County tourney
- Updated: January 18, 2020
Ohatchee boys, Piedmont girls open 69th Calhoun County Tournament with victories
CALHOUN COUNTY TOURNAMENT
All games at Pete Mathews Coliseum, Jacksonville
Friday’s scores
Boys game
Ohatchee 76, Donoho 56
Girls game
Piedmont 49, Donoho 25
Saturday’s games
Boys games
No. 14 Faith Christian vs. No. 11 Weaver, 10:30 a.m.
No. 10 Pleasant Valley vs. No. 15 Wellborn, 1:30 p.m.
No. 8 Jacksonville Christian vs. No. 9 Saks, 4:30 p.m.
No. 12 Ohatchee vs. No. 5 Sacred Heart, 7:30 p.m.
Girls games
No. 14 Weaver vs. No. 11 Faith Christian, 9 a.m.
No. 10 Jacksonville Christian vs. No. 15 Wellborn, noon
No. 8 Pleasant Valley vs. No. 9 Saks, 3 p.m.
No. 12 Piedmont vs. No. 5 Oxford, 6 p.m.
By Brant Locklier
For East Alabama Sports Today
JACKSONVILLE – Trey Pesnell got Ohatchee going with four three-point plays in the first quarter to help the Indians open a 15-point lead over Donoho on the way to a 78-56 win in the boys opener of the 69thannual Calhoun County Basketball Tournament.
Two of Pesnell’s 3s came the old-fashioned way – a basket and a free throw — and the other two came from behind the arc. His 12 points helped the 12th-seeded Indians jump out to a 17-2 lead.
The 13th-seeded Falcons never got closer than 13 points the rest of the way, but they would not quit. Amari Smedley was slashing to the basket and scoring 31 points and hauling down 11 rebounds in the game, while teammate Drew Williamson was knocking down 15 points.
Ohatchee coach Bryant Ginn pulled his starters a couple of times in the final quarter, but had to put them back in as Donoho would begin to rally, Pesnell returned and hit a couple quick baskets to stretch the lead. He finished with a career-high 25 points.
Cam Foushee was a beast on the boards, pulling down 11 rebounds to go with his 11 points.
“I thought our guys came out great,” Ginn said. “We had a tough game last night and I was worried how we would play. We shot well and got up and down the floor really good. We left a few points on the board, but we hustled and were balanced on scoring.
“Tonight it was Pesnell who was on fire and Foshee had a big game for us.”
The Indians will face fifth-seeded area rival Sacred Heart at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
Ohatchee 78, Donoho 56
OHATCHEE – Jacob Bowers 2 0-0 4, Jakob Buckelew 0 0-0 0, Tristan Easterwood 0 0-0 0, Cameron Foushee 5 0-0 11, Briley Hale 4 2-3 10, Nathan Higgins 1 0-0 3, Blake Hollis 2 0-0 5, Drake Hollis 2 0-1 4, Brent Murray 0 0-0 0,Trey Pesnell 10 2-2 25, Justin Powell 0 0-0 0, Domonique Thomas 1 0-0 3, Austin Wyatt 3 1-1 7, Jarod McFall 3 0-0 6. Totals: 33 5-7 78.
DONOHO – Jackson Barnett 0 0-0 0, Nick Goad 0 0-0 0, Amari Smedley 12 4-10 28, Grant Steed 4 0-0 9, Dorien Johnikken 0 0-0 0, Drew Williamson 4 4-5 15, Sam Payne 0 0-0 0, Dean Harrell 0 0-0 0, Connor Goodson 1 0-0 2, Brady Patterson 1 0-2 2, Richard Goad 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 8-17
Ohatchee 25 24 15 16 – 78
Donoho 10 20 5 21 – 56
3-point goals: Ohatchee 7 (Foushee, Higgins, B. Hollis, Pesnell 3, Thomas); Donoho 4 (Williamson 3, Steed). Total fouls: Ohatchee 20, Donoho 13.
Piedmont wins third straight
JACKSONVILLE – Piedmont’s Ava Pope buried a couple of 3s to help her team jump out to a quick 10-0 lead and then the Bulldogs dominated on the boards the rest of the way Friday night rolling to a 49-25 victory over Donoho.
The 13th-seeded Falcons were no match inside against the No. 12 Bulldogs. Freshman center Lele Ridley had a double-double in the first half with 12 points and 11 rebounds and she finished with a career-high 24 points, 16 rebounds and six blocked shots.
Donoho made a brief run at the Bulldogs in the third quarter, when Victoria O’Neill scored five straight points to trim Piedmont’s lead to 30-17, but the Bulldogs had more than enough to hold on for their third straight victory.
The Bulldogs will face fifth-seeded Oxford Saturday at 6 p.m.
This Piedmont team consists of two tenth graders and the rest are eighth and ninth graders.
“We started out the year scared to death in practice,” Bulldog coach Terrace Ridley said. ”However, with each success we are gaining confidence and you can see them getting better.
“These kids play all the sports together and they love each other and they work hard. The mistakes they make are of youth and they learn from it.”
In addition to Lele Ridley’s big game, sophomore Z’Hayla Walker added nine points and five rebounds. Freshman Whitney McFry scored no points, but hauled down even rebounds. Piedmont rebounded the Falcons 38-20.
The scrappy Falcons were led by O’Neill’s 11 points and 4 rebounds.
Piedmont 49, Donoho 25
PIEDMONT – Ava Pope 3 0-0 8, Emma G. Todd 0 0-0 0, Whitney McFry 0 0-0 0, Jaycee Glover 1 0-0 2, Lele Ridley 10 4-9 24, Hannah Barrbee 1 0-0 2, Armani Perry 2 0-4 4, Jenna Calvert 0 0-0 0, Sarah Goss 0 0-0 0, Gravie Naugherr 0 0-0 0, Z’Hayla Walker 3 3-5 9. Totals 20 7-18.
DONOHO – Anastasia O’Neill 0 0-0 0, Campbell Hagan 2 0-0 4, Victory O’Neill 3 2-2 11, Amelia Baker 0 0-0 0, Julia Clecker 3 0-3 6
Ryals Jones 0 0-0 0, Mya Pearson 0 0-0 0, Janie Sills 2 0-0 4, AG Jones 0 0-0 0, a,Calen Campbell 0 0-0 0. Totals 10 2-5 25.
Piedmont 16 9 10 14 – 49
Donoho 9 3 5 8 – 25
3-point goals: Piedmont 2 (Pope 2); Donoho 3 (V. O’Neill 3). Total fouls: Piedmont 12, Donoho 17.
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