Dodd breaks out
- Updated: December 23, 2015
Sophomore goes for 20 as Alexandria overwhelms shorthanded Ohatchee; Saks swamps Saints
By East Alabama Sports Today
GADSDEN – The road to Dalton Dodd’s big game didn’t just start when he got on the team bus Wednesday.
The Alexandria sophomore has spent countless hours bringing his game up to varsity speed after a frustrating series of ankle injuries set him back.
He had a breakout game Wednesday, scoring a game-high 20 points as the Valley Cubs overwhelmed Ohatchee 62-35 in their final game of the Riley Whitaker Christmas Classic.
“I’ve just really worked hard and I guess it was my time to show out,” Dodd said. “I’ve been shooting the ball well thanks to my teammates setting me up with open shots. We have other good shooters on the team and that really spreads the defense out and allows us to get nice looks.
“We struggled a little against Weaver and Glencoe … but today we were intense, played good defense and the offense just came to us.”
When Dodd made his varsity debut in the second game of the season against Southside, it was his first game of organized basketball in two years, when he was an eighth-grader playing on the ninth-grade team. He missed all of last season after breaking his tibia in his first AAU game following that season.
In order to catch up he has been working in the backyard, sometimes until 10:30 or 11:00 at night.
“He’s one of the hardest working players I’ve ever seen,” said brother Cody, a pitcher on the Alexandria baseball team. “He is doing nothing but basketball every day. If he’s not shooting or doing drills, he’s watching drills on YouTube to do the next time he goes to work. He has earned all of it.”
Valley Cubs coach Jason Johnson said he has noticed the improvements.
Dodd hit three of his four 3-pointers in the second half when he scored 13 of his points. He had 12 points against Glencoe and 13 against Weaver.
“A game like this means a lot; that all that work I put in through the struggles is paying off,” he said. “This is the best (game) I’ve had in a long time.”
Jamal Tucker added 12 points for Alexandria, 10 in the second half.
Ohatchee, meanwhile, wasn’t at full strength. The Indians had two starters – Micah Lee and Tristan Woodall – either out or limited in the game. Austin Tucker was their leading scorer with 11 points.
Saks 65, St. Clair County 39
Playing its seventh game in 10 days, Saks coach Jonathan Miller knew he was sending a tired team on the floor, but the Wildcats relied on their bench to get them through.
Darien Briskey scored 11 points and Landun Peters had eight as the Wildcats’ got 34 points from the bench.
“I was worried about our legs today and after the game started it was evident our starters’ legs were dead,” Miller said. “We relied heavily on our bench today and they did an outstanding job.”
Among Saks’ starters, Jaylen Britt and Phonso Ward each had nine points.
Alexandria 62, Ohatchee 35
ALEXANDRIA — Riley Shaw 2 0-0 5, Austin Taylor 0 0-0 0, A.J. Martin 1 0-0 2, Dalton Dodd 8 0-0 20, Gerald Murphy 3 0-0 6, Cole Nail 1 0-0 2, Jamal Tucker 5 1-3 12, Jordan Romine 2 0-0 4, Caleb Young 4 0-0 9, Marcus Swink 0 0-0 0, Luke Tucker 1 0-0 2, Josh Tucker 0 0-0 0. Totals 27 1-3 62.
OHATCHEE — Ben Glass 3 0-0 7, Kevin Williamson 0 0-0 0, Jon Noel 1 2-2 4, Bryant Dunaway 1 0-0 2, Brennan Wink 2 0-0 4, Austin Tucker 4 2-6 11, Blaine Cole 0 0-0 0, Brian Jennings 1 0-3 2, Tristan Woodall 0 0-0 0, Sean Barnett 2 1-2 5. Totals 14 5-13 35.
Alexandria 11 18 18 15 — 62
Ohatchee 6 8 10 11 — 35
3-point goals: Alexandria 7 (Shaw, Dodd 4, J. Tucker, Young); Ohatchee 2 (Glass, Tucker). Total fouls: Alexandria 15, Ohatchee 6.
Saks 65, St. Clair County 39
ST. CLAIR COUNTY – Jadarren Carter 0 0-0 0, Taylor Mickens 1 2-6 4, Colby Smith 0 0-1 0, Nyjil Cotton 0 0-0 0, Armond Brasfield 0 0-0 0, Michael Fisher 0 1-2 1, Grayson Beatty 4 1-2 9, Justin May 1 1-2 3, Mason Anderson 3 3-4 9, Temothee Smith 2 4-4 8, Garrett Sanders 2 0-2 4, Grayson Coupland 0 1-2 1. Totals 13 13-25 39
SAKS – Jalen Wynn 2 3-4 9, Demetrius Powell 1 2-4 4, Quay McCord 0 0-0 0, Quin Smith 1 0-1 2, Jaylen Britt 3 2-2 9, Davieuntae Booker 0 1-2 1, Malik Burns 0 2-2 2, Phonso Ward 3 3-6 9, Mario Burnette 2 3-3 7, Trae Hughley 1 1-2 3, Darien Briskey 3 5-8 11, Landun Peters 2 2-5 8. Totals 18 24-39 65.
St. Clair County 7 9 15 8 — 39
Saks 12 16 15 22 — 65
3-point goals: Saks 5 (Wynn 2, Britt, Peters 2). Total fouls: St. Clair Co. 21, Saks 21. Officials: Holmes, Warren, Morris.
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