Oxford, AL – Young Yellow Jackets taking some lumps while slowly developing an identity; girls team gets some payback on Auburn from the flag football state championship game
By Mark Everett Kelly
Sometimes you need to accent the positive. Winning matters, but so does learning how to win, and understanding how much effort, execution and experience can add to development.
Such was the case for Oxford against Hiram on Saturday night in the final game of the inaugural Larry & Connie Davidson Classic. Overmatched by size, length and speed, the Yellow Jackets played their most inspired basketball this season in a 63-52 loss to the Hornets.
“Some games you’re going to win pretty, some games you are going to win ugly,” said Hiram head coach Keyon Boyd. “Sometimes you gotta remind them to keep focus.”
Hiram improved to 8-1 this season. Behind Chase Tyler and Sekai Lockhart’s 3-point shooting and Walter Matthew’s dominance underneath, the Hornets are relentless offensively and defensively.
“My guys are competitors. I’ve had this group for a little while (since middle school), and they do the little things,” Boyd said.
Oxford kept it close for most of the first half, trailing only by five, 27-22. However, behind Matthew’s dominant inside play, the nation’s fifth-best tight end prospect dunked his way to 11 of his 15 first-half points as Hiram closed the half on a 14-3 run to take a 41-25 lead.
Facing the possibility of being blown out of the gym, the Yellow Jackets kept coming, outscoring Hiram 14-12 in the third quarter.
The most promising part of the night for Oxford was the birth of a big man, as Jayden Lewis came to play. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound sophomore experienced his epiphany, leading the team with 20 points. Defensively, he held Matthews to one point in the second half.
“It shows you what he’s got inside of him,” Jackets coach Joel Van Meter said. “I don’t know what it is that triggers to bring it out, but we’ve got to find out and do it every day.”
Despite the inspired effort, Van Meter recognizes that whatever opportunity presented tonight cannot be ignored if the Jackets want to build a successful season. Moral victories are only good for a day.
“Nothing’s changed. We still lose games. We saw this team’s capability. On Monday, that level has got to raise,” he said.
HIRAM (GA.) 63, OXFORD 52.
HIRAM – Chase Tyler 7 2-2 19, Amir Taylor 2 0-0 4, Walter Matthew 6 4-5 16, Sekai Lockhart 4 0-2 11, Javores Boyd 4 0-0 10, Aaron Wesley 1 0-0 3, Johnson 0 0-0 0. Totals 24 6-9 63.
OXFORD – Jaylen Alexander 5 3-5 15, Caleb Sanders 2 0-0 4, Dashaun Callaway 0 0-0 0, T.J. Allen 2 1-2 7, Jordan Kelley 0 0-0 0, Brock Reaves 2 0-0 6, Jayden Lewis 8 2-6 20, Marcus Perry 0 0-0 0, Cristian Gibson 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 6-13 52.
Hiram 15 26 12 10 – 63
Oxford 10 15 14 13 – 52
3-point goals: Hiram 9 (Tyler 3, Lockhart 3, Boyd 2, Wesley); Oxford 8 (Alexander 2, Allen 2, Reaves 2, Lewis 2). Total fouls: Hiram 13, Oxford 13. Officials: Burroughs, Calkins, Merritt.
GIRLS GAME
OXFORD 60, AUBURN 55: The Lady Jackets split their first eight games this season and if consistency was an issue they took a huge step toward fixing that against the Lady Tigers.
Their performance stood out against a very well-coached team in all facets of the game.
“I thought this was our most complete game this season,” Lady Jackets coach Melissa Bennett said.
Offensively, Xai Whitfield and Justice Woods flourished in both the open court and halfcourt and they scored 23 and 12 points, respectively. On the block, Shay Montgomery showed strength completing baskets and poise at the free throw line.
On defense, the Lady Jackets held Sariah Daniels to 25 points and the Lady Tigers to 12 points in the fourth quarter.
What stood out the most was Oxford’s ability to make the right play at crunch time to put the game to bed. After a Daniels basket cut the Lady Jackets’ lead to 55-53 with 1:20 remaining, junior guard Whitfield blew past defenders, converting a layup and bumped the lead to four.
“I feel we are progressing as a team, and the future is looking a little better,” Whitfield said.
Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games. The win was extra special for Whitfield.
Ten days ago, many of the players on this Auburn basketball team played on the flag football team that beat Whitfield and the Lady Jackets in the state championship game.
That was ostensibly a home game for Auburn in Jordan-Hare Stadium. The stakes weren’t quite as high Saturday, but many of the players went against each other again and this time it was an Oxford home game.
Daniels, who had Auburn’s first touchdown in the football game, led all scorers with 25 points. Brooke Hallman, the sophomore quarterback who threw four touchdown passes in that game, had nine points.
“It feels good to beat them,” Whitfield said.
GIRLS GAME
OXFORD 60, AUBURN 55
AUBURN – Kaitlin Mitchell 0 0-0 0, Leah Toles 1 4-5 6, Kristianna Ware 0 0-0 0, Sariah Daniels 10 3-6 25, Brooke Hallman 4 0-0 9, Daley Allsobrook 1 0-0 3, Taite Pearson 2 0-0 6, Ky Woody 0 0-0 0, Antoinette Morgan 1 4-5 6. Totals 19 11-16 55.
OXFORD – Xai Whitfield 9 3-4 23, Justice Woods 4 4-7 12, Keziah Mickler 2 0-0 4, LaMya McGrue 0 3-4 3, JaMea Gaston 3 0-0 8, Kaylen Kenney 2 3-4 7, Shay Montgomery 0 3-6 3. Totals 20 16-25 60.
Auburn 12 14 17 12 – 55
Oxford 16 16 15 13 – 60
3-point goals: Auburn 6 (Daniels 2, Hallman, Allsobrook, Pearson 2); Oxford 4 (Whitfield 2, Gaston 2). Total fouls: Auburn 20, Oxford 16. Officials: Calkins, Jarrett, Wood.
Kandieland Shootout
SPRING GARDEN 58, NEW HOPE 50: Ace Austin had 20 points, seven rebounds and seven assists to lead the Spring Garden victory in Sylvania. Chloe Rule had 14 points and nine rebounds, Kayley Kirk had 13 points and Libby Brown had nine points and 11 rebounds.
