Anniston Bulldogs Safe at Home

BOYS GAMES
Anniston 64, Handley 61
Donoho 59, Tarrant 40
Jacksonville 76, Gadsden City 54
Pleasant Valley 51, Wellborn 44
Randolph County 57, Cleburne County 50
Spring Garden 51, Weaver 46

GIRLS GAMES
Anniston 44, Handley 41
Gadsden City 59, Jacksonville 27
Pleasant Valley 62, Wellborn 37

By Al Muskewitz

Torry Brown will happily take an area win any way he can get them, but even he knows how close this one came to not happening.

Brown’s Anniston basketball team opened its area schedule with a 64-61 victory over Handley Monday in a game that typifies the series in recent years.

“it’s indicative of how we play them every year,” Brown said. “We played back and forth last year. We played three or four times, every one of them went into overtime and every one of them ended at the buzzer. It’s going to be like that when we play them.”

Had the Bulldogs (3-1) been just a wee bit sharper from the free throw line in their home opener it wouldn’t have been as close. They were 14 of 35 for the game, while the Tigers missed only five of their 22 attempts.

There was one stretch in the second half where the Bulldogs went 1-for-10, missing eight in a row. The string ended when Malik Bailey stepped up to hit two technical foul shots that gave the Bulldogs the boost they needed for their final push. They were his only points of the game.

“I thought we were a really good foul shooting team,” Brown said. “That’s 21 points we left out there. Now, granted, we wouldn’t have hit them all, but I think we would’ve hit enough to give ourselves a little separation moreso than what we did. We’re going to shoot a bunch of them tomorrow (before playing White Plains), that’s for sure.”

As cold as the Bulldogs were, Devin Coleman hit two (in four attempts) in the final 15 seconds to keep them in the lead. The first one put them up 62-59 with 14.2 seconds left and the second with 4.5 seconds to go – a second-shot attempt after Handley called a time out – made it 64-61.

“I like pressure, so it wasn’t nothing,” Coleman said. “I was kind of nervous, I’m not going to lie, but you had to make them to win the game.”

Even with the make it still wasn’t over. Everyone in the gym held their breath as Devontae Higgins took one final shot.

The Bulldogs wanted to get the play to come back towards midcourt to prevent the 3, but what Tigers coach Larry Strain drew up looked like something that came from his football huddle. Higgins caught a long baseball pass from quarterback Cannon Kyles in traffic in front of the Handley bench and fired up a 3 with 1.7 seconds left that fell short of the goal.

Javen Croft was quite active in the game for Anniston. He led the Bulldogs with 13 points, had at least six blocked shots and seven offensive rebounds, and was in the middle of the scrum trying to disrupt Higgins from taking the final shot.

“I was trying to lock in,” he said. “It was our first area game, wanted to start off right. First home game, wanted to give the crowd a good show. We had to make a statement this time.”

After losing their season opener, the Bulldogs have now won three in a row. Handley fell to 0-3.

ANNISTON 64, HANDLEY 61
HANDLEY (0-3) – Tamarious Treadwell 2 0-0 5, Cannon Kyles 4 4-4 12, Devontae Higgins 7 5-8 21, Jay Haynes 1 0-0 2, Terrance Tucker 3 0-0 6, Jordan West 3 6-8 13, Daquavion Slaughter 0 0-0 0, Nemo Askew 0 2-2 2, Amajah Williams 0 0-0 0, Jeremiah Bell 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 17-22 61.
ANNISTON (3-1) – Jacory Lane 2 0-2 6, Devin Coleman 1 3-9 5, Kyron Brown 3 0-1 7, Jayden Lewis 3 1-4 7, Isiah Allen 4 2-4 12, Jace Roberson 0 0-0 0, Javen Croft 5 3-6 13, Malik Bailey 0 2-2 2, Delroy Francis 4 1-3 10, Hezekiah Harris 0 0-0 0, Jamarius Billingsley 0 2-4 2. Totals 22 14-35 64.

3-point goals: Handley 4 (Treadwell, Higgins 2, West); Anniston 6 (Lane 2, Brown, Allen 2, Francis). Technical fouls: Treadwell, Tucker. Fouled out: Treadwell, Tucker. Total fouls: Handley 25, Anniston 15. Officials: Guyton, Dupree, Caldwell.

