Thursday boys roundup

Classics at Champions: Weaver avenges season-opening loss, Lincoln takes down Alexandria in OT, Shadrix’ sizzling shooting lifts White Plains, and more

To see more photos from the Champions Christmas Classic, visit www.bjfranklin.smugmug.com

By East Alabama Sports Today

Weaver coach Marcus Herbert wouldn’t be quite truthful if he didn’t say he wasn’t looking forward to Thursday’s rematch with Southside in the opening game of the Champions Christmas Classic.

Not so much because it would be his first chance to get some payback on a team that had beaten his Bearcats earlier in the year, but to show just how much they had come around since that first meeting.

The Bearcats did both in the game, beating the Panthers 57-46 to avenge the loss in Herbert’s first game as a varsity head coach and show they weren’t the same team that showed up for that season-opening game.

“I knew we were going to play them again and I was looking forward to playing them again because I knew if we played to our capability we could get them,” Herbert said. “I told the guys we owed them one because I know we didn’t play them best the first game of the year, but at the same time I treated it like another day at the office.

“Since that first game I think we’ve improved defensively, we’re playing better team ball and we’re playing well on offense. We’ve got a way to go, but we’re putting more together since then. I think from the first time to where we are now I’ve gotten a little bit calmer. I know I harp on the kids about playing perfect, which isn’t going to happen, but once they understand when they play smart we’ll be hard to beat.”

There was a lot different from that first meeting Thursday. For starters, brothers Blake and Brock Habyan went for 16 and 22, respectively. In this one, Shamar Spinks and Robert Gaines (with help from Gary Wallace and DeAndre McCain) held them to six points apiece.

One thing that didn’t change was Gaines’ importance to the offense. He went for 28, scoring 15 in the first half and 11 in the first quarter as the Bearcats opened a 19-7 lead. Amardric Elston had 11 points, nine in the second half after Southside closed to within one at halftime.

“I told Robert a couple days ago I know you want to play out there on the perimeter but I know with your speed and size you can give people trouble on the block,” Herbert said. “He’s understanding with his body what he can do. All the pieces are starting to fall together.”

Herbert and the Bearcats may get their next chance to exact some revenge on the only other team to beat them so far this season if they meet White Plains later in this tournament since they’re both now in the winner’s bracket. If not then, it’ll be Jan. 4 when they meet at Weaver.

Weaver 57, Southside 46
WEAVER – Taylor Deck 0 0-0 0, Brandon Heath 3 0-0 7, Robert Gaines 13 1-3 28, Shamar Spinks 3 0-0 6, Gary Wallace 1 0-0 2, DeAndre McCain 1 0-0 3, Amardric Elston 4 3-4 11. Totals 25 4-7 57.
SOUTHSIDE – Jordan Grantland 1 0-0 2, Blake Habyan 2 0-0 4, Daniel Lawley 0 0-0 0, Colton Morrison 9 2-2 21, Thomas Simmons 4 0-0 10, Brock Habyan 2 2-4 6, Parker Crask 1 1-1 3. Totals 19 5-7 46.
Weaver 19 9 15 14 – 57
Southside 7 20 11 8 – 46
3-point goals: 3 Weaver (Heath, Gaines McCain); Southside 3 (Morrison, Simmons 2). Total fouls: Weaver 8, Southside 8. Officials: Walker, Brumford, Mason.

Lincoln 68, Alexandria 64

Brian Garrett scored a career-high 32 points, including seven in overtime, to lift the Golden Bears to victory in the best tournament game of the night.

The Valley Cubs rallied from an early 13-point deficit to take the lead on Joe Tucker’s 3-pointer with 1.5 seconds left in regulation. Officials ran the clock back to 3.5 seconds and Lincoln’s Jack Wood hit his only 3-pointer of the game at the buzzer to force overtime.

Once the extra session started Garrett hit a shot to put Lincoln in front and the Golden Bears pulled away.

“We have played a tough schedule and we have been close against some outstanding teams,” Lincoln coach Jeff Lumpkin said. “Our kids battled again tonight and came out on top.

