Jacksonville, AL – Jacksonville turns back several Alexandria threats to win potential preview of county tournament finals, White Plains beats Piedmont for best win of the season, Anniston beats Talladega on night Tigers dedicate court to coach, and more
FRIDAY’S BOYS GAMES
Anniston 50, Talladega 41
Central Coosa 73, B.B. Comer 60
Gaylesville 58, Coosa Christian 52
Glencoe 60, Westbrook 56
Hokes Bluff 53, Fyffe 46
Jacksonville 68, Alexandria 57
Lincoln at Southside
Ohatchee 60, Wellborn 34
Ragland 53, Pleasant Valley 52
Randolph County at Ranburne
Sand Rock 60, Spring Garden 58
Sylacauga 54, Clay Central 50
White Plains 61, Piedmont 57
Winterboro 64, Faith Christian 60
By Brant Locklier
It is never easy when you play Alexandria in Larry Ginn Gym. Throw in the intensity of a neighborhood rivalry and it’s a downright dogfight.
Defending 4A state champion Jacksonville found that out once again Friday night as it fought off the Valley Cubs all night long before getting away with a hard fought 68-57 victory.
The game was a potential preview of the county tournament finals. The Golden Eagles (15-4) are the No. 1 seed and Alexandria is No. 3, so the only time they’d meet in the tournament would be in the finals.
The Golden Eagles started off each of the first three quarters with two 8-0 runs and a 9-1 run and needed every bit of them. The Valley Cubs (10-7) chopped the lead back to stay within striking distance for a chance to win in the fourth quarter.
The home team got within one in the first quarter and within six with four minutes left in the game, but every time Jacksonville pulled away.
The Golden Eagles were without regulars Cam and Caden Johnson in the first half as they sat out per coach’s decision. That meant someone would have to step up to fill the void if they were going to succeed, and Jaleik Long accepted that challenge.
The Golden Eagles bolted to a quick 8-0 lead on back-to-back 3s by Long and Devin Barksdale and another Long bucket. Long had seven of Jacksonville’s 10 points in the first four minutes of the game, but at that point the Valley Cubs kept pounding the ball inside and chopped the lead to one point behind six points from Q McDowell.
John Broom buried three 3s in the next Jacksonville flurry to take it back to 28-14, but the Valley Cubs came back again and cut the margin to five. Broom stuck a long 3 just as the half ended to give the Golden Eagles a 33-25 halftime edge. The Golden Eagles hit 10 3-pointers in the game; the Valley Cubs took only 14.
The Johnson twins were back on the floor to start the second half and provided a boost to help Jacksonville run out to a 47-27 lead. Broom had seven points during that explosion. Once again, the Valley Cubs went on a 13-4 run to find themselves down 51-40 after three quarters.
The fourth quarter saw Alexandria pull within six points at 58-52 with four minutes to play. The Golden Eagles showed great patience in the last five minutes and did a marvelous job of maintaining ball control and making their free throws.
“I thought we did a superb job at that point,” Jacksonville coach Tres Buzan said. “We have been working on that. We have to learn how to win close games. We got a lot of guys that love to shoot, but they did a real good job at the end of the game.
“We got to play a lot of kids tonight and we have a lot of kids that can play. Alexandria is a very good win. We have the county tournament coming up and this was a good test for us. We feel good about where we are at right now.”
Broom led all scorers with 25 points. Caden Johnson scored 10 in the second half. Long finished with nine. Barksdale had eight points and seven assists. McDowell led the Valley Cubs with 15 points. Evan Snow had 14 and Drake Davis 10.
JACKSONVILLE 68, ALEXANDRIA 57
JACKSONVILLE (15-4) – John Broom 8-12 4-5 25, Caden Johnson 4-6 2-4 10, Jaleik Long 4-9 0-0 9, Devin Barksdale 2-7 2-2 8, Cam Johnson 3-7 0-0 7, Jaquan Ervin 3-3 0-0 7, Ethan Duke 1-1 0-0 2, Kydric Fisher 0-1 0-0 0, Dee Prothro 0-0 0-0 0, DaMonte Sinclair 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-46 8-11 68.
