E.A. Sports Today

Arnold lifts Bearcats

Boys roundup: Post player’s last-second bucket caps a big night, gives Weaver win over Alexandria; Saks wins again and more

By East Alabama Sports Today

GADSDEN — Don’t look now, but the Weaver Bearcats have a modest winning streak going that can do nothing but boost their confidence.

Malik Arnold capped off a 27-point night when he laid in a pass from Delo Forbes with two seconds left to give Weaver a 63-62 victory over Alexandria Monday in the Riley Whitaker Christmas Classic at Gadsden State.

It’s the Bearcats’ second win in a row after starting the season 0-6.

“It gives us a good boost of confidence,” Weaver coach Daryl Hamby said. “I thought we were playing well against Wellborn, then we ran into a White Plains team that’s really good. I think this gives us confidence.

“What I rally liked about it is we started sharing the ball … doing the little things right. That shows confidence not just as individuals but as a team.”

Marcus Swink’s putback off a missed free throw with 10 seconds left put Alexandria ahead before Forbes drove the floor to deliver the winning assist. Arnold had 10 points in the fourth quarter

“It was real exciting to pull it off because we had been in a slump and this game has made us realize we can compete with anybody,” Forbes said. “We’re on a two-game winning streak and we’ve got to keep pushing.

“When we went down by one I was frustrated because they got the rebound off their missed free throw, so when I had the ball I had the mindset that I’m going to score to win the game or get fouled or get someone else open for the winning shot. I drove and made Malik’s man help out and dished it to him. Malik played a solid game with some big layups and big rebounds.”

Jamal Tucker and Dalton Dodd were Alexandria’s top scorers with 13 points apiece.

Saks 62, Ohatchee 53

Phonso Ward and Jaylen Britt combined for 21 points in the first half as the Wildcats opened a 13-point lead.

Ward, a junior who has started at the 4 all year for the Wildcats after playing last season with the B team, had seven of his 15 in the first quarter. Britt finished with a team 24.

Ohatchee’s Austin Tucker led all scorers with 25 points. Brian Jennings had 14, eight in the first quarter.

Lincoln 50, Springville 40

The Golden Bears (13-3) jumped out to a 19-0 lead and put it on cruise control.

“The bench got a lot of playing time today, which was good for us because we are still trying to develop depth,” Lincoln coach Rush Rutledge said.

Ashville 58, Jacksonville 41

In a loser’s bracket game, the Golden Eagles fell into a first-quarter hole and couldn’t climb out.

D’Angelo Williams led the Bulldogs with 14 points and didn’t hit any of the eight of 11 3-pointers they hit in the game.

Blake Morris led Jacksonville with 11 points. Casey Trull scored six points, grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked seven shots.

CHEROKEE INVITATIONAL

CENTRE – Caleb McCord scored 15 points and Alex Taylor hit three 3-pointers as Faith Christian got back on the winning track with a 76-33 rout of Gaylesville in the opening round of the Cherokee Invitational. Jordan Griswould added 11 points for the Lions.

REGULAR SEASON

Donoho 78, JCA 71

Mitchell Baker scored 22 points and Garrett Steed scored 11 of his 13 points in the second half, including four free throws in the fourth quarter, as Donoho edged Jacksonville Christian.

Robert Clausen helped stake the Falcons to the lead with seven of his 18 points in the first quarter. He had 13 in the first half.

“Late in the game Robert and Steed were difference makers,” Donoho coach Alex Mastin said. “And remember Baker was out last season with a knee injury; he’s only going to get better.”

Walker Messer led the Thunder with 22 points. Reed Murphy scored 12 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter.

MONDAY BOXSCORES

RILEY WHITAKER CHRISTMAS CLASSIC

Weaver 63, Alexandria 62

WEAVER – Delo Forbes 3 2-5 9, Jalen Heath 1 0-0 2 Craig Copeland 3 0-0 7, Paul Holland 3 2-5 8, Landon Knight 1 2-4 4, R.J. Wooden 1 0-0 2, Maurice Goodman 1 1-2 4, Gio Mosley 0 0-0 0, Malik Arnold 10 7-11 27, Ducky Morris 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 14-27 63.

ALEXANDRIA – Riley Shaw 1 0-0 2, Austin Taylor 1 0-0 2, A.J. Martin 1 2-4 4, Dalton Dodd 5 1-1 13, Gerald Murphy 1 2-2 4, Jamal Tucker 3 7-9 13, Jordine Romine 1 0-0 2, Caleb Young 3 3-6 9, Marcus Swink 3 0-1 6, Luke Tucker 2 2-5 7, Totals 21 17-28 62.

Weaver 16 10 20 17 — 63
Alexandria 19 9 19 15 — 62

3-point goals: Weaver 3 (Goodman, Copeland, Forbes); Alexandria 3 (Dodd 2, L. Tucker). Technical fouls: Murphy. Fouled out: Heath. Total fouls: Weaver 26, Alexandria 23. Officials: Strong, Montgomery, Stringer.

Saks 62, Ohatchee 53

OHATCHEE — Ben Glass 4 2-3 10, Micah Lee 1 0-0 2, Jon Noel 0 0-0 0, Brennan Wink 0 0-0 0, Austin Tucker 7 10-16 25, Brian Jennings 5 4-7 14, Tristan Woodall 0 2-2 2, Sean Barnett 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 18-28 53.

