By Al Muskewitz
Oxford, Anniston, Ohatchee, Ragland advance to girls Northeast Regional; Piedmont, Saks, JCA fall in subregional
NORTHEAST SUBREGIONAL
GIRLS
1A: Sumiton Christian 85, Jacksonville Christian 45
1A: Ragland 62, Cornerstone 50
2A: Spring Garden 52, Ider 37
2A: Ranburne 56, Vincent 38 (SE)
3A: Ohatchee 66, Saks 40
3A: Childersburg 46, Piedmont 42
4A: Anniston 54, Etowah 30
4A: Handley 71, Cherokee County 67
5A: Alexandria at Ramsay (Tuesday)
5A: Talladega 52, Brewbaker Tech 45 (SE)
6A: Oxford 63, Shades Valley 42
OXFORD – On a day dedicated to the heart, the Oxford girls basketball team didn’t show a lot of it in the first half, but there was a whole lot to love about the second half the Lady Jackets put together.
After a lackluster first half, Oxford erupted in the second half to score a 63-42 victory over Shades Valley in the Class 6A subregion round on Monday night. The Lady Jackets will play Mountain Brook in the Northeast Regional semifinals Thursday at Jacksonville State.
“That’s kind of been our Achilles heel, we’ve had a lot of slow starts and it’s bit us in the tail a couple times – and it did tonight,” Oxford coach Melissa Bennett said. “Shades Valley came out and lit us up and we just kind of were letting them whatever they wanted to do.
“So, yeah, on a day dedicated to the heart we didn’t show much of it in the first half. But in the second half the girls started playing more together … and moving the ball a lot better and that makes a big difference.”
The Lady Jackets trailed most of the second quarter, but battled back to get it tied at halftime, 27-27. Bennett appealed to their pride at halftime and they started the second half with a 13-2 run to take control. They held the Lady Mounties to 15 points in the second half.
“The second half we played way better,” leading scorer Xai Whitfield said. “Why? We just didn’t want to lose. We didn’t want to go home yet.”
The Lady Jackets (23-4) put four scorers in double figures. Whitfield didn’t start, but scored 18 points and grabbed six rebounds over the last three quarters. Mya McGrue had 15 points and six rebounds, Leah Taylor had 12 points and Justice Woods had 10 points, four rebounds and four steals.
Whitfield entered the game at the start of the second quarter and immediately hit a 3-pointer.
“I just wanted to go in and have energy and help the team out,” Whitfield said. “When I hit the 3, it boosted my energy.”
Just as big as Whitfield’s 3 was to get her going in the game was the three-point play McGrue made at the end of the third quarter. The guard drove through the Mounties’ defense, got fouled on the layup and hit the and-one with 15.8 seconds left to give the Lady Jackets a 45-35 lead going into the fourth.
Oxford 63, Shades Valley 42
SHADES VALLEY – Kyliah Ravizee 3 2-4 9, Kiya Crayton 5 0-0 15, Rheagan Evans 2 0-0 4, Kelsey Lawrence 3 0-2 7, Skylar Stuart 0 0-0 0, Zoey Little 0 0-0 0, Suniya Singh 3 1-2 7, Kendra Taylor 0 0-0 0, Trinity Collier 0 0-0 0, Aisha Soumaro 0 0-0 0, Miya Cobb 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 3-8 42.
OXFORD – Justice Woods 3 4-5 10, Xai Whitfield 6 4-4 18, Lauren Ellard 1 2-2 5, LaMya McCrue 6 3-4 15, Kaleah Taylor 4 2-2 12, Jamea Gaston 0 0-0 0, Keziah Mickler 1 1-2 3, Mileah Prince 0 0-0 0, Shaniya Calloway 0 0-0 0, Brionna Wilson 0 0-0 0, Kaylen Kenney 0 0-0 0, Mikiya Wilson 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 16-19 63.
Shades Valley 6 21 8 7 – 42
Oxford 7 20 18 18 – 63
3-point goals: Shades Valley 7 (Ravizee, Crayton 5, Lawrence); Oxford 5 (Whitfield 2, Ellard, Taylor 2). Fouled out: Crayton. Total fouls: Shades Valley 16, Oxford 11. Officials: Douthitt, Morriss, Robinson.
Class 4A
The Anniston girls have been a fixture in the Northeast Regional, but there was a time this year when coach Eddie Bullock was “legitimately concerned” about them getting back there this year.
Not because he didn’t think they were capable, but early in the season they weren’t giving themselves a chance as their young lineup struggled to find their identity.
Well, they’ve turned things around and have made their way back to the regionals, locking down a spot in the Sweet 16 with a 54-30 victory over Etowah.