ALEXANDRIA (10-7) – Quendavion McDowell 7-8 1-1 15, Evan Snow 4-8 4-5 14, Drake Davis 3-10 3-4 10, T.K. Downie 4-4 0-0 8, Kory Cargal 2-8 2-4 6, Antonio Ross 2-7 0-2 4, Matthew McElroy 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-45 10-16.
Jacksonville 17 16 18 17 – 68
Alexandria 10 15 15 17 – 57
3-point goals: Jacksonville 10-26 (Broom 5-9, Cd. Johnson 0-2, Long 1-4, Barksdale 2-7, Cm. Johnson 1-2, Ervin 1-1, Fisher 0-1); Alexandria 3-14 (Snow 2-5, Davis 1-8, Cargal 0-1). Rebounds: Jacksonville 27 (Broom 6, Duke 6); Alexandria 24 (Ross 7). Technical fouls: Cm. Johnson. Total fouls: Jacksonville 18, Alexandria 13.
WHITE PLAINS 61, PIEDMONT 57: The Wildcats have had an up and down year against a murderous schedule, but on this night they delivered what coach Chris Randall agreed was their biggest victory of the season.
They snapped the seven-game winning streak of a team installed as No. 5 seed in the upcoming Calhoun County Tournament on the road one day after suffering a heartbreaking loss.
“I would say so,” Randall said. “On the road. We lost a heartbreaker last night (to Pell City); we missed a 3 with three seconds left to tie it. It was right there. To lose one that tough and come back the very next night on the road, to show that kind of toughness, I was really proud of the kids.”
The Wildcats had heroes from every corner. Post Carter Johnson and Luke Bussey scored 15 points apiece. Carter got them going with six in the first quarter and Bussey, a former Piedmont player, hit three 3s in the first half.
Z.J. Rosario hit some equally big shots in the second half and Dylan Barksdale did the job on both ends of the floor, not missing a shot on offense and limiting Piedmont’s Rollie Pinto, who went for a career-high 30 points in his last game, to 11. The Wildcats also held Ish Bethel, the Bulldogs’ other big threat, scoreless.
“Dylan had seven (points) and it felt like 17,” Randall said. “Every basket he made answered every run they had. His seven may have been the biggest seven of the game.
“And he guarded great. For Dylan to guard that good, I bet he set 50 screens, and to not miss a shot … he played wonderful.”
The Wildcats held Piedmont to 28 points through the first three quarters, but the Bulldogs erupted for 29 in the fourth to make it close. Alex Odam scored 14 points in the quarter and Pinto broke free for both of his 3-pointers.
Odam led all scorers with 36 points. He had 26 in the second half.
“He is absolutely one of the best players I’ve ever had the privilege to coach against,” Randall said. “He’s a unicorn. You don’t see many players who can score like that, handle the ball, pass it like he does and play at both ends on the floor.” – Al Muskewitz
WHITE PLAINS 61, PIEDMONT 57
WHITE PLAINS (8-10) – Dylan Barksdale 2 2-2 7, Paul Laube 1 2-2 4, Z.J. Rosario 4 5-7 14, Silas Hines 0 0-0 0, Josh Wheeler 1 4-6 6, Cameron Ray 0 0-0 0, Daniel Williams 0 0-0 0, Luke Bussey 6 0-0 15, Carter Johnson 7 1-3 15. Totals 21 14-20 61.
PIEDMONT (11-3) – Alex Odam 15 3-3 36, Rollie Pinto 4 1-1 11, Ish Bethel 0 0-5 0, Colton Proctor 0 0-0 0, Luke Rhinehart 0 0-0 0, Trevor Pike 1 0-0 3, Chance Murphy 0 1-2 1, Rhett Alford 0 1-2 1, Cole Wilson 1 2-2 5. Totals 21 8-15 57.