SAKS — Jaylen Wynn 0 0-0 0, Demetrius Powell 1 4-8 6, Quay McCord 0 0-0 0, Quin Smith 2 1-3 6, Jaylen Britt 8 4-4 24, Phonso Ward 6 1-1 15, Demario Burnette 2 0-2 4, Trae Hughley 1 0-0 2, Darien Briskey 2 1-6 5, Landun Peters 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 11-24 62.

Ohatchee 11 13 14 15 — 53
Saks 20 17 15 10 — 62

3-point goals: Ohatchee 1 (Tucker); Saks 7 (Smith, Britt 4, Ward 2). Fouled out: Wink. Total fouls: Ohatchee 20, Saks 20.

Ashville 58, Jacksonville 41

JACKSONVILLE — Blake Morris 5-6 1-4 11, Casey Trull 2-11 2-3 6, Tahj Kirkland 2-5 1-2 6, Martavious Long 2-2 0-0 4, Rivan Hill 1-6 2-2 4, Taye Ackles 2-7 0-1 4, Jay Davis 1-2 0-0 2, K.J. Satcher 1-2 0-0 2, Alex Gilbert 1-6 0-0 2, Aaron Bragg 0-2 0-0 0
Collin Casey 0-0 0-0 0, Alex Davis 0-0 0-0 0, Terry Thomas 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 17-49 6-12 41.

ASHVILLE — D’Angelo Williams 6-14 0-0 14, Hunter Huckbay 3-5 4-8 11, Malek Williams 3-7 2-2 8, Landun Cornutt 3-8 1-1 8, Zarean Williams 3-7 0-0 7, Noah Cater 2-2 0-0 6, Reagan Wilson 1-3 1-2 4, Jaden Jones 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-46 8-13 58.

Jacksonville 3 13 15 10 — 41
Ashville 16 15 11 16 — 58

3-point goals: Jacksonville 1-10 (Kirkland 1-1, Hill 0-2, Ackles 0-3, Davis 0-1, Gilbert 0-1, Bragg 0-2); Ashville 8-11 (D. Williams 2-2, Huckbay 1-1, Cornutt 104, Z. Williams 1-1, Cater 2-2, Wilson 1-1). Rebounds: Jacksonville 32 (Trull 12); Ashville 35 (Z. Williams 8). Fouled out: Ackles. Total fouls: Jacksonville 14, Ashville 13.

CHEROKEE INVITATIONAL

Faith 76, Gaylesville 33

FAITH CHRISTIAN — Caleb McCord 6 1-3 15, Jordan Griswould 5 1-3 11, Riley Camp 1 0-0 3, Jameson Adams 1 0-0 2, David Wall 0 0-1 0, Jack Sills 4 1-4 9, Michael Kulick 4 0-0 10, Jameson Thacker 3 0-1 7, Alex Taylor 3 1-2 10, Julien Key 4 1-3 9. Totals 31 5-17 76.

GAYLESVILLE – Jon Bradley 0 0-0 0, Bradley Barnes 3 3-7 9, Austin Slayton 3 1-2 9, Austin Stordahl 1 3-3 5, Josh Bradley 0 0-0 0, Jacob Reynolds 0 0-0 0, Nick Grace 0 1-2 1, Dillon Harding 1 1-1 3, Colby Scott 0 3-3 3, Brayden Stordahl 1 0-0 3. Totals 9 12-18 33.

Faith Christian 22 25 20 9 — 76
Gaylesville 9 15 7 2 — 33

3-point goals: Faith 9 (McCord 2, Camp, Kulick 2, Thacker, Taylor 3); Gaylesville 3 (Slayton 2, B. Stordahl). Total fouls: Faith 20, Gaylesville 15. Officials: Hudgins, Pope, McKinny.

REGULAR SEASON

Donoho 78, JCA 71

JACKSONVILLE CHRISTIAN — Jimbo Tolbert 0 0-0 0, Jayni Moseley 2 0-0 4, Derrick Edmondson 1 0-0 3, Elijah McCormack 1 2-2 5, Walker Messer 5 10-14 22, Jayden Mitchell 2 3-5 7, Chase Cobb 0 1-2 1, Antwon Fegans 0 9-14 9, Reed Murphy 7 4-7 20. Totals 18 29-44 71

DONOHO — Reaves Nelson 0 0-0 0, Jack Svensen 1 1-3 3, Garrett Steed 4 5-8 13, Ross Svensen 1 2-2 4, Mateen Ibrahim 2 0-2 6, Joseph O’Neill 0 0-0 0, Ross Hagan 0 0-0 0, Tucker Sedmak 4 0-0 10, Mitchell Baker 8 5-9 22, Wilson Russell 1 0-0 2, Robert Clausen 8 2-7 18. Totals 29 16-31 78.

JCA 14 13 15 29 — 71
Donoho 21 15 20 22 — 78

3-point goals: JCA 6 (Edmondson, McCormack, Messer 2, Murphy 2); Donoho (Baker, Sedmak 2, Ibrahim 2). Fouled out: McCormack, Mitchell, Murphy, R. Svensen. Total fouls: JCA 26, Donoho 31. Officials: Caldwell, Stringer, Bankson.

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