Wonder Mike
- Updated: November 22, 2016
Tuesday boys roundup: White Plains’ McGuirk goes for 39 as Wildcats reach finals; Jacksonville’s Hunt wins coaching debut; Heflin, Talladega win
By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
LINCOLN (Nov. 22) — While everyone else was outside watching football games this fall, White Plains’ forward Michael McGuirk was spending his time inside the basketball gym putting up a “countless” number of shots and making up for lost time.
It’s been paying off big time. Tuesday night, McGuirk hit six 3-pointers and went for 39 points as the Wildcats thrashed Pell City 70-51 to reach the finals of the Lincoln Thanksgiving Tournament.
“I just knew I had to get better,” he said. “We lost a lot, so I just got in the gym every single day, two or three hours a day, every day, and I just kept getting better and better.
“During football season all I did was shoot. I knew we’d have to have it this year, and it’s paid dividends. And coach (Brandon) Crews has really made me a better player down low.”
A threat low or long, McGuirk has gone for 27, 31 and, now, 39 in the Wildcats’ first three games for 47 percent of their scoring output. On Tuesday he had as many points as Pell City in the first half while lifting his team to a 34-21 lead. He hit the 30-point mark with three 3-pointers against the Panthers’ zone in the third quarter.
When all the parts are working together like they did Tuesday, coach Chris Randall likens McGuirk’s production to “a really good running back that just rushed for 225 yards and his offensive linemen opened holes and the quarterback got him the football.”
If the current pattern holds, McGuirk stands to have an even bigger game in Wednesday’s 3 p.m. championship matchup against Sylacauga, although both he and Randall suspect the Aggies will be ready for him.
“I know I have to just attack, every time I get it attack,” McGuirk said. “And if teams start doubling me I’ve got some other guys I can pitch it to who can hit some shots … Tomorrow we’ll need Brett (Beaver) and Macey (Carr) to step up. Mace is going to have to have 20 and Brett is going to have to have 15; they’re a really good team.”
The Aggies fought Anniston to the wire in the first game of the year and they were having their way with host Lincoln in the first half of their semifinal Tuesday night.
McGuirk was in the gym so much this fall making up for the six weeks he lost in the summer after aggravating a back injury he initially suffered running hurdles this past track season.
Every time Randall turned around it seemed McGuirk was asking for the key to the gym.
“When he got the green light at the end of July he’s been possessed,” Randall said. “You never have to check on Mike. There are some people you have make them print out the shots they take on the gun, not Mike. Man, he’s hungry.
“He knows his role. He knows how important he is to us and he’s really stepped his game up.”
Jacksonville 68, Ragland 64
ASHVILLE — Cordell Hunt’s first game as a varsity head basketball coach didn’t start off well, but the Golden Eagles quickly got up to speed and and went on to give their coach his first victory in the opening round of the Coy Smith Memorial Thanksgiving Tournament.
The Golden Eagles fell behind 22-5 in the first quarter, but rallied with a 30-point second quarter to trail by only four at halftime. They cut their deficit to one after three and won in the fourth quarter.
“I think nerves probably got to us in the first quarter; we had a lot of unforced errors,” Hunt said. “But the second quarter I think we settled down and made them work for shots better. Teams that start hot don’t stay hot and I told them at halftime to continue to play and they’ll cool off.
“A lot of games last year we were down and we were done, but this year they kept fighting and fighting and ended up getting a lead and held on.”
Rivan Hill and DeAndre McCain got the Golden Eagles going in the second quarter. Hill finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds, while McCain finished with 16.
“It’s nice for your team to fight through some early adversity and get our first win together,” Hunt said. “You do not get a do-over on your first ever varsity basketball game. I’m glad we were on the positive side of it.”
The Golden Eagles will play host Ashville for the tournament title Wednesday at 1 p.m.
Cleburne County 69, Westminster-Oak Mountain 34
WINTERBORO – The Tigers were a late entry into the tournament and they walked away with the championship.
Senior Stashun Henson and freshman Caleb Brown scored 17 points apiece as the Tigers swept their season-opening event. Landon Embry added 10 points.
“They’re working hard and trying to do the stuff we’re teaching,” Tigers coach Ryan Chambless said. “There’s no substitute for trying to do it live and do it for a whole game; when you hadn’t done it, it’s tough to do, but we’re working hard at it and picking it up pretty good.”
Talladega 58, Chelsea 57
CHELSEA – Ashton Duncan capped a 20-point night by hitting two free throws with 10 seconds left to give the Tigers their second victory of the Chelsea Tournament. They will play Clay-Chalkville for the title Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Jae-Lyn Russ had eight points and nine rebounds, Fred Dickerson had eight points, and Chaztin Tanner had seven off the bench. Joseph Lanzi had 30 for Chelsea.
This story will be updated.
Tuesday’s games
Oxford 58, Etowah 40
Chelsea Thanksgiving Tournament
Talladega 58, Chelsea 57
Winterboro Thanksgiving Tournament
Championship Game
Cleburne County 69, Westminster-Oak Mountain 34
Coy Smith Memorial Boys Thanksgiving Tournament
at Ashville
Jacksonville 68, Ragland 64
Ashville def. Vincent
West End Boys Thanksgiving Tournament
Pleasant Valley vs. Brindlee Mountain, 4 p.m.
