From the AHSAA
MONTGOMERY – Three strong defensive performances during the Christmas break grabbed center stage in the first AHSAA Basketball Spotlight of the 2021-2022 season.
On the boys’ side, 6-ft, 195-pound senior guard Isaiah Sims of Pinson Valley High School set an AHSAA boys’ basketball record by taking eight charges in a single game versus Charles Henderson High School in a game played prior to Christmas. He added 10 points and eight rebounds in the 61-51 win over the Trojans for the Class 6A Indians of Coach Darrell Barber.
Taking charges is one of the newest records in the AHSAA Record Book. The previous record (5) was set by Plainview’s Tristian Willingham in a win over Sylvania in 2018.
Capturing the girls’ spotlight were two strong rebounders from Class 3A – Makayla Langston of Reeltown High School and Lameria “Coco” Thomas of Prattville Christian. Langston cleared 28 rebounds, including 16 offensive boards, and scored 21 points in the Rebels’ 66-57 win over Horseshoe Bend. She followed with 21 rebounds in a 35-31 loss to LAMP.
Her rebound total ranks tied for 15th in the AHSAA Record Book with Whitney Davis of Berry High School of Fayette County in a 2011 game versus Phillips of Bear Creek. The record (38) was set by Childersburg’s Maida Harris versus B.B. Comer in 1999. She is averaging 15.4 rebounds a game this season for the Rebels.
Thomas, a 5-foot-11 junior for Prattville Christian, pulled down 27 rebounds and scored 22 points in a 43-37 win over Montgomery Academy at the Jack Schweers Capital City Conference tourney in December. The 27 rebounds rank tied for 17th all-time for most rebounds in a single game in the AHSAA. She and 6-foot junior teammate Hannah Jones are big reasons the defending Class 3A Lady Panthers of Coach Jason Roberson are currently 20-0 heading into Friday’s game at Montgomery Catholic.
“We’re definitely different,” Roberson said in a recent River Region Sports interview. “Last year, especially at the beginning of the year, we were guard oriented and we were trying to grow our young post players. As they improved and as they had some good games, confidence comes. Right now, both of them are very confident players, our team knows that, so we look for them.”
PCA has now won 25 games in a row dating back to last season. Thomas and Jones combined for more than 750