Special senior night
- Updated: January 29, 2024
Coach father, player son take the walk to midcourt along with 10 other Anniston senior players on a night when the Bulldogs sweep to victory.
Monday scoreboard
BOYS
Anniston 61, Alexandria 49
Jacksonville 66, Weaver 56
Cleburne County 57, Wellborn 34
Gaston 55, Jacksonville Christian 40
Ohatchee 55, Pleasant Valley 35
Glencoe 74, Lincoln 44
LaFayette 72, Wadley 57
GIRLS
Anniston 55, Alexandria 24
Jacksonville 71, Munford 11
Ohatchee 47, Pleasant Valley 29
Wellborn 58, Cleburne County 57
Gaston 44, Jacksonville Christian 23
Wadley 40, LaFayette 19
By Joe Medley
East Alabama Sports Today
ANNISTON — Torry Brown spent his first 12 seasons as a head basketball coach clapping smiling and hugging his way through senior nights. He had escort duty for his 13th senior night.
Along with wife Deidra, Brown walked son Kyron to the midcourt circle Monday, posed for pictures and soaked in the moment before his Anniston team embarked on a 61-49 victory over visiting Alexandria.
“It was a little different,” he said. “We’ve been preparing for this one for a long time, man.
“I’m happy for him. I hate to see him go, of course, like any of the other kids, especially when kids are just now starting to get it. It always seems like, just when kids are starting to get it, time runs out. From a personal standpoint, it’s sort of bittersweet.”
Kyron Brown was one of six seniors honored before Monday’s game, along with five senior players honored immediately after they beat Alexandria 55-24.
Brown joined teammates Jacorey Lane, Isaiah Allen, Devin Coleman, Deroy Francis and T.K. Downie.
The girls’ senior-night player contingent included Layla Tyus, A’Kayla Perry, J Oliver, Serena Hardy and Tykeria Smith.
The Browns enjoyed a night of business and pleasure together. Asked what it was like to walk out with his dad, Kyron called it a “tough question.”
“It just felt like another day in the gym,” he said. “I’ve been going with him since I was 3 years old.”
What’s it like to play for dad? Kyron said his dad coaches him at home and in the gym. Basketball is a frequent topic.
“I wouldn’t say rough, but it’s challenging,” Kyron said. “You’re expected to do much because you’re the coach’s son. I try my best to just do my part and help the team win.”
Brown was part of Anniston’s big first quarter Monday. He hit three 3-pointers for all of his nine points as the Bulldogs got out to a 16-2 lead and led 21-11 at quarter’s end.
Lane scored seven of his game-high 18 points in the first quarter, and Francis hit one of Anniston’s five first-quarter threes on the way to 14 points.
“We were fortunate enough to hit some shots early, and it gave us a little confidence,” Torry Brown said. “It picked our defense up a little bit.
“We tried backing our press back a little bit to try to shrink the court and try to keep the ball out of No. 14’s (Quendavion McDowell’s) hands.”
McDowell, whom Brown called “an animal” and “relentless,” finished with 11 points. Cole Wheeler led Alexandria with 14, and Drake Davis hit three threes on the way to 13.
Alexandria rallied from its slow start, chipping away at the lead until closing within 46-42 in the fourth quarter. The Valley Cubs immediately had a chance to get closer when Allen was called for a pushoff on the ensuing inbounds.
Anniston got a stop and scored the next six points.
“Tkey kicked our tails all night,” Alexandria coach Will Ginn said. “We didn’t come prepared to play, and that’s my fault. They were the aggressors all night, and it looked like we got intimidated.”
Girls
ANNISTON 55, ALEXANDRIA 24: Hardy led the way with 14 points, Perry added 10, Kiara Thomas nine and Tyus eight as Anniston enjoyed a happy senior night.
The Bulldogs improved to 24-4, and 19th-year Anniston coach Eddie Bullock took the occasion of senior night to celebrate what his five seniors have accomplished … and still can.
“Sometimes, I don’t think they realize what they actually have accomplished,” he said. “Theoretically, we could be undefeated this year. I keep trying to express to them how good they could actually be, even compared to some of the other teams I’ve had.
“It’s a matter of getting them to accept it.”
Landry Patterson hit two 3-pointers and led Alexandria with six points, and Allyssa Hunt added five. The Valley Cubs hung within 9-7 at the end of the first quarter.
“We got outrebounded and did too many silly things on the offensive end,” Alexandria coach Craig Kiker said. “We did it in the second quarter this time, and we didn’t play real well in the second half of the third quarter.
“We’ve just got to keep working and keep getting better.”
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