Weaver wins balky one
- Updated: December 12, 2014
Game slowed by 55 fouls, 85 free throws; JCA makes it two straight
By East Alabama Sports Today
WEAVER — The Weaver Bearcats knocked off Wellborn 83-70 Thursday night in a game that by all accounts was pretty hard to watch and even harder to play.
The three-man East Alabama Basketball Officials Association crew working the game called 55 fouls, leading to 85 total free throws — almost a three-per-minute average – 37 more than total field goals made. Six players fouled out. There were 16 free throws shot in the first four minutes of the game alone, and Weaver was in the bonus inside the first two minutes.
“It was difficult for both teams to get a feel for the game,” Weaver coach Daryl Hamby said. “It was just tough.”
The Bearcats were 31 of 52 from the line, while Wellborn was 17 for 33. The 85 total free throws tied a 1988-89 Minor-Ensley game for sixth most in a state game all-time, according to AHSAA records.
“The first half I thought ‘here we go again’ with our free throw shooting,” Hamby said. “We do everything we can to work on them and when the first guy misses everyone tightens up, but they came through in the second half. I was happy about that.”
The foul situation overshadowed a tremendous Weaver press that continually created turnovers against a makeshift Wellborn line up due to foul trouble.
The Panthers had three starters with two fouls a little over three minutes into the game. That enabled Weaver to open a 20-11 first-quarter lead.
The Panthers got their starters back for the first four minutes of the second quarter and reeled off seven straight points — five from senior Corri Tignor – to chop Weaver’s lead to 22-20. However, a personal and technical foul on Tignor sent him to the bench with four fouls until the fourth quarter.
Delo Forbes got hot for Weaver with nine points and the Bearcats pulled out to a 42-32 halftime lead. There were 47 free throws and 32 fouls in the half.
Playing with only a couple of starters on the court, the Panthers were overpowered by the Bearcats’ press and fell behind 67-46 after Forbes rolled in 5 straight layups. Forbes finished with 29 points.
The Panthers fought back and, with the return of Tignor, cut the lead to 77-68 with a furious 22-10 run. Tignor and Landon Machristie both had eight points in the run.
Fittingly, for this game, Weaver closed it out with six straight free throws to win by 13.
Cameron Lynch added 13 for the Bearcats. Paul Hubbard had 12, Jalen Heath 11 and Craig Copeland 10. Heath was 11 of 16 from the line.
Blake Hanson knocked down 25 points and grabbed seven rebounds for Wellborn before fouling out; he shot 18 free throws. Tignor finished with 15 points, Machristie had eight points and five rebounds, and Alquinarious Parker had a fine effort off the bench with 12 points and five boards.
Jacksonville Christian 74, Georgia SD 36
CAVE SPRING, Ga. – Walker Messer led four scorers in double figures with 19 points as the Thunder claimed its second straight victory.
Daylon Brackett added 14 points, Jayden Mitchell had 13 and Reed Murphy 11. Mitchell came within one rebound of a double-double. Kris Armprester had eight points and 14 rebounds, and Messer dealt six assists.
GSD’s David Martinez led all scorers with 22 points.
BOYS BOX SCORES
Weaver 83, Wellborn 70
WELLBORN — Alquinarious Parker 6 0-0 12, Kevin Mixon 1 0-0 2, Corri Tignor 6 3-8 12, Tyler Lewis 0 0-0 0, Landon Machristie 3 1-1 8, Jordan Montgomery 1 2-4 4, Quendarious Moore 1 2-2 4, Blake Hanson 7 9-18 25, Kenderious Weatherly 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 17-33 70.
WEAVER — Delo Forbes 11 6-8 29, Craig Copeland 2 4-6 10, Jalen Heath 0 11-16 11, Paul Hubbard 5 1-3 12, Elliott Moore 3 2-2 8, Cameron Lynch 3 7-15 13, Ducky Morris 0 0-0 0, Marcus Sanders 0 0-2 0. Totals 24 31-52 83.
Wellborn 11 21 16 22 — 70
Weaver 20 22 25 16 — 83
3-point goals: Wellborn 3 (Hanson 2, Machristie); Weaver 4 (Forbes, Copeland 2, Hubbard).
You must be logged in to post a comment Login