JACKSONVILLE 76, GADSDEN CITY 54: Caden Johnson led four scorers in double figures with 21 points and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds to lead the Golden Eagles. Cam Johnson had 16 points, Devin Barksdale 15 and John Broom 13 with eight rebounds and four assists. The Johnsons combined to shoot 13-of-19 from the field.

The Golden Eagles were 16 of 17 from the free throw line as a team.

JACKSONVILLE 76, GADSDEN CITY 54
GADSDEN CITY – Steven Jones 9-10 1-3 21, Jakobi Sharp 5-13 1-3 12, Jordan Walker 2-6 1-2 5, Qwon Bridges 1-7 1-2 3, Malik Deramus 1-2 1-2 3, John Hiller Roberts 1-2 1-2 3, Curry 1-1 0-0 2, Khalil Hughley 1-5 0-0 2, Elijah Dunn 1-2 0-0 2, Jackson Veasy 0-2 1-2 1, Nitin Nagarajan 0-0 0-0 0, Elijah Taylor 0-0 0-0 0, Robbrell Green 0-0 0-0 0, Lashun Harris 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 22-52- 7-16 54.
JACKSONVILLE – Caden Johnson 7-11 6-7 21, Cam Johnson 6-8 2-2 16, Devin Barksdale 6-13 0-0 15, John Broom 4-12 4-4 13, Jaliek Long 2-4 2-2 6, Kyrdric Fisher 1-2 0-0 3, Dee Prothro 0-3 2-2 2, Ethan Duke 0-1 0-0 0, Jaquan Ervin 0-0 0-0 0, DeMonte Sinclair 0-1 0-0 0, Imoree Young 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-55 16-17 76.

3-point goals: Gadsden City 3-12 (Jones 2-2, Sharp 1-4, Bridges 0-1, Roberts 0-1, Hughley 0-2, Veasy 0-1, Harris 0-1); Jacksonville 8-20 (Cd. Johnson 1-2, Cm. Johnson 2-3, Barksdale 3-7, Broom 1-4, Long 0-2, Fisher 1-2). Rebounds: Gadsden City 25 (Bridges 4); Jacksonville 41 (Cd. Johnson 9, Broom 8, Duke 7). Fouled out: Walker. Total fouls: Gadsden City 22, Jacksonville 17.

DONOHO 59, TARRANT 40: Drew Williamson went for 35 points as the Falcons met a preseason goal by sweeping the season series. Williamson had 17 in the first quarter as the Falcons opened a 21-4 lead and scored all 10 of their points in the second. They host coach Korielle Beavers’ alma mater, Saks, Tuesday.

DONOHO 59, TARRANT 40
TARRANT – Demarcus Reynolds 1-2-4, Andre Raines 4-0-9, Jay’len Simmons 6-2-16, Latrell Robertson 1-1-3, Tristan Goodwin 0-0-0, Antwaun Underwood 0-0-0, John Scott 2-0-4, Zack Roseman 0-0-0, Geoffrey Wilson 1-0-2, Kendrick Stewart 1-0-2. Totals 16-5-40.
DONOHO – Jordan Cameron 1-4-6, Isiah Smith 1-2-5, Rich Goad 2-1-5, Drew Williamson 13-5-35, Sean Keel 0-0-0, Cash Worley 3-0-6, Sam Johnson 1-0-2. Totals 21-12-59.

3-point goals: Tarrant 3 (Raines, Simmons 2); Donoho 5 (Williamson 4, Smith). Fouled out: Goad. Total fouls: Tarrant 19, Donoho 21. Officials: Wright, Askew, Brown.

PLEASANT VALLEY 51, WELLBORN 44: The Raiders fought through more adversity, losing a fourth player and third starter to injury on a team that already was young to start, but overcame it with the help of a big start. Kolby Battles led four Raiders in double figures with 13 points.

PV’s full court pressure early in the game held the Panthers without a field goal in the first quarter and contributed to a 19-2 lead. Wellborn brought it back in the second half. Ethan Tidwell (15) and Jackson Long (9) scored all their points in the second half.