“The play at the end of regulation was executed perfectly. We have confidence in Jack to make that shot. Brian made an unbelievable shot to put us up in overtime.”

Garrett had games of 27 and 28 points last year for Lincoln. He had 16 in each half Thursday. Tre Garrett gave the Golden Bears 20, including hitting five 3-pointers.

Landan Williams led Alexandria with 17 points. Tucker had 13 and Jalen Borders had 10.

The Golden Bears will play White Plains Friday at 7:30. Alexandria will play Ashville at 4:30.

Lincoln 68, Alexandria 64
LINCOLN – Brian Garrett 10 9-11 32, Cam Reynolds 2 0-2 5, Tre Garrett 7 1-2 20, Jakahri Howard 1 0-0 3, Steve White 0 1-2 1, Kevon Moore 0 0-0 0, Jack Wood 3 0-0 7, Trevon Hines 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 11-17 68.
ALEXANDRIA – Adam Young 2 2-4 6, Julian Wright 3 3-7 9, Joe Tucker 4 4-4 13, Landon Comer 0 0-0 0, Romeo Dye 1 0-0 3, Jared Ponder 1 2-2 4, Khalil Francis 1 0-0 3, Jalen Borders 5 0-0 10, Landan Williams 8 0-0 17. Totals 25 11-17 64.
Lincoln 19 17 9 13 10 – 68
Alexandria 10 13 17 18 6 – 64
3-point goals: Lincoln 11 (B. Garrett 3, Reynolds, T. Garrett 5, Howard, Wood); Alexandria 43(Tucker, Dye, Francis). Fouled out: Ponder. Total fouls: Lincoln 19, Alexandria 17. Officials: Childs, Prater, Dupree.

White Plains 68, Ashville 43

Simeon Shadrix hit six 3-pointers for 18 points and the Wildcats nailed 12 from behind the arc in the game. Shadrix hit four treys in the first quarter as the Wildcats opened a 26-9 lead. The Wildcats added four more in the second quarter extending their lead to 49-17 at halftime. Jacob Wheeler hit three 3s and scored 15 points and Brody Baker had 12.

White Plains 68, Ashville 43
ASHVILLE – Daniel Welch 2 0-0 5, John Phillips 1 0-0 2, A.J. Lapano 6 0-1 12, Cesar Segura 2 0-0 5, Christopher Sanders 3 1-2 8, Caleb Bailey 1 0-0 3, Jacob Wilson 0 0-0 0, Perkins Carden 1 0-0 2, Dalton Cole 1 0-0 2, Landon Vann 1 0-0 3. Totals 18 1-3 43.
WHITE PLAINS – Coleman Messer 0 1-3 1, Quin Wilson 2 1-1 5, Jaden Chatman 0 2-2 2, Simeon Shadrix 6 0-0 18, Jacob Wheeler 6 0-1 15, Brody Baker 5 2-3 12, Matthew Clay 0 1-2 1, Jaden Harris 1 0-0 3, Kahlil Williams 1 0-0 2, Gavin Burrage 3 1-2 9. Totals 24 8-14 68.
Ashville 6 11 8 18 – 43
White Plains 29 20 3 16 – 68
3-point goals: Ashville 6 (Welch, Segura, Sanders, Bailey, Carden, Yann); White Plains 12 (Shadrix 6, Wheeler 3, Harris, Burrage 2). Total fouls: Ashville 15, White Plains 9. Officials: Walker, Dupree, Childs.

Springville 72, Ohatchee 28
SPRINGVILLE – Hudson Kersh 2 0-0 5, Aaron Byars 2 0-0 4, Brandon Daniels 1 1-2 3, Max Harrison 5 4-4 15, Justin Bromley 3 0-0 8, Cameron Bonner 3 2-2 8, Chase Isbell 2 4-4 8, Jacob Goolsby 3 0-0 7, Cole Clark 2 0-0 4, Ben Bianchi 5 0-0 10. Totals 28 11-12 72.
OHATCHEE – Nathan Higgins 0 0-0 0, Trey Pesnell 1 0-0 3, Grayson Alward 0 0-0 0, Todd Dover 0 0-0 0, Cameron Foushee 2 0-2 5, Evan Keller 4 1-2 12, Bayley Tillison 1 0-0 2, Briley Hale 2 2-4 6. Totals 10 3-8 28.
Springville 24 17 22 9 – 72
Ohatchee 9 11 7 1 – 28
3-point goals: Springville 5 (Hudson, Harrison, Bromley 2, Goolsby); Ohatchee 5 (Pesnell, Foushee, Keller 3). Fouled out: Hale. Total fouls: Springville 13, Ohatchee 14. Officials: Montgomery, Tillery, Wright.