They will play New Hope in their regional opener Saturday at 9 a.m.
“It’s extremely meaningful,” Bullock said. “This is what we work for, to get here and give ourselves a chance. We fought and did what we needed to do and the kids responded well.”
The Lady Bulldogs (17-11) girls will be making their 18th Northeast Regional appearance since 1998 and fourth in a row. They’ve missed only once since 2006 (2018). The last six times they’ve made it to the regional final they won it.
They go in this year with a six-game winning streak and have won 11 of their last 12. The only loss in the run came in the Calhoun County Tournament championship game.
“If we go and play like we’re playing right now then we’ve got a chance, but we’ve got to play,” Bullock said.
Against the Lady Blue Devils they jumped out quickly and maintained control.
They opened a 20-point lead, had it slip a little, then stretched it back to 20 at halftime. They were so in control in the fourth quarter they ran off big chunks of clock, made some free throws and ran some more clock – just like they do when they’re at the top of their game.
They were led by Serena Hardy’s 26 points and seven assists. She hit from the field, from behind the arc, made free throws and rebounded.
“She played a heck of a game,” Bullock said. “I’ve been on her about focusing and game management and things like that. I don’t know what that little girl did, but whatever she did, she played tonight. She put on a clinic. When I tell you she was all over the place, she was.”
Class 3A
OHATCHEE – The Ohatchee girls are back in the Northeast Regional, but this one feels a little different.
The Lady Indians earned their second straight trip to the Class 3A Sweet 16 with a 66-40 victory over Saks, but it’s the first time they’ll be headed to Jacksonville State to play.
Last year they made it for the first time since 2010, but because of COVID protocols their semifinal game was played at Sylvania. This time they’re getting to play in the traditional region venue.
“Going to Jacksonville is pretty special to the kids,” Ohatchee coach Bryant Ginn said. “You always talk at the beginning of the season about the goal we have and that’s one of them.
“They’ve been talking about how we’ve got to win this game to go to JSU, how we want to be at JSU. That’s just something special basketball has that maybe most sports don’t; there’s a local venue when there’s not many teams left.”
Jorda Crook led Ohatchee with 35 points, nine rebounds and nine steals. She had 13 points in the first quarter when the Lady Indians opened a 21-6 lead and 25 in the first half. Morgan Foushee had 11 points.
The Lady Indians will play Geraldine in the regional semifinals Thursday.
CHILDERSBURG 46, PIEDMONT 42: The Lady Bulldogs went cold from the free throw line in the fourth quarter that opened the door for Childersburg won squeeze out a victory.
Piedmont led 42-40 in the fourth quarter, but didn’t score again. The Lady Bulldogs (14-15) were 2-of-9 from the free throw line in the quarter and fell victim to several unforced turnovers throughout the game.
Ava Pope led Piedmont with 18 points and finished the season with 418 points and 68 3-pointers. She was the Lady Bulldogs’ leading scorer in each of their last five games, averaging 21.8 a game. Lele Ridley had 13 points and finished the year with 424 points.
Ohatchee 66, Saks 40
SAKS – Alayzia Neal 2 0-0 5, Alonna Crews 3 0-0 7, Keilynn Williams 6 0-1 14, Sania Angel 5 0-0 10, Kendale Welch 0 2-2 2, Kayleigh Thomas 0 2-8 2. Totals 16 4-11 40.
OHATCHEE – Whitney McFry 0 0-0 0, Tabi Davidson 0 0-1 0, Morgan Foushee 4 2-4 11, Mia Waters 1 0-0 2, Gracie George 2 2-2 6, Millie Rainwater 1 0-0 2, Kianna Garber 2 0-0 4, Jorda Crook 13 9-11 35, Lindsey Zurchin 2 0-0 6 Greenlee Orman 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 13-18 66.
Saks 6 17 9 8 – 40
Ohatchee 21 17 19 9 – 66
3-point goals: Saks 4 (Neal, Crews, Williams 2); Ohatchee 3 (Foushee, Zurchin 2). Fouled out: Davidson. Total fouls: Saks 16, Ohatchee 16. Officials: Ingram, Graves, Battles.
Childersburg 46, Piedmont 42
PIEDMONT – Ava Pope 6 3-5 18, Jaycee Glover 0 0-0 0, Lele Ridley 5 3-8 13, Gracie Naugher 0 0-0 0, Z’Hayla Walker 2 0-3 4, Emily Farmer 2 1-2 7. Totals 15 7-18 42.