PLEASANT VALLEY 51, WELLBORN 44
WELLBORN – Avery Odom 2 3-6 7, Carlos Hubbard 2 0-1 5, Jesse Lewis 2 0-1 4, Ollie Boot 2 0-1 4, Ethan Tidwell 5 2-2 15, Jackson Long 2 4-6 9. Totals 15 9-17 44.
PLEASANT VALLEY – Jaden Sparks 1 0-0 2, Jesse Gannaway 3 3-4 10, Hunter Sparks 4 2-2 10, Caleb Stallings 1 0-0 2, Jayden Veazey 0 0-0 0, Bryce Freeman 5 0-0 10, Kolby Battles 6 1-4 13, Shane Cramer 0 0-0 0, Braxton Williams 1 2-5 4. Totals 21 8-15 51.

3-point goals: Wellborn 5 (Hubbard, Tidwell 3, Long); PV 1 (Gannaway). Technical fouls: Boot. Total fouls: Wellborn 15, PV 18. Officials: Kelley, Jarrett, Wise.

SPRING GARDEN 51, WEAVER 46: The Bearcats struggled through another slow start, but fought back in the second half to make it a close game.

JonMarq Rogers scored all 10 of his points in the first quarter and Jake Welsh had nine of his 20 there as Spring Garden jumped out to a 20-8 lead. Tristan Brown led Weaver with 19 points, 11 in the second half and seven in the fourth quarter.

SPRING GARDEN 51, WEAVER 46
WEAVER – Tristan Brown 7 4-5 19, Jeffrey Miles 3 0-0 6, Dawson Brooks 6 0-0 13, Jackson Williams 2 0-1 4, Zack Garman 1 0-0 2, Armane Burton 0 0-0 0, Austin Snider 1 0-0 2. Totals 20 4-6 46.
SPRING GARDEN – John Welsh 4 1-4 9, Jon Marq Rogers 4 0-0 10, Connor Bates 4 0-0 8, Chapel Pope 0 0-0 0, Cole Bailey 0 0-2 0, Cam Welsh 1 2-3 4, Jake Welsh 8 4-5 20. Totals 21 7-14 51.

3-point goals: Weaver 2 (Brown, Brooks); Spring Garden 2 (Rogers 2); Technical fouls: Burton. Total fouls: Weaver 14, Spring Garden 8. Officials: Howell, Mallicoat, Pratt.

Girls

ANNISTON 44, HANDLEY 41: Eddie Bullock is coaching a different kind of Anniston team than he’s had in the past, but no matter what kind of team he has two things are constant within his program — rebounding and defense.

The Lady Bulldogs were strong in both elements in the second half against the Lady Tigers, especially in the third quarter, to take the lead and hold onto it.

They trailed by six at halftime, but grabbed every rebound in the third quarter except one on a missed free throw with 3.2 seconds left, and converted four of the offensive boards into second-chance points to eventually tie the game at 27 with 3:43 to go. They took the lead for good in the final minute of the quarter on a 3-pointer by A’Kayla Perry.

“It was great; we needed that,” Bullock said of his team’s rebounding and defense in the second half. “We missed a few free throws, but I tried to tell them to keep going. You’ve got to keep fighting. Basketball is a game of runs and we made the last run because we were able to pull it out.”

The Lady Bulldogs stretched the lead to seven with 1:03 left, but Handley wouldn’t yield. The Lady Tigers closed the gap to two on Takeriauna Mosley’s 3-pointer with 18.9 to play.

Perry hit a free throw with 7.4 seconds left to make it a three-point game and set the stage for the final exchange. Mosley got a 3-pointer off with two seconds left that missed the mark and Tykeria Smith rebounded to end the game.

Smith, a junior thrust into the role of being the team’s main scorer, led all scorers with 17 points. She had 13 in the second half and everything the Lady Bulldogs did down the stretch went through her.

“This means a lot,” Bullock said. “We’ve got a lot of young people, my starting point guard is hurt, and it’s just tough. You’ve just got to play with what you’ve got and we’re just trying to grow into what we’ve done in the past. We’re young, but that’s no excuse, we’ve got to play.

“We don’t have the shooter like we used to, we don’t have the post presence. We’re scrappy so we just try to make what we’ve got work. That’s all we can do.”

