Wheeler deals
- Updated: January 11, 2024
After Anniston, White Plains trade big shots in the final three minutes, senior gets the last shot to push Wildcats over the top. Anniston’s girls regain dominant form.
Thursday scoreboard
BOYS
White Plains 38, Anniston 36
Faith Christian 59, Winterboro 47
Piedmont 89, Weaver 55
Saks 65, Wellborn 43
Jacksonville 59, Cherokee County 44
GIRLS
Anniston 78, White Plains 26
Piedmont 71, Weaver 22
Cherokee County 49, Jacksonville 44
Winterboro 61, Faith Christian 18
Central-Clay 53, Shelby County 15
By Joe Medley
East Alabama Sports Today
WHITE PLAINS — Third-ranked White Plains and sixth-ranked Anniston defended each other well enough Thursday that neither team reached 40 points.
When both teams needed it the most, both teams found a way to score. White Plains just scored last.
Josh Wheeler’s drive and short turnaround jumper as time expired lifted White Plains to a 38-36 victory and the Wildcats’ second victory over Anniston this season.
Both were low-scoring games, and both were two-point games.
“We’re pretty even,” Wheeler said. “It’s always fun.”
White Plains (15-7) won 48-46 at Anniston (11-6) on Dec. 11, and both teams found a way to defend each other a little better the second time. Wheeler led White Plains with 13 points, and center Carter Johnson added eight. Anniston’s Jacorrie Lane drove the lane well enough to get 20, and Isaiah Allen hit three 3-pointers on the way to 11 points.
Part of White Plains’ defensive strategy was patient offense … make sure the 6-foot-7 Carter touches the ball every possession and go from there. Anniston’s Delroy Francis did his best to make Carter’s work in the post hard.
The grind was on, until it wasn’t.
Allen’s 3-pointer from the corner put Anniston up 34-33 at 2:29 3 corner.
Wheeler answered with a three from the corner to regain White Plains the lead, 36-34 at 1:29, and White Plains coach Chris Randle made a defensive change.
“We knew there was a chance we’d give up a two, but the last possession, up two, we didn’t want to give up a three, so we switched everything,” Randall said. “They made a really good cut, but we also knew they were out of timeouts.
“Unless we got in trouble, we were going to take the last shot.”
Anniston still found a way. Devin Coleman drove into the lane then found Francis flashing on the baseline for the tying bucket witn 45 seconds left.
That set up the final possession.
“To be a low scoring game, it was a really good game,” Anniston coach Torry Brown said. “Both teams played well. They just made one more play than we did tonight. That’s how it goes sometimes.”
Randall wanted the ball in his best player’s hands. Rather than have the Wildcats hold the ball to run down the clock for the last shot, he called motion offense. All five White Plains players on the floor touched the ball, but Wheeler got it last.
He dribbled into the middle of the lane, started right then spun back around, shouldering Allen then hitting the contested short jumper.
“If Josh misses that, and we get beat in overtime, then I go to bed, and I’m fine,” Randall said. “It’s our best player, in the middle of the floor, with the ball in his hand.
“Sometimes, plays don’t win games. Players do.”
Wheeler said surviving the final 45 seconds against Anniston’s man-to-man defense for 45 seconds was key.
“The biggest thing was, we just didn’t turn it over in that last minute,” Wheeler said. “He (Randall) was getting onto me all game about not taking many shots, so I knew I had to do something.”
Girls
ANNISTON 78, WHITE PLAINS 26: Held to 33 points in a loss at Handley on Tuesday, Class 4A seventh-ranked Anniston (19-3) scored 37 in the second quarter Thursday and led 50-8 at halftime.
The Bulldogs spent Wednesday fixing things after the 44-33 loss at Handley in Class 4A, Area 8 play.
“We got in and worked on defense,” Anniston coach Eddie Bullock said. “We really worked on just doing our assignment, what we were told to do, because we got a little bit out of character, and we had some little team problems we had to fix.
“I think we got it fixed.”
A’Kayla Perry led four Bulldogs in double figures with 18 points Thursday. Tykeria Smith added 15, Serena Hardy 12 and Jada Fomby 11.
“We also worked on trusting our teammates,” Bullock said. “We go out, and everybody expects Tykeria to score, her and A’Kayla, but we’ve got five or six girls that can score the basketball, if we share it and move it.
“That’s an issue. When you go on the road, you can’t try to win with one or two scorers.”
Addi Bradley and Savannah Phillips led White Plains with six points apiece.
The Wildcats are 8-13 after an 8-2 start, thanks in large part to injuries. White Plains went without Cassidy Arnold, who suffered a knee sprain at Cherokee County on Tuesday. The Wildcats also lost Bella Higgins and Rebecca Marshall to knee injuries, Marshall in the summer.
Ella Ponder suffered a dislocated shoulder against Anniston.
“It’s a great opportunity to talk to the girls about adversity,” first-year White Plains coach Clay Sprayberry said. “You’re going to hit things in life, and you’re going to have to fight through it.
“That’s one of the things Coach Randall says. You’re either up or getting up, and that’s what we’re going to do. Next person goes down, next person up.”
With that as the backdrop, White Plains played the seventh-ranked team in the state, coming off its only loss against competition under Class 6A.
“I don’t care if it’s boys or girls, Eddie Bullock is one of the best coaches in the state of Alabama,” first-year White Plains coach Clay Sprayberry said. “He’s always got the Anniston girls ready to go, and they play 90 miles an hour.”
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