Bradley 4 2-5 10, Chloee Cromer 1 0-0 2, Braeton Moran 1 0-1 2, Kylee Provencio 0 0-0 0, Cassidy Arnold 5 0-0 12. Totals 25 2-8 60.
SAKS – Alonna Crews 6 0-0 15, Sania Angel 4 0-0 8, Madison Turner 2 0-2 4, Alayah Christopher 0 0-0 0, Camrie Denham 1 2-2 5, Jada Foster 0 0-0 0. Totals 13 2-4 32.
White Plains 22 13 17 8 – 60
Saks 5 8 8 11 – 32
3-point goals: White Plains 8 (Martin 4, Williams 2, Arnold 2); Saks 4 (Crews 3, Denham).
Fouled out: Turner. Total fouls: White Plains 6, Saks 11. Officials: Hall, Fletcher, Jeron.
CHEROKEE COUNTY 61, JACKSONVILLE 21
JACKSONVILLE – Mya Swain 2-5 2-5 7, Alexis Phillips 2-8 1-2 5, Dee Prothro 1-3 3-5 5, Ontarriah Braxton 0-8 4-6 4, Halaina Lozano 0-5 0-0 0, Ashley Grant 0-0 0-0 0, Olivia Rowan 0-0 0-0 0, Rachel Sanders 0-2 0-0 0, Camryn Stone 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 5-31 10-18 21.
CHEROKEE COUNTY – Mary Hayes Johnson 7-9 0-0 14, Audrey Haygood 4-11 0-0 12, Elle Garmany 4-7 0-0 10, Nevaeh Gaidurgis 4-6 0-2 8, Ellisan Givens 3-3 0-0 6, Raechel Russell 2-8 0-0 6, Libby Curry 1-2 0-0 3, Grayson Tucker 1-6 0-0 2, Deannia Starr 0-1 0-0 0, Hannah Moseley 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 26-53 0-2 61.
Jacksonville 9 6 4 2 – 21
Cherokee County 19 10 18 14 – 61
3-point goals: Jacksonville 1-11 (Swain 1-3, Phillips 0-1, Braxton 0-2, Lozano 0-4, Sanders 0-1); Cherokee County 9-23 (Johnson 0-2, Haygood 4-8, Garmany 2-2, Gaidurgis 4-6 0-2 8, Elisan Givens 3-3 0-0 6, Raechel Russell 2-8 0-0 6, Libby Curry 1-2 0-0 3, Grayson Tucker 1-5 0-0 2, Deannia Starr 0-1 0-0 0, Hannah Moseley 0-1 0-0 0. Rebounds: Jacksonville 28 (Phillips 7, Swain 6); Cherokee County 33 (Johnson 5, Garmany 5, Gaidurgis 5, Tucker 5). Total fouls: Jacksonville 6, Cherokee County 11.
OHATCHEE 57, WELLBORN 16
OHATCHEE – Tabi Davidson 2 2-5 7, Whitney McFry 0 3-4 3, Mia Waters 0 0-0 0, Greenlee Orman 0 0-2 0, Priesly Davis 0 0-0 0, Kiana Garber 2 2-4 7, Jorda Crook 10 4-4 24, Lindsey Zurchin 3 0-0 9, Alyssa Davis 3 1-2 7. Totals 20 12-21 57.
WELLBORN – Braelyn Bean 0 0-0 0, Anna Odom 2 1-2 5, Mikayla Williams 1 0-0 2, Taniya Traylor 1 0-0 2, Bentley Rae Bean 0 0-0 0, Calla Hayes 2 0-0 4, Immarieen Singleton 0 1-2 1, Brooklyn Singleton 0 2-2 2, Layla Amberson 0 0-0 0, Hanna Grubbs 0 0-0 0, Molly Junior 0 0-0 0. Totals 6 4-6 16.
Ohatchee 24 18 11 4 – 57
Wellborn 7 4 2 3 – 16
3-point goals: Ohatchee 5 (Davidson, Garber, Zurchin 3). Total fouls: Ohatchee 9, Wellborn 22. Officials: Mallicoat, Pratt, Royster.
SPRING GARDEN 101, GAYLESVILLE 11: The Lady Panthers dominated another opponent, placing five scorers in double figures. Olivia Law led the offense with 19 points. Ace Austin had 18 points, eight assists and six steals.
The 74 points the Lady Panthers scored in the first half was the fourth-highest total in AHSAA history. The starters were pulled in the second quarter and the entire second half was played with a six-minute running clock.
Spring Garden 40 34 14 13 – 101
Gaylesville 2 6 1 2 – 11
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