CHILDERSBURG – Aubrey Foy 3 3-8 9, Rakiya Spell 5 5-8 13, Malea Jemison 0 0-0 0, Mikayla Wells 2 0-1 4, Shakira Harrison 1 0-0 3, Ainsley Foy 0 0-0 0, Jada Swain 4 4-9 14, Nykeria Kelley 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 12-26 46.
Piedmont 13 13 10 6 – 42
Childersburg 10 17 11 8 – 46
3-point goals: Piedmont 5 (Pope 3, Farmer 2); Childersburg 4 (Spell, Harrison, Swain 2). Total fouls: Piedmont 19, Childersburg 15. Officials: Gatigos, Bown, Stringer.
Class 2A
SPRING GARDEN 52, IDER 37: The Lady Panthers advanced to the regionals for the 10th straight year and 20th time in the last 21 years; the only year they missed in the run was 2012. The victory also gave coach Ricky Austin his 900th career victory with the Spring Garden girls and boys teams combined.
The Lady Panthers will play Midfield in the regional semifinals Friday.
Class 1A
RAGLAND 62, CORNERSTONE 50: The Lady Purple Devils (25-3) got off to a fast start that gave them enough of a cushion to withstand a lull in the second quarter and then maintained control in the second half to earn their first trip to the regionals since 2013.
Area Tournament MVP Sammy Day-Jones led the winners with 23 points. Cadence Buchanan had 13 and Aubrey Ball had 11.
“I am proud of the way we set the tone early on in the game,” Ragland coach Sawyer Merritt said. “We struggled to score in the second period, but our defense did a good job of creating opportunities in transition in the second half.
“We recognize all that we have accomplish thus far, but everyone on this team would much rather get to work on our next game then celebrate and that is what makes them so special.”
The Lady Purple Devils play Skyline Saturday.
SUMITON CHRISTIAN 85: JCA 45: B.G. Braswell scored 35 points and Emma Potts had 26 to send the Lady Eagles to the Northeast Regional for the first time.
JCA was looking to make the regionals for the fourth time ever and first time since 2011. Kara Grace led the Lady Thunder with 16 points. Erin Prater and Rebekah Carter had 11 each.
Sumiton Christian 85, Jacksonville Christian 45
JACKSONVILLE CHRISTIAN – Rebekah Carter 3 3-8 11, Erin Prater 2 5-8 11, Kara Grace 6 4-6 16, Addy Lee 1 0-0 3, Kirsten Walker 0 0-0 0, Katie Hudson 0 0-0 0, Ella Kines 0 0-0 0, Riley Sanders 0 0-0 0, Hannah Clayton 2 0-2 4, Payten Walker 0 0-0 0, Sam Cash 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 12-24 45.
SUMITON CHRISTIAN – B.G. Braswell 14 6-8 35, Ali Kelly 1 0-0 2, Emma Potts 13 0-0 26, Annalace Rice 2 5-6 9, Cali Corley 3 0-0 6, Maddie Hogland 0 0-0 0, Annalee Lemmons 0 0-0 0, Jordan Chapman 0 0-0 0, Addison Hogland 0 0-0 0 Sara Grace Corley 0 1-2 1, Emma Sanford 0 0-0 0, Izzy Ingle 1 2-2 4. Totals 34 14-18 85.
JCA 11 13 13 8 – 45
Sumiton 24 24 34 3 – 85
3-point goals: JCA 5 (Carter 2, Prater 2, Lee); Sumiton 1 (Braswell). Fouled out: Carter. Total fouls: JCA 16, Sumiton 19. Officials: Smith, Askew, Childs.
Ragland 62, Cornerstone 50
CORNERSTONE – Gabby Johnson 4 1-2 11, Zoe Pennel 1 1-2 4, Kye Fincher 4 1-5 11, Danielle Johnson 2 0-0 5, Gloria Thomas 1 0-0 3, Kemberly Roscoe 2 0-0 4, Zakeriah Griffin 1 0-0 2, Raynonna Cupelin 5 0-0 10. Total 20 4-15 50.
RAGLAND – Sammie Day-Jones 8 3-6 23, Rylee Mickler 3 0-0 6, Cadence Buchanan 4 5-7 13, Campbell Adams 4 0-2 9, Aubrey Ball 4 0-0 11, Shelby Spanyer 0 0-0 0, Nya Brewster 0 0-2 0. Totals 23 8-17 62.
Cornerstone 4 13 18 15 – 50
Ragland 20 3 24 15 – 62
3-point goals: Cornerstone 6 (G. Johnson, Pennel, Fincher 2, D. Johnson, Thomas); Ragland 8 (Day-Jones 4, Adams, Ball 3). Total fouls: Cornerstone 15, Ragland 14. Officials: Scyphers, Kelly, Paige. [*** read more]
