Crews control
- Updated: February 7, 2023
Saks sophomore follows coach’s command to ‘take over’ game, helps Wildcats overcome Weaver in area-tournament opener
CLASS 3A AREA 11 TOURNAMENT
At Piedmont
Girls Games
Saks 50, Weaver 45
Piedmont 46, Wellborn 22
Thursday’s Game
Championship, Saks vs. Piedmont, 5:30 p.m.
By Joe Medley
East Alabama Sports Today
PIEDMONT — Lamar Bradford pulled Alonna Crews to the side during Saks’ win-or-go-home area opener against Weaver on Tuesday and delivered those words every player wants to hear.
“I told her I needed to take over the game,” Saks’ first-year coach said.
Crews delivered, scoring a team-high 17 points as No. 3 seed Saks avenged two close, regular-season losses to Weaver 50-45 in the Class 3A, Area 11 tournament.
Saks advanced to Thursday’s 5:30 p.m. championship game against Piedmont and clinched a sub-regional berth while eliminating Weaver.
“The difference is, I just think we passed the ball more, we worked as a team better,” Crews said.
The difference also came in the second half. Weaver broke open a 15-15 tie at the end of the first quarter to build a lead as big as 29-20 in the second. The Bearcats led 29-22 at halftime.
That’s when Bradford came to Crews with those magic words.
“We were down in the locker room and weren’t playing the game that we needed to,” she said.”I was kind of slacking, and he told me I needed to lock in.”
Crews sank a 3-pointer to bring Saks within 40-39 early in the fourth. After a Madison Turner breakaway layup gave Saks the lead, Crews hit two of three free throws to make it 43-40.
The Wildcats got out to as big as a 48-41 edge in the fourth.
The difference in the second half was the same as the difference between Tuesday’s game and the two regular-season games.
“It was win or go home,” Bradford said. “I told them that they had to lock in. If they wanted to keep playing, they had to go out there and do it on the defensive end and to be aggressive, eliminate turnovers and hold them to one shot, and that’s exactly what they did.
“I’m proud of them.”
Weaver freshman Aliyah Marks led all scorers with 21 points, 19 in the first half.
Tuesday’s game marked the senior finales for Weaver’s Madison Atchley, Kinley Marvasty and Iyanna Wright. It also put a wrap on Weaver’s first season under head coach Jamie Burns.
“It was tough,” she said. “It was a learning experience, but I wouldn’t trade it, for sure. I’ve learned a lot about myself and coaching. Varsity is a different beast. …
“I did the best of my ability, and I’m proud of the girls. We had a tough schedule all the way around, but we played hard. I have lots of goals for next year I want to set.”
SAKS – Jakailyn Carter 3 1-2 7, Sania Angel 3 2-4 9, Alonna Crews 5 4-7 17, Madison Turner 4 0-4 8, Alayah Christopher 0 2-2 2, Camarie Denham 2 1-3 6. Totals 17 10-22 50.
WEAVER – Annalynna Canchucaja 0 1-2 1, Erionna Richmond 2 1-2 5, D.J. Gibbs 3 2-4 8, McKenley Davis 1 0-0 2, Aaliyah Marks 9 1-1 20, Madison Atchley 2 0-0 5, Miles 2 0-0 4. Totals 19 5-9 45.
| Saks | 15 | 7 | 12 | 16 – | 50 |
| Weaver | 15 | 14 | 8 | 8 – | 45 |
3-point goals: Saks 4 (Crews 2, Angel, Denham); Weaver 2 (Marks, Atchley). Total fouls: Saks 12, Weaver 14. Fouled out: RIchmond. Officials: Ingram, Battles, Belheme.
Piedmont advances
PIEDMONT 46, WELLBORN 22: Ava Pope and LeLe Ridley came out hot and led Piedmont to a big first half and the Bulldogs rolled into Thursday’s 5:30 p.m. championship game.
Pope hit four 3-pointers en route to a game-high 21 points, and Ridley hit two en route to 19 points.
“It’s a win,” Piedmont coach Terrace Ridley said, “and it’s moving on to the championship game.”
Piedmont clinched a sub-regional berth. If Piedmont wins in Friday’s area final, the Bulldogs will play host to a sub-regional game for the second time in Ridley’s nine-year tenure as head coach and first time since 2015, when Piedmont won the area and played host to Glencoe.
Piedmont last made the Northeast Regional in 2013.
The Bulldogs got a different look from Wellborn on Tuesday, and Ridley wants to see better ball movement against a zone.
“The biggest thing I wanted us to get out of this game is working on the defensive end,” she said. “We know we can score on the other end, but on the defensive side, I still wasn’t pleased with what we’re doing. We’re not getting to the spots quick enough like I want them to.
“I did get a chance to see some things I need to fix.”
WELLBORN – Anna Odom 5 4-4 15, Bentley Bean 1 0-0 2, Brooke Singleton 2 0-0 5. Totals 8 4-4 22.
PIEDMONT – Ava Pope 8 1-2 21, LeLe Ridley 6 5-7 19, Cayla Brothers 81 2-4 4, Carson Young 1 0-4 2. Totals 16 8-17 46.
| Wellborn | 2 | 2 | 10 | 8 – | 22 |
| Piedmont | 13 | 18 | 10 | 5 – | 46 |
3-point goals: Wellborn 2 (Odom, Singleton); Piedmont 6 (Pope 4, Ridley 2). Total fouls: Wellborn 9, Piedmont 7. Officials: Williams, Sparks, Engle.
Cover photo: Saks’ Alonna Crews leaps over Weaver’s Aliyah Marks while going after a loose ball during their Class 3A, Area 11 tournament game at Piedmont on Tuesday.
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