Wheeler deals
- Updated: February 1, 2025
Alexandria 3-point ace matches his career high while leading Valley Cubs to victory in area tournament. Valley Cubs to play Cherokee County in final.
By Joe Medley
East Alabama Sports Today
ALEXANDRIA — Cole Wheeler had in idea he might be dialed in from the 3-point arc Saturday. He knew in pregame warmups.
“I was shooting like crap before the game,” he said. “That’s usually how that works. If I shoot bad in warmups, or in shootaround, then it’s going to be a good day.”
Wheeler tied his career high with seven 3-pointers on the way to a game-high 24 points, and Alexandria eliminated Cleburne County 69–51 in the opening round of the Class 4A, Area 12 tournament in Larry R. Ginn Gymnasium.
The Valley Cubs (25-4) punched their ticket to the area final against Cherokee County, which eliminated White Plains 73-59 in Saturday’s second area-tourney game.
Alexandria also got 13 points from Cleat Forrest, 10 from Jaylen Henderson and nine from Quendavion McDowell. Forrest hit three 3-pointers.
Wheeler’s hot shooting hit maximum temperature in the second quarter, when he swished four of his high golden arches to power Alexandria to a 35-25 halftime lead.
“My teammates were finding me,” he said. “They were getting me good looks, and I know they believe in me to make those shots.
“I put the work in, and I just want to give glory to God.”
When Wheeler’s hot, he makes things easier for the Valley Cubs.
“We’ve got a lot of good shooters, but Cole is a really good shooter,” Alexandria coach Will Ginn said. “They were playing zone early, and he made five or six in the first half.
“That really opens things up. They probably zoned us because of ‘Q’ inside, and that just forces them to play one-on-one.”
Alexandria is adjusting five days after losing Chris Aquirre for the rest of the season. He suffered a broken lower right arm in the Valley Cubs’ victory over Anniston in the Calhoun County semifinals.
J.J. Beason has moved into a bigger role, and Ginn has called up M.J. Morris from the B team. Morris was up early in the season, as Alexandria waited for Forrest to recover from an ankle injury suffered in football season. Forrest returned, and Ginn put Morris on the B team to get him more minutes.
“J.J. is taking a full-time role, and then you have guys like Garrett Haynes and M.J.,” Ginn said. “Our big guys, Royce (Trantham) and (Caleb) Fields, we mix up the alignment sometimes and go a little bigger.
“Just those other guys have got to get more minutes. They’ve got to be prepared for the moment, and I think they’re ready.”
Lyric Ware paced Cleburne County (14-14) with 18 points, hitting 13 of 14 free throws. Cavin Bates added 13 points.
“I thought this year went as good as it could have went,” Cleburne County coach Josh Perry said. “We had some significant injuries early in the season that we had to overcome.
“I am so proud of the way our kids competed and never gave up. We always gave ourself a chance to win the game.”
CHEROKEE COUNTY 73, WHITE PLAINS 59: Tatum Perry led four Cherokee County players in double figures with 17 points, and the Warriors (12-5) got separation in the third quarter after leading 36-33 at halftime.
They outscored White Plains 20-13 in the third quarter to lead 56-46.
“We just wanted to keep our pace and our tempo (in the second half),” Cherokee County coach Caleb Hayes said. “They shot the ball well in the first half, and we gave some offensive rebounds that kind of gave them some extra looks to get those shots, too.
“We just talked about making sure we secured the rebounds, keep our pace going and got going a little bit early in the third. … Once it got to 12-14, I felt like it was going our way, stylistically.”
Cherokee County also got 14 points from Owen Jacoway and 11 apiece from Keyshawn Woods and Reid Jacoway.
The Warriors turn their focus to Alexandria, which beat them twice this season … 70-68 in overtime and Alexandria and 61-46 at Centre.
“We just going to have to come out and play hard and rebound and hit shots,” Perry said.
Bryson Cheatwood led White Plains with 18 points, and Ethan Turner hit two 3-pointers on the way to 14 points. Will Graham added nine.
The Wildcats finished 11-19 after losing eight seniors from the 2023-24 team.
“I can’t remember when a group we’ve had has improved as much from the beginning to the end,” White Plains coach Chris Randall said. “At the beginning of the year, we struggled to get to 30, 35 (points). We improved to much offensively. Defensively, just confidence.
“Nobody on this team had played varsity minutes before, had been counted on to win or lose a game, so it’s a total new group.”
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