Having a little fun
- Updated: November 30, 2021
Girls roundup: Weaver guard Gibbs strikes a familiar pose in win over JCA; Anniston wins season opener
MONDAY’S GIRLS GAMES
Anniston 50, Munford 18
Ragland 56, Ohatchee 54
Spring Garden 72, Cleburne County 41
Weaver 46, Jacksonville Christian 35
Winterboro 60, Faith Christian 25
By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
WEAVER – D.J. Gibbs came down on the break, launched a 3-pointer from the top of the key that found nothing but net and her follow-through just naturally led to the Mantis pose, the signature Alabama move that was all over the Iron Bowl Saturday.
Don’t think it didn’t go unnoticed.
Gibbs’ trey 90 seconds into the second quarter was the only one by Weaver in the game. It helped her score a game-high 17 points that powered the Lady Bearcats to a 46-35 victory over Jacksonville Christian Monday night.
“I watched the Alabama game and I liked when they did it to Auburn,” she said. “It was very fun.”
She was going to do it again had she hit another one, but it never happened again on the floor. Once they got in the dressing room after the win was secured, however, it was a different story. They all did a group Mantis in there – even coach Gary Atchley.
“Thank God I coach a bunch of Alabama fans,” Atchley said. “They’re all excited about the ballgame. I just wish it wasn’t in the middle of the court in front of everybody, but I am a coach who has a lot of excitement and I expect them to play with a lot of excitement.
“I want them to have a good time out there and they are.”
Weaver used a series of turnovers to open leads of 13-2 and 18-7 behind Gibbs and Taylor Lawrence. The Lady Bearcats never trailed, but they could’ve been up by even more had they been more efficient in the offensive end.
“If you would’ve told me we would have missed 20 layups –maybe more – in one ballgame (and won) I’d have taken it at the beginning of the game and not even played,” Atchley said. “We’re going to continue to rep stuff we need to in practice and we’re going to keep getting better. I’ve got a bunch of girls who are trying to learn how to play basketball without a stud.”
One figures to arrive Thursday when Florida move-in Alyssa Freeman is expected to hit the floor for the first time.
JCA is in a similar learning mode and Lady Thunder coach Katy Bryant anticipates her team will improve as it gains more experience. They did outscore Weaver 23-17 in the second half.
Weaver 46, Jacksonville Christian 35
JCA (1-3) –Erin Prater 3 0-0 9, Kara Grace 2 2-2 6, Addy Lee 1 0-0 2, Kirsten Walker 2 0-0 5, Katie Beth Hudson 1 0-2 2, Ella Kines 0 0-0 0, Riley Sanders 0 0-0 0, Hanna Clayton 5 0-1 11. Totals 14 2-5 35.
WEAVER (2-2) –Madison Atchley 0 0-0 0, Erionna Richmond 2 4-5 8, D.J. Gibbs 7 2-3 17, Peyton Marvasty 0 0-0 0, Taylor Lawrence 4 0-0 8, Mollie Kirby 0 0-0 0, Tiana Lawrence 4 0-1 8, Neveah Hawkins 2 1-2 5, McKenley Davis 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 7-11 46.
JCA 5 7 10 13 – 35
Weaver 13 16 13 4 – 46
3-point goals: JCA 5 (Prater 3, Walker, Clayton); Weaver 1 (Gibbs). Total fouls: JCA 9, Weaver 12.
Spring Garden 72, Cleburne County 41
SPRING GARDEN – Neely Welsh scored 27 points on the strength of seven 3-pointers, Ace Austin scored 23 points and Spring Garden hit 15 3s as a team to send coach Ricky Austin to his 660th career victory in girls basketball.
Ace Austin and Neely both dominated in different halves. Austin scored all her points in the first half, while Neely had 20 in the second half.
Brooklyn McDaniel led Cleburne County with 26 points, pushing her career total to 1,317.
Spring Garden 72, Cleburne County 41
CLEBURNE COUNTY –Faith Brown 3 1-1 7, Karley Boyd 0 0-0 0, Jacy Littleton 0 0-0 0, Hailey Price 2 0-0 5, Alyssa Hunt 1 1-2 3, Brooklyn McDaniel 10 2-2 26, Kaydence Wright 0 0-2 0, Libby Altman 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 4-7 41.
SPRING GARDEN –Ace Austin 10 0-0 23, Kristen Lewis 0 0-0 0, Bri Boles 1 1-2 4, Kayley Kirk 1 0-0 3, Sarah Kate McKay 2 0-0 4, Libby Brown 1 0-0 2, Neely Welsh 10 0-1 27, Olivia Law 0 0-0 0, Maggie Reedy 0 0-0 0, Abbey Steward 3 0-0 9, Totals 28 1-3 72.
Cleburne Cou 10 11 12 8 – 41
Spring Garden 27 17 20 8 – 72
3-point goals: Cleburne County 5 (Price, McDaniel 4); Spring Garden 15 (Austin 3, Boles, Kirk, Welsh 7, Ab. Steward 3). Total fouls: Cleburne County 5, Spring Garden 9.
Winterboro 60, Faith Christian 25
ALPINE –Katelyn Brown scored 13 of her game-high 19 points in the third quarter as Winterboro erupted for 36 points to pull away for a 60-25 victory over Faith Christian. The Lady Bulldogs hit four of their seven 3-pointers in the quarter and seven players scored.
Winterboro 60, Faith Christian 25
FAITH CHRISTIAN –Arianna Arevalo 2-7 1-4 5, Anna Strautman 2-5 0-0 4, Serenity Pate 0-1 0-0 0, Joelle Tillery 3-4 1-2 10, Ally Folsom 1-9 1-4 3, Gabrielle Price 0-0 0-0 0, Meagan Ford 0-0 2-3 2, Jana Harrison 0-1 1-2 1. Totals 8-27 6-15 25.
WINTERBORO –Elizabeth Hunter 0 0-0 0, Katelyn Jones 3 1-2 8, Katelyn Brown 7 0-1 19, KB Brown 3 4-5 11, Amiya Garrett 4 0-1 11, Rachel Headen 2 0-0 5, Kataria Jackson 1 0-0 2, Trinitee Stone 0 0-0 0. Others 2 0-0 4. Totals 24-67 5-9 60.
Faith Christian 5 8 7 5 – 25
Winterboro 7 14 36 3 – 60
Headen). Rebounds: Faith 24 (Ford 9, Arevalo 8). Total fouls: Faith 15, Winterboro 12.
Anniston 50, Munford 18
MUNFORD – Tasia West hit 5-of-7 shots from the field, including both her 3-point attempts, to lead a balanced scoring attack in the Lady Bulldogs’ season opener. Serena Hardy and Tykeria Smith scored 10 points apiece.
Hardy had five assists and three steals. Shiwanna Jackson scored five points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
Ragland 56, Ohatchee 54
RAGLAND – Jorda Crook and Gracie George both had double-doubles for Ohatchee, but the Lady Indians couldn’t overcome shooting 2-of-21 from 3-point range and 14-of-23 from the free throw line.
Crook scored 24 points and grabbed 20 rebounds, while George scored 16 points and hauled down 11 boards. George was 6-of-8 from the floor. They also combined for eight steals.
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