Hoops roundup: Big wins for WAP, Hatch, Lady Eagles
Published 12:00 am Thursday, January 19, 2006
The West Alabama Prep Titans ended a losing skid with a 68-63 win at home over Open Door Tuesday night, overcoming a huge night from Open Door’s Allen Locke.
WAP led 12-7 after the first quarter, stretched the lead to 32-21 at halftime, and looked to be in control with a nine-point lead, 48-39, entering the final quarter.
But Locke continued his torrid second-half shooting, finishing with 45 points and getting Open Door within five at the final buzzer.
Four different Titans finished in double figures, with Gene Samuels breaking out of a recent scoring slump to lead WAP with 18 points. He was followed by Mark Geiger with 17, Kyle Kennedy with 13, Daniel Logan with 10, Steven Cockreham with 6, Jake Rich with 2, and Jarrod Weaver and Chase Cameron with 1 each.
With the win, WAP improves to 6-10 on the season. They will travel to Marion Friday to take on eighth-ranked MMI.
R.C. Hatch 62, Greensboro 49
The state’s No. 2 2A team got a double-double from Calvin Pope to earn a home victory over the visiting Raiders.
Pope finished with 16 points and a team-leading 11 rebounds for the Bobcats. Frankie Sullivan scored 17 points, pulled down 6 rebounds, and made 3 steals while Phillip Johnson added 15 points and 5 rebounds. Hugh Turner also contributed 5 boards to the Hatch effort.
Greensboro was led by Ivory White’s game-high 19 points. Demarquelle Tabb and Adrian Williams also finished in double-digits with 10 points each. David tubs and Cedric Harris chipped in 3 each and Mike Wiggins scored 2 for the Raiders.
Hatch hosts Billingsley in an area game Friday while Greensboro will travel to Bibb Co.
MMI 80, Sumter Academy 48
Eighth-ranked MMI improved to 14-1 with a road win over the Sumter Academy Eagles.
Javoris Smith finished with 25 points to lead all scorers. He was joined in double figures by Kendrick Moore, who scored 19, and Wendell Moore and Amellio Fikes, who each scored 11. Jay Smith’s 6, Sam Greene’s 6, and Andrew Alexander’s 2 rounded out the scoring.
Senior forward Brandon Briggs notched 17 points to lead the Eagles, followed by Steven Ray’s 11, Joseph Reed’s 9, Hunter Spidle’s 5, Bill Tartt’s 2, Drew Stuart’s 2, and Ryan Guin’s 1.
MMI will play host to WAP Friday while Sumter faces Southern Academy at home in York.
Marengo Academy 58, South Choctaw 39
The Longhorns used a big third quarter to improve to 14-3 on the season with a comfortable victory at home over the South Choctaw Rebels.
After leading by five after both the first and second quarters, 17-12 and 26-21 respectively, the Longhorns outscored South Choctaw 17-9 in the third period to take a commanding 13-point lead.
Thomas Fultz scored a team-high 18 for the ‘Hortns, followed by Jacob Harris with 11, Randy Martin and Trey Rowell with 7, Kyle Stephens with 6, Josh Dunn with 4, Dustin Edwards with 3, and Beau Digmon with 2.
Marengo will seek to avenge their only area loss of the season Friday when they go on the road to face Wilcox Academy.
R.C. Hatch 53, Greensboro 44
The Bobcat “B” team picked up a nine-point victory at home over the Raider “B” team.
Hatch’s Rodney Scott scored 16 points to lead all scorers. William Cooke scored 13, Vincent Williams 7, Nicholas Johnson 6, Kejuan Brooks 4, Steven Jones 4, and Trenton Tucker 4 in the Bobcat win.
Greensboro was led by LaQuincy Braggs’ 9 points. He was followed by Javaris Davis with 8, Dontae Reeves with 8, Quintin Edwards with 7, Brad Ward with 6, Deandre King with 4, and DaMarcus Tubbs with 2.
R.C. Hatch 64, Greensboro 62
The Lady Bobcats got a huge fourth quarter from Vinecia Dudley to win a thriller between the state’s second-ranked 2A team and ninth-ranked 4A team.
Dudley scored 16 points in the final period on her way to a game-high 29. LaToria Paige added 16 points and 16 rebounds for Hatch while Ahjah Mitchell scored 9, Janita Essex 5, Sheleta Banks 2, and Ashley Walker 2.
As usual, Greensboro featured a balanced offense that put four players in double-figures. Kara Johnson, Brittney Skipper, and Shandrille Tabb each scored a team-high 13 points, followed closely by Jacques Winn’s 12. Vanessa Rhodes added 8, Sabrina Hurns 3, and Alesha Marsh 2.
Sumter Academy 51, MMI 42
The Lady Eagles scored a vital area win by upsetting previously undefeated and sixth-ranked MMI at home.
Sumter was led by senior Mallory Fox’s 16 points. Erin Ozment scored 14, Brandy Walden 9, Brittany Bishop 9, and Danielle Partridge 3.
The hardworking Lady Eagle defense held dangerous 6-3 MMI senior center Felicia Sprott to 12 points, well below her average. MMI was led by Emily Easley’s 14, followed by Yolanda Kelley’s 13, Sprott’s 12, Samantha Suttles’s 2, and Teressica Crews’s 1.
The loss dropped MMI to 13-1 on the season.
South Choctaw 55, Marengo Academy 26
The Lady ‘Horns fell behind early and lost to the visiting Lady Rebels.
Tina Allen finished with 6 points to lead Marengo. Abbey Huckabee and Amber Walker scored 5 each, Sydney Broadaway and Anna Edmonds 4, and Michelle