Seven-year itch
- Updated: February 5, 2025
MVP Marbury’s big seconds half propels Weaver to a big second half, and the Bearcats roll to their first area title since 2018.
By Joe Medley
East Alabama Sports Today
WEAVER — Nothing feels quite so good as that which came after a long wait. For Weaver’s boys, it’s been a seven-year itch.
Most valuable player D.J. Marbury poured in 22 points and shadowed Saks’ Lajuan Curry in the decisive second half, and the Bearcats rolled to a 72-42 victory in Wednesday’s Class 3A, Area 9 final.
Weaver (17-12) earned the right to play host to a Class 3A Northeast subregional game Saturday and will get a shot at Piedmont, which lost to Glencoe in Wednesday’s Area 12 final.
Saks will go on the road to play Area 12 champion Glencoe.
There was no downplaying the moment for Weaver.
“The last time I think we won it was in 2018, and I’ve been with these guys since seventh grade,” Marbury said. “We really wanted to change Weaver and actually win it.”
The moment had Weaver coach Beau Winn fighting back tears,
“I’m emotional right now,” he said. “I don’’t know that I’ve got a lot of words. We overcame Monday’s game (a victory over Wellborn). We overcame a bad first half. Hats off to Saks.
“We did some things different in the locker room, and they responded. We earned it tonight, and it showed, and it’s been a long time since it happened at Weaver High School, and I couldn’t be more proud of these boys.”
Weaver beat Ohatchee 72-53 in the 3A, Area 9 final in 2018.
The Bearcats played their area opener without Kaden Gooden, who had to sit out a game after an incident at B.B. Comer. On Wednesday, they trailed 29-27 at halftime.
Curry hit two 3-pointers and scored 13 of his 17 points in the first half.
“We had to stop three (Curry), obviously, and we made that a point,” Winn said.
Marbury pushed Curry off of the 3-point line, forcing him to try shots closer to the midcourt logo. Curry hit one two-pint basket and two of four free throws in the second half.
“Weaver has a lot more depth,” Saks coach Wes Ginn said. “They have six seniors, 15 guys over there. We’ve had a hard time. We’ve had guys that are not on the team right now, that have either moved off or not playing.
“We didn’t have enough depth, and they played really well in the second half.”
Weaver got 13 points from KeShawn Allen and 12 apiece from Gooden and Harper Williams.
Joining Marbury on the all-tournament team were Allen, Williams and Junior Allen, Saks’ Curry, Christian Hall and Jayden Culpepper, Wellborn’s Ray Williams and Randolph County’s Gavin Wortham.
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