White Plains 13 15 11 21 – 61
Piedmont 8 8 12 29 – 57
3-point goals: White Plains 5 (Barksdale, Rosario, Bussey 3); Piedmont 7 (Odam 3, Pinto 2, Pike, Wilson). Total fouls: White Plains 15, Piedmont 15. Officials: Wood, Calkins, Batey.
OHATCHEE 60, WELLBORN 34: Jesse Baswell and Kelbe Crook had 12 points apiece and Jake Roberson had 11 to lead the Indians.
WELLBORN (0-13) – Xavier Parker 0 0-0 0, Avery Odom 3 2-5 8, C.J. Hubbard 2 1-2 5, Chris Williams 1 0-0 3, Immanual Singleton 0 0-0 0, Raymond Williams 0 4-5 4, Ethan Tidwell 0 0-0 0, Jackson Long 3 0-0 7, Devon Tatum 0 1-2 1, Trey Downs 3 0-2 6. Totals 12 8-16 34.
OHATCHEE (6-10) – Jake Roberts 2 0-0 4, Jesse Baswell 4 3-4 12, Alston Carroll 2 0-2 4, Colby Hester 1 3-10 5, Jake Roberson 4 3-4 11, Nate Dover 1 0-0 2, Zurchin 2 0-0 4, Luke Vinson 2 0-0 4, Kelbe Crook 4 4-6 12, Galen Lower 1 0-0 2. Totals 23 13-26 60.
Wellborn 3 10 13 8 – 34
Ohatchee 15 20 15 10 – 60
3-point goals: Wellborn 2 (Long, Williams); Ohatchee 1 (Baswell). Total fouls: Wellborn 18, Ohatchee 17. Officials: Howell, McGraw, Royster.
WINTERBORO 64, FAITH CHRISTIAN 60: The Lions have been rolling through opponents with sharp shooting from both inside and outside the 3-point arc, but were ice cold in a town called Winter-boro, going 7-of-41 from 3-point range. Their big three – Thomas Curlee, Yoshi Arevalo and Conner Richerzhagen – were a combined 5-for-31. Curlee led the Lions with 21 points and 18 rebounds
FAITH CHRISTIAN (13-5) – Thomas Curlee 9-27 2-5 21, Yoshua Arevalo 3-16 5-7 13. Conner Richerzhagen 5-12 0-0 12, Tyler Bell 2-7 2-2 8, Eli Robinson 2-3 0-0 4, Parker Robertson 0-1 2-2 2, Carson Harris 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 21-69 11-16 60.
WINTERBORO – Brandon Hunter 6 0-0 13, Kaleb Merritt 8 3-6 23, Jamareo Clegg 1 0-0 2, Kaden Jones 2 0-3 6, Monterious Williams 6 5-6 18, Jemarion Clegg 0 0-0 0, Kylen Campbell 1 0-0 2, Kamareon Curry 0 0-0 0. Totals 24-59 8-15 64.
Faith Christian 19 7 13 21 – 60
Winterboro 14 15 13 22 – 64
3-point goals: Faith 7-41 (Curlee 1-10, Arevalo 2-12, Richerzhagen 2-9, Bell 2-6, Robertson 0-1, Harris 0-3); Winterboro 8-18 (Hunter, Merritt 4, Jones 2, Williams). Rebounds: Faith 39 (Curlee 18); Winterboro 33. Technical fouls: Hughes. Fouled out: Je. Clegg. Total fouls: Faith 11, Winterboro 13. Officials: Batey, Railey, Winn.
RAGLAND 53, PLEASANT VALLEY 52: The Raiders got back in the game with 23 points in the fourth quarter and had two shots in the final minute to win it, including Jesse Gannaway’s 30-footer in the closing seconds that rimmed out.
Gannaway was the right player to have the ball at the end, He was the Raiders’ leading scorer (21 points) and hit five 3-pointers in the game, two in the fourth quarter. Jaden Sparks held Ragland’s main threat, Jordan Turner, to seven points. Tacorian Soles led the Purple Devils with 16 points.