ANNISTON 44, HANDLEY 41
HANDLEY (2-3) – Jadazalyn Fuller 1 0-0 2, Kia Brown 2 1-2 5, Takeriauna Mosley 4 2-2 12, Takeira Tucker 3 2-4 9, Ana Tucker 2 0-0 5, Iyanna Norman 1 0-0 2, Za’Nautika Smith 3 0-2 6, Millie Greer 0 0-2 0. Totals 16 5-12 41.
ANNISTON (3-4) – Layla Tyus 1 0-0 2, A’Kayla Perry 4 4-6 14, Matasia Truss 0 0-1 0, Jada Fomby 2 0-2 4, Janayah Watters 0 0-0 0, Tykeria Smith 3 11-18 17, Kiara Thomas 1 2-4 4, Jenayzia Oliver 1 0-0 3. Totals 12 17-31 44.

3-point goals: Handley 4 (Mosley 2, T. Tucker, A. Tucker); Anniston 3 (Perry 2, Oliver). Fouled out: Z. Smith. Total fouls: Handley 21, Anniston 14. Officials: Guyton, Dupree, Caldwell.

PLEASANT VALLEY 62, WELLBORN 37: Macey Roper enjoyed her third double-double in as many games, this time going for 37 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Lady Raiders (3-0). She is averaging 26 points and 14 rebounds this season.

“She’s just a blue-collar kid and a fierce competitor,” PV coach Colton Morris said. “She’s the hardest-playing kid I’ve ever coached. She knows one speed. Practice looks no different from the game. If there’s a score to be kept, she’s wide open.”

PLEASANT VALLEY 62, WELLBORN 37
WELLBORN – Anna Odom 9 1-2 19, Mikayla Williams 2 2-2 6, Taniya Traylor 2 0-0 4, Bentley Bean 1 0-0 2, Destiny Benefield 1 0-2 2, Calla Hayes 2 0-0 4, Layla Amberson 0 0-0 0, Hannah Grubbs 0 0-0 0, Molly Junior 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 3-6 37.
PLEASANT VALLEY (3-0) – Macey Roper 11 15-23 37, Rebekah Gannaway 1 1-9 3, Kianna Hester 3 5-6 13, Laney Robinson 1 0-0 2, Lilly Robinson 0 0-0 0, Haylie Lee 1 2-8 4, Ella Kate Parris 1 0-0 2, Ashlynn Salster 0 1-2 1, Bailey Brown 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 24-48 62.

3-point goals: PV 2 (Hester 2). Technical fouls: Junior. Fouled out: Amberson, Grubbs. Total fouls: Wellborn 29, PV 11. Officials: Jarrett, Dyar, Kelley.

GADSDEN CITY 59, JACKSONVILLE 27: Jaedyn Sharp was just that, especially from the free throw line, going 8-of-10 from the stripe and leading three Lady Titans in double figures with 14 points. She also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Ashley Grant led Jacksonville with 19 points.

GADSDEN CITY 59, JACKSONVILLE 27
GADSDEN CITY – Jaedyn Sharp 3-5 8-10 14, Ajainay Tinker 4-7 3-7 12, Aniyah Williams 5-15 0-0 10, Mariah Ragland 2-2 2-2 6, Destiny Whiteside 3-7 0-0 6, Zy’aja Lindsey 2-7 0-0 4, Karleigh Sheffield 1-2 0-0 3, Madison Tinker 0-2 2-3 2. Totals 20-47 15-22 59.

JACKSONVILLE – Ashley Grant 8-20 0-1 19, Ontarriah Braxton 2-5 0-0 4, Halaina Lozano 1-2 0-0 3, DeAsia Prothro 0-3 1-6 1, Alexis Phillips 0-1 0-0 0, Olivia Rowan 0-0 0-0 0, Miarah Hardy 0-0 0-0 0, Rachel Sanders 0-1 0-0 0, Camryn Stone 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 11-32 1-7 27.

3-point goals: Gadsden City 4-11 (A. Tinker 1-2, Williams 0-3, Ragland 2-2, Whiteside 0-1, Lindsey 0-1, Sheffield 1-2); Jacksonville 4-11 (Grant 3-7, Braxton 0-1, Lozano 1-2, Sanders 0-1). Rebounds: Gadsden City 35 (Sharp 8, Williams 7, A. Tinker 6); Jacksonville 22 (Prothro 9). Total fouls: Gadsden City 10, Jacksonville 16.

Cover photo from the Tarrant-Donoho game by B.J. Franklin