December 10, 2021
By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
Parnell, Saks open basketball season with victory over White Plains, Ragland’s Turner sets school scoring record, Munford ends slide, and more
THURSDAY’S BOYS SCORES
Munford 49, Cleburne County 31
Pinson Valley 57, Oxford 41
Ragland 86, Jacksonville Christian 58
Saks 41, White Plains 36
Sylacauga 73, Lincoln 54
Talladega 60, Etowah 54
Wadley 64, Woodland 62
Sean Parnell has been waiting for something good to take away the empty feeling in his stomach left by his last football game for what seemed like an eternity.
While it will probably take more than a couple weeks to fill the pit left by Saks’ overtime shootout loss in the Class 3A semifinals, Parnell and the football-playing Wildcats took the first step, beating White Plains 41-36 in their first basketball game of the season, their first athletic contest since that playoff game.
“It was good to come out here and get the taste of winning in your mouth and being able to do this so we’re celebrating and not be like we lost again, that’s two losses in two different sports in a row,” Parnell said. “It’s always good to win. It’s never fun to lose.”
The game was typical of a season opener from a team that had practiced together only about six times, the last team in Calhoun County to play basketball, but in the end, Saks was, as coach Jonathan Miller said, “able to make enough plays down the stretch to win the game.”
Parnell and Shon Elston, who Miller called “the player of the game for us,” led Saks with 11 points each.Connor Martin had nine points and nine rebounds (eight in the second half).
Parnell, the football team’s quarterback and grill master Chef P at the team’s post-season cookout, came up big down the stretch. He hit two free throws and a layup to start the run as Saks pulled away from a 35-35 tie in the final 50 seconds.
Elston hounded White Plains’ best player defensively and hit two big 3-pointers in the second half. The first one opened the third quarter and tied the game. The second put Saks ahead 35-33 with 3:33 to play – the 10th lead change of the game. It was tied nine times.
“My motivation was just to win,” Elston said. “The last game I played was a loss and I wanted to get that out of my head with a win. So, coming out here and winning the game I think the football (loss) is out of my head now.”
White Plains did not hit a 3-pointer in the game, and coach Chris Randall can’t remember the last time that happened. [**read more]
**When you click read more you will be taken to the EA Sports Today website. Please make sure to come back to read more Calhoun County News.
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