Carrollton Holiday Tournament
Oxford 69, Marietta (Ga.) 60

CARROLLTON, Ga. – Roc Taylor and Zondrick Garrett scored 20 points apiece and Oxford won its seventh in a row in the opening round of the Carrollton Christmas Tournament. Eugene Leonard also scored in double figures for the Yellow Jackets, picking up 14.

Taylor scored 16 of his points in the second half and Garrett scored eight in the fourth quarter.

“I thought it was all our team taking what they gave us,” Oxford coach Joel VanMeter said. “Roc had a great game because he had the mismatch. Our maturity level allowed us to go to him and he produced. Guys connected.”

The Yellow Jackets play Gainesville in the winner’s bracket semifinals Friday.

Oxford 69, Marietta (Ga.) 60
OXFORD – Zondrick Garrett 9 2-2 20, Eugene Leonard 5 2-3 14, Mont McClendon 3 1-2 9, Kobe Warren 1 1-2 4, Roc Taylor 10 0-0 20, Justin Moore 1 0-0 2, Milas Jackson 0 0-0 0. Totals 29 6-9 69.
MARIETTA – Josh Clore 4 2-4 11, Treylan Smith 5 5-7 17, JaQuan Harris 0 0-0 0, John Allen 4 0-0 10, Travis Burris 6 0-0 14, Ezekiel Godwin 0 0-0 0, C.J. Sinclair 4 0-0 8. Totals 23 7-11 60.
Oxford 16 17 19 17 – 69
Marietta 16 10 18 16 – 60
3-point goals: Oxford 5 (Leonard 2, McClendon 2, Warren); Marietta 7 (Clore, Smith 2, Allen 2, Burris 2). Total fouls: Oxford 10, Marietta 15.

Regular season
Talladega 86, Clay Central 50

TALLADEGA – Kobe Simmons had a huge double-double in the first half in Chuck Miller Arena and didn’t slow down after the break. He had 25 points and 10 rebounds at halftime and finished with 29 points and 10 boards. D’Corian Wilson had 17 points – 13 in the first half – and seven rebounds, while Aaron Green and Chaztin Tanner had 11 points apiece.

Talladega 86, Clay Central 50
CLAY CENTRAL – Paul Garrett 1 0-0 2, Noah Garrett 1 0-0 3, Darion Thomas 1 0-0 2, Jacon Wood 1 0-1 2, DeWayne Garrett 2 0-0 4, Shannon Simmons 5 6-9 16, J.D. McNeely 6 1-8 13, Jamarcus Sclaes 0 0-0 0, Jaylon Bass 3 2-5 8, Micah Harris 0 0-2 0. Totals 20 9-25 50.
TALLADEGA – Nigel Scales 0 0-0 0, Chaztin Tanner 4 1-2 11, Jaquan Chatman 0 0-0 0, Aaron Green 4 2-3 11, Rontavious Barclay 3 0-1 7, D’Corian Wilson 7 2-3 17, Raderrius Montgomery 3 0-1 6, J.Q. Wilson 2 1-3 5, Kobe Simmons 12 2-2 24, Brocker Simmons 0 0-0 0. Totals 35 8-15 86.
Clay Central 18 15 9 8 – 50
Talladega 21 28 25 12 – 86
3-point goals: Clay Central 1 (N. Garrett); Talladega 8 (Tanner 2, Green, Barclay, D. Wilson, K. Simmons 3). Total fouls: Clay Central 14, Talladega 17. Officials: Evans, Oden, Morris.

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