Oxford, AL – Oxford spoils Spring Garden’s bid for undefeated regular season; White Plains’ Martin finding stroke at right time, PV’s Gannaway, Hester have career nights, and more
FRIDAY’S GIRLS GAMES
Alexandria 59, Saks 32
Oxford 59, Spring Garden 53
Pleasant Valley 76, Coosa Christian 31
Ohatchee 67, Ragland 39
Southside 55, Glencoe 47
Jacksonville Christian 61, Valley Head 56
Piedmont 51, Westbrook 36
Sand Rock 73, Cedar Bluff 53
White Plains 54, Faith Christian 18
By Al Muskewitz
Jamea Gaston hadn’t had much success with her shot during the game, but when she let that 3-pointer go late in the fourth quarter Friday, she just knew it was good. The junior guard’s 3-pointer with 1:29 to play was the sharpest dagger in a closing run that lifted the Oxford girls to a 59-53 win over Spring Garden, handing the Lady Panthers their first loss of the season in the final regular-season game of the year. It was Gaston’s only bucket of the game. “In the first half I wasn’t really hitting many shots, so I felt like in the second half, since it was a big time, I just had to hit that 3,” Gaston said. “Once it left my hand even though I’ve been off I knew that one was just going in.”
Interestingly, Gaston’s 3 came from virtually the same spot the Lady Jackets lost a made 3 by Mya McGrue moments earlier when coach Melissa Bennett was granted a time out right before the shot. It would have given Oxford a 54-48 lead with 2:13 to play. Instead, it fell on Gaston some 45 seconds later. “We were stuck underneath, that’s when I called the time out,” Bennett said. “He gave me the timeout late. Yes, we hit 3 and I blew it. As soon as (Gaston) shot it, all the coaches were like, ‘You’d better hit that.’ That was a big 3 because at that point it was a one-possession game. “Shooters feel it. It’s kind of like the guys the other night. (Marcus) Perry had missed a bunch of them, but he hit it when it mattered. Jamea hadn’t been hitting, but she hit it right there when it really mattered.”
Spring Garden (29-1) was one of the last two remaining undefeated girls teams in the AHSAA and was trying to lock up its second undefeated regular-season in program history. The Lady Panthers last led 48-46 with 3:23 to play before Oxford went on the 10-0 tear that gave it the game. Ace Austin hit a three-quarters court shot at the buzzer for the final margin. It was, of course, too little, too late. The Lady Panthers were 9-for-29 from the 3-point line, just two of their first 10. “”When you’re having a hard time getting points in the paint you’re going to have to knock down some,” Spring Garden coach Ricky Austin said. “If we hadn’t have hit the ones we did it would have been real ugly, but it wasn’t enough to make a difference.”
Now that the prospect of an undefeated season is gone, the Lady Panthers are turning their focus to the future. “It doesn’t matter if we finished up 30-0 or 29-1, we’ve got to go 7-0 starting next week and that’s the most important thing,” Spring Garden coach Ricky Austin said. “It doesn’t matter if we finished 15-15 or 30-0, our focus right now is to be 7-0. “Sometimes a loss can do good. I know everybody says that a lot when it happens like this, but they beat us. They beat us in more ways than just physically. I thought they wanted it, especially the first two minutes of the third quarter. I thought they did a really good job of coming out and hitting us in the mouth and we didn’t handle that real well.” [read more…]
WHITE PLAINS 54, FAITH CHRISTIAN 18: The key to basketball is getting hot at the right time, and White Plains’ Cooper Martin has found her 3-point stroke as the Wildcats round the corner to their area tournament. The junior hit four 3-pointers for the second time this week. White Plains’ second victory this week comes as the Wildcats eye Jacksonville in Tuesday’s Class 4A, Area 10 tournament at Cherokee County. The winner advances to sub-regional play, and the loser’s season ends.
Jacksonville swept their two regular-season meetings. “We’ve got a shot,” White Plains coach Matt Ford said. “I know we can play with them. Obviously, they can beat us, but I’m looking forward to it. “If we do get out of the area, it would be the first time in a long time that we’ve gotten out of area.” The WIldcats shot 8-for-54 and at home in their last meeting with Jacksonville, but that was a few threes ago for Martin. She hit four in a victory over Lincoln on Tuesday and made four more Friday, against Faith. She finished with 17 points. That backed up her 18 point showing against Lincoln.
It’s a different look for Cooper, who attacked the rim more as a sophomore. Threes became more a part of her game over the summer. “Last year, I wasn’t a shooter at all,” she said. “We’ve been shooting a lot in practice, so it started happening.” White Plains also got 15 points from Isabella Higgins on Friday and held Faith to four single-digit quarters.
“Everybody did their job tonight,” Ford said. “I was pleased with the attitude and effort throughout. “Against Lincoln the other night, we missed 21 free throws. I know our percentage was a lot better (10-for-17 Friday), and we boxed out better, and those were the things that made me the happiest tonight.” – Joe Medley
OHATCHEE 67, RAGLAND 39: Fresh off of her 61-point performance on Thursday, Jorda Crook scored 32 to lead the Indians past neighboring Ragland.
Alyssa Davis added 11 points for Ohatchee, which plays host to Hokes Bluff in the Class 3A, Area 11 tournament Monday at 7 p.m.
ALEXANDRIA 59, SAKS 36: Fresh off of a dramatic victory at Jacksonville on Thursday, Alexandria overcame a rugged start to roll past Saks.
Charlee Parris led the with 16 points, and Jordyn Walker added 12.
Alexandria also marked the return of Jill Cockrell from COVID-19. She hit a 3-pointer.
Madison Turner led Saks with 17 points.
PIEDMONT 51, WESTBROOK CHRISTIAN 36: Ava Pope hit four 3-pointers and scored 21 points to help Piedmont break a four-game skid.
LeLe Ridley balanced Pope’s performance with 20 points.
Piedmont (14-13) will play host to Wellborn on Tuesday at 4 p.m. in the Class 3A, Area 11 tournament.
JACKSONVILLE CHRISTIAN 61, VALLEY HEAD 56: Erin Prater swished six 3-pointers en route to a game-high 22 points. She also grabbed six rebounds.
Kara Grace pulled down 16 rebounds to go with 12 points, and Rebekah Carter turned in eight points, 11 boards, eight assists, four steals and three steals
JCA finished the regular season 17-7 and will play Cedar Bluff Tuesday at 4 p.m. in the Class 1A, Area 12 tournament.
PLEASANT VALLEY 76, COOSA CHRISTIAN 31: Rebekah Gannaway (32) and Kianna Hester (18) both enjoyed career-high scoring nights and the Lady Raiders hit a season-high 14 3s to close the regular season on a high note. Gannaway and Hester both made six 3s.
