E.A. Sports Today

Man on the go

Ohatchee coach Ginn was a busy man Monday, coaching two teams through three games at two venues

By Jason Katz
For East Alabama Sports Today

GLENCOE – Bryant Ginn woke up Monday morning at 4:15. He probably ended up going to bed somewhere around midnight.

The long day he faced isn’t filled with working, though. To him, it’s full of the thing he loves to do most — coaching basketball.

The young Ohatchee High coach started the day with a nice “stress relieving” workout at the gym. Then it was a drive to the school to open the gym for his girls’ team to play in a holiday tournament at home. After that, he hopped on a bus with his boys’ team and made the trip to the opening round of Glencoe Holiday Shootout.

All that before 10 o’clock.

His boys team beat Cedar Bluff 54-39 with a dominating performance that lasted the entire the game. From there, it was on to two games with his girls, games they lost to Ranburne 44-35 and Pleasant Valley 52-43 in overtime.

But his day wasn’t finished when the games ended. After cleaning the gym and closing it, he will spend some time with his other girls – his wife and daughter.

Some might think he’s a bit off his rocker coaching this much but, he wouldn’t change it for the world.

“People say I don’t know how you do it and do you have enough energy,” said Ginn, one of two coaches in Calhoun County who oversees both the boys and girls varsity teams at his school. “I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t do both. I love the game and the strategy, but the hardest part is fitting in the family time and controlling the balance between watching film and preparing.”

As he tries to sneak in a nap between games this afternoon, his girls’ team will be preparing for their games. Some might say it would be hard to give attention to all of his teams, but Ginn thinks he gives all of his teams equal attention — especially on days like Monday.

“If you are asking them they all say that they are getting the same attention,” he said. “If they aren’t doing well, then we just back the other teams’ practice up. It’s pretty good because they don’t have to fight over gym time, and they know exactly what is going on.”

Getting up early and going to bed late seems to be second-nature to the coach as he beamed with a positive energy that for most is usually only accompanied by some sort of caffeine patch. His players though don’t seem to mind as the coach works triple duty, more times than not.
Austin Tucker, who had 26 points in the game against Cedar Bluff (14-of-14 from the line), doesn’t think his coach is distracted by his many obligations.

“He gives all of his teams’ special attention,” Tucker said. “He has the ability to make every player and team feel like his only one. He’s a great coach and I look forward to what we can do this year.”

Tucker is no newcomer to success. He was just announced as a Class 3A all-state honorable mention running back in football. The transition between sports took its toll on the junior as he talked about his recent success and pain that was associated with it.

“I am just now getting back to where I can play without hurting too bad,” he said. “It’s a long process, but rest over the break helps and I’m getting back to where I need to be.”

Ginn’s long days are long from over as he tackles the high school basketball landscape of northeast Alabama. He’ll be up and at it again Tuesday as the Indians face Boaz in a 3 p.m. semifinal.

“We’re down a starter (injured Micah Lee),” Ginn said. “The other guys are responding well and stepping up, so I think we are on the right path. We started off sluggish, but we picked up the pace and that allowed us to play very well today.

“I enjoy doing this. Now on to the next one.”

Ohatchee 54, Cedar Bluff 39

OHATCHEE — Ben Glass 1 0-0 2, Kevin Williamson 0 0-0 0, Jon Noel 2 0-0 4, Brennan Wink 2 0-0 4, Austin Tucker 6 14-14 26, Blaine Cole 0 0-0 0, Brian Jennings 5 2-3 12, Tristan Woodall 1 0-0 2, Sean Barnett 0 4-5 4. Totals 17 20-22 54.

CEDAR BLUFF — Rashawn Woods 1 0-0 3, Isiah Jones 4 0-0 8, Davion Fife 5 0-0 12, Darrion Marshall 0 2-3 2, Jordan McElory 0 0-0 0, Josh Decker 0 0-0 0, Ivory Starr 1 1-1 3, Michael Croft 1 0-0 2, DeAndrea Autry 2 2-2 6, Ross Johnson 1 0-0 3. Totals 15 5-6 39.

Ohatchee 8 14 16 16 — 54
Cedar Bluff 6 12 19 2 — 39

3-point goals: Cedar Bluff 4 (Woods, Fife 2, Johnson). Total fouls: Ohatchee 11, Cedar Bluff 20. Officials: Stephens, Douthitt, Truss.

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