West End vs. Susan Moore, 8 p.m.
Lincoln Thanksgiving Tournament
Westbrook Christian 65, Moody 45
White Plains 70, Pell City 51
Lincoln vs. Sylacauga, 7 p.m.
Wednesday’s Games
Pleasant Valley in West End Thanksgiving Tournament
Chelsea Thanksgiving Tournament
Championship Game
Talladega vs. Clay-Chalkville, 6 p.m.
Coy Smith Memorial Thanksgiving Tournament
at Ashville
Ragland vs. Vincent, 11:30 a.m.
Jacksonville at Ashville, 1 p.m.
Lincoln Thanksgiving Tournament
Faith Christian vs. Westbrook Christian, noon
Pell City at Lincoln, 1:30 p.m.
White Plains vs. Sylacauga, 3 p.m.
LINCOLN THANKSGIVING TOURNAMENT
White Plains 70, Pell City 51
WHITE PLAINS (3-0) – Jaylen Jackson 0 0-0 0, Peyton Morgan 2 3-4 7, Dylan McCareeth 2 0-0 4, Justin Foster 1 0-0 2, Austin Bussey 1 0-0 2, Andrew McCarter 1 2-2 4, Michael McGuirk 11 11-17 39, Drake Preston 0 0-0 0, Macey Carr 2 2-4 6, Gavin Burrage 0 0-2 0, Brett Beaver 3 0-0 6. Totals 23 18-29-70.
PELL CITY – Tae Keith 3 1-3 10, Tyler Dowdy 0 0-0 0, Trey Evans 3 2-2 9, Hudson Hughes 1 0-0 2, Andrew Pender 3 2-2 8, Logan Estell 0 0-0 0, Jay Becnett 1 1-2 3, Jacob Allbritton 1 0-0 2, Brandon Calhoun 1 1-1 3, JaMichael Lipscomb 5 1-2 12, Kinsman Trammell 0 0-0 0, Tyler Locklar 1 0-0 2. Totals 19 8-12 51.
Pell City 12 9 15 15 — 51
White Plains 19 15 19 17 — 70
3-point goals: Pell City 5 (Keith 3, Evans, Lipscomb); White Plains 6 (McGuirk 6). Fouled out: Hughes, Lipscomb. Total fouls: Pell City 21, White Plains 12. Officials: S. Smith, M. Whiteside, W. Hunter.
COY SMITH MEMORIAL THANKSGIVING TOURNAMENT
Jacksonville 68, Ragland 64
JACKSONVILLE (1-0) – Rivan Hill 10-22 4-4 26, DeAndre McCain 5-11 4-7 16, Tahj Kirkland 2-7 1-2 7, Alex Gilbert 2-6 0-0 6, Alex Davis 1-4 2-2 4, Hunter Vinson 2-3 0-2 4, Jesse Wilson 1-2 0-0 2, Josh Glass 1-1 0-0 2, K.J. Satcher 0-1 1-2 1, Jay Davis 0-3 0-0 0, Quin Long 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-60 12-19 68.
RAGLAND – Jadon Killings 6-16 0-0 17, Stoney Merritt 6-7 0-0 15, Braxton Thomas 6-19 0-2 13, Tucker Kay 3-10 2-2 9, Jadon Ball 2-6 2-2 8, Coby Fuller 1-1 0-0 2, Jacob Phillips 0-2 0-2 0, Noah Hollingsworth 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-61 4-8 64.
Jacksonville 5 30 15 18 — 68
Ragland 22 17 12 13 — 64
3-point goals: Jacksonville 8-25 (Hill 2-8, McCain 2-7, Kirkland 2-5, Gilbert 2-4, J. Davis 0-1); Ragland 12-35 (Killings 5-13, Merritt 3-4, Thomas 1-11, Kay 1-2, Ball 2-5). Rebounds: Jacksonville 43 (Hill 10, A. Davis 6, J. Davis 6); Ragland 38 (Thomas 11, Kay 7). Total fouls: Jacksonville 5, Ragland 13.
Talladega 58, Chelsea 57
TALLADEGA – Fred Dickerson 2 4-4 8,, Chaztin Tanner 1 4-4 7, Syrese Scales 2 1-3 5, Jarvius McKenzie 1 0-0 2, Ashton Duncan 7 4-5 20, Chrishawn Williams 1 0-0 2, TraShaundra Bollen 0 0-0 0 Robert Houston 0 2-2 2, Jamontae Twymon 2 0-3 4, Jaedyn Russ 3 2-2 8. Totals 19 17-23 58
CHELSEA – Jack Vickers 0 0-0 0, Joseph Lanzi 10 7-7 30, Sem Towery 2 0-1 5, Matthew Menhard 1 1-1 3, S.J. Ridgevin 1 2-5 4, Josh Gregg 0 0-0 0, Will Rowser 1 0-0 2, Cole Glanden 0 0-0 0, Tyler Coleman 3 1-4 7, Jonah Moore 0 0-1 0, Josh Hanna 3 0-1 6. Totals 21 11-20 57.
Talladega 16 11 13 18 — 58
Chelsea 13 12 13 19 — 57
3-point goals: Talladega 3 (Duncan 2, Tanner); Chelsea (Lanzie 3, Towery). Fouled out: Russ. Total fouls: Talladega 22, Chelsea 20. Officials: Glover, Estes, Smith.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login