In the right place

By EASportsToday.com
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Updated: December 12, 2016

Girls roundup: Lowery’s put-back in closing seconds lifts Alexandria over Wellborn in overtime, Jackson’s late overtime basket lifts Piedmont, Cleburne County remains unbeaten

Saks’ Miracle Dennard (20) goes flying between Piedmont’s Kaitlyn Ridley and Breanna Brazier (12) late in Monday night’s game. (Photo by B.J. Franklin/GungHo Photos)

Monday’s Games
Alexandria 66, Wellborn 64 (OT)
Spring Garden 74, Faith Christian 24
Lincoln at Talladega Co. Central
Oxford at Hewitt-Trussville
Piedmont 52, Saks 50 (OT)
Weaver at Cedar Bluff
Cleburne County 27, White Plains 22

By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today

ANNISTON (Dec. 12) — Shelby Lowery was in the right place at the right time.

Lowery’s putback with four seconds left in overtime gave the Alexandria girls a a 66-64 win over Wellborn.

Lowery had just been reinserted into the game when Bre Bradford fouled out with 32 seconds left in overtime. Sarah Kilgore put up the initial shot, a jumper in traffic from the right side. Lowery and Kameron Simpson were on the left side of the basket awaiting any rebound and the senior was there to grab it.

“I was just really nervous going into it, but I told Sarah to go up as far as she could and just try to get the foul and luckily I was able to get the rebound and go up with it,” Lowery said. “I just knew we had to score, so I just did my best. I was glad I was able to do it, and do it for the team.”

Wellborn’s Vanessa Carter led all scorers with 34 points. Itiania Weatherly had 18. The Lady Panthers rallied from six down in the final 46 seconds of regulation to force overtime and led 64-60 with 1:20 left in overtime.

“We did a good job of not totally losing our composure,” Valley Cubs coach Craig Kiker said. “We played pretty good defense on that last possession and got the ball out and ran like he like to do. We were in the right place at the right time on the back side.

“I’ve been telling the girls to shoot the ball when they get it on the block. It’s never terrible when you shoot it right there. It’s better than a turnover. Something good finally happened.”

Lowery finished with 10 points. Destiny Heathcock took advantage of Wellborn’s plan to double-team Bradford and led the Lady Cubs with a season-high 21 points. Her previous best was nine in the Cubs’ last game against Cleburne County; she had scored 46 points total in the nine games prior to Monday night.

“She made her shots tonight,” Kiker said. “She can get 17, 18 points a night if she wants to, if her shots go down. She’s got that potential to do that all the time.”

Piedmont 52, Saks 50 (OT)

ANNISTON – Cassidy Jackson also was in the right place at the right time. Jackson, subbing for injured Rebecca Smart, hit a backside bucket late in overtime to give Piedmont the win. The Lady Bulldogs led 31-17 at halftime, but needed Sydney Prater’s free throw to send the game into overtime.

Prater finished with 19 points. LuLu Jackson had 17 points and five rebounds. Breanna Brazier narrowly missed a triple double with nine points, seven rebounds and nine assists.

Cleburne County 27, White Plains 22

HEFLIN – Shawntavia Boyd scored seven points, Chelsea Parker grabbed 13 rebounds and the tenth-ranked Lady Tigers (8-0) hit 12-of-23 free throws to remain undefeated.

This story will be updated.

MONDAY’S GIRLS BOX SCORES

Alexandria 66, Wellborn 64 (OT)

ALEXANDRIA (5-5) – Molly Parker 1 0-0 3, Destiny Heathcock 8 5-6 21, Kayleigh Steen 1 2-2 4, Sarah Kilgore 2 0-0 5, Bre Bradford 5 6-10 16, Kaitlyn Harvey 1 1-2 3, Shelby Lowery 5 0-4 10, Allison Bonds 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 13-24 66.

WELLBORN (6-4) – Vanessa Carter 14 4-5 34, Anaya Lowe 0 0-0 0, Loni Welch 0 0-0 0, McKenzie Raines 0 0-0 0, Katessa Carter 1 0-1 2, DaNasia Ackles 0 0-0 0, Itiania Weatherly 8 2-10 18, Aliyah Thrasher 1 1-2 3, Markeisha Jones 2 3-6 7. Totals 26 10-24 64.

Alexandria 10 16 19 12 9 — 66
Wellborn 14 8 15 20 7 — 65

3-point goals: Alexandria 3 (Steen, Kilgore, Parker); Wellborn 2 (V. Carter 2). Fouled out: Bradford. Total fouls: Alexandria 16, Wellborn 16. Officials: Miller, Hollingsworth, Batey.

Cleburne County 27, White Plains 22
WHITE PLAINS – Rian Chandler 0 0-0 0, Hanna Dyar 1 0-0 2, Hannah Barno 2 1-1 6, Jordan Sabree 1 0-0 2, Landry Bussey 1 1-2 3, Chasity Nelson 0 0-0 0, Ary Rosario 0 0-0 0, Grey Young 0 0-0 0, Shelby Wood 2 3-5 7, Jocelyn Harris 1 0-1 2. Totals 8 5-8 22.

CLEBURNE COUNTY (8-0) – Shawntavia Boyd 1 4-6 7, Erykah Ware 1 2-6 4, Chelsea Parker 2 1-4 5, Lauren Brown 0 0-0 0, Kiara Akles 2 1-1 5, Alex Casey 0 4-6 4, Tatiana Ervin 1 0-0 2. Totals 7 12-23 27.

White Plains 6 3 7 6 — 22
Cleburne Co. 4 6 10 7 — 27

3-point goals: White Plains 1 (Barno); Cleburne County 1 (Boyd). Fouled out: Chandler. Total fouls: White Plains 19, Cleburne County 16. Officials: Aaron Kelley, Jason Tidwell, Thomas Pratt.