RAGLAND – Brayden Collins 4 0-2 10, Jordan Turner 3 1-3 7, Tacorian Soles 7 2-8 16, Taevon Williams 3 4-6 11, Ezra Hill 3 0-0 9, Xavier Forman 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 7-19 53.
PLEASANT VALLEY (3-8) – Jaden Sparks 3 0-0 6, Jesse Gannaway 8 0-0 21, Hunter Sparks 0 0-0 0, Bryce Freeman 2 1-2 5, Kolby Battles 6 1-5 13, Braxton Williams 1 0-0 2, Caleb Green 0 1-2 1, Kyle Smith 2 0-1 4. Totals 22 3-10 52.
Ragland 14 11 14 14 – 53
Pleasant Valley 9 13 7 23 – 52
3-point goals: Ragland 6 (Collins 2, Williams, Hill 3); Pleasant Valley 5 (Gannaway 5). Technical fouls: H. Sparks. Total fouls: Ragland 12, Pleasant Valley 14. Officials: Lackey, Wood, Taylor.
GLENCOE 60, WESTBROOK 56: Garrett Morgan scored 21 points with four 3-pointers, Andrew Greene had 19 and the Yellow Jackets went 9-for-13 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter to hold off the Warriors. Greene had 10 of his points in the fourth quarter, including 4-for-4 from the line. Wade Segret went 5-for-6 from the line in the fourth.
WESTBROOK (14-3) – Cameron White 0 3-4 3, Steven Barnes 1 0-0 3, Cooper Greer 5 1-4 12, John Gilchrist 0 0-3 0, Keaton Bean 2 0-0 5, Eli Edge 3 3-4 10, Nolan Terrell 6 0-2 15, Brody Carden 3 0-0 6, Cam Carden 1 0-0 2, Landon Armstrong 0 0-0 0, Cole Potter 0 0-0 0, Ben Morrison 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 7-17 56.
GLENCOE – Cooper Horton 0 1-2 1, Garrett Morgan 7 3-4 21, Aiden Cornutt 1 0-2 3, Wade Segrest 1 5-6 8, Braylen Smith 0 0-0 0, Jayden Patton 1 0-2 2, Nolan Fairley 2 0-0 6, Andrew Greene 7 5-6 19. Totals 19 14-22 50.
Westbrook 16 14 10 16 – 56
Glencoe 16 16 10 18 – 60
3-point goals: Westbrook 7 (Barnes, Greer, Bean, Edge, Terrell 3); Glencoe 8 (Morgan 4, Cornutt, Segrest, Failey 2). Total fouls: Westbrook 20, Glencoe 13. Officials: Brown, Childs, Christoph.
ANNISTON 50, TALLADEGA 41: When Chucky Miller stood in the dirt cleared away for what would become Talladega’s unique Chuck Miller Arena as a 10th-grader he never imagined some 50 years later his name would be on the floor in the very spot he was standing.
But that was the scene Friday night as Talladega High School officials dedicated the playing area in the arena that bears his father’s name to the coach who spent half his 40-year, 785-win career with the Tigers.
He had seen the refurbished gym floor with his signature in front of the Tigers bench once before from the concourse, but he admitted the view looked pretty good when he saw it up close for the first time in ceremonies before the start of the boys game with Anniston.
“It was better than I thought when I saw it from the top,” said Miller, who retired in 2020. “The court looked real good down low. It is so shiny. My name is right in front of the bench, which is a great place for it.
“I can remember when they were building the gym. I told my youngest son a while ago I can remember walking in here and where we were standing a little while ago it was all dirt. They cut out the place for the stands and leveled the top. They hadn’t even started yet and I walked through it.
“Fifty years later, just like (Talladega boys) Coach (Ryan) Dawson and (Anniston’s) Coach (Torry) Brown said, this is still the main gym around 50 years later, and it looks so good.”
In addition to dedicating the floor, school officials presented Miller with a banner commemorating his 2019 state championship, which all the former players gathered around to sign.
“It was better than expected,” Miller said. “We had a big crowd, a lot of former players I hadn’t seem in a long time. We had just a great time. They did a great job in all their introductions. It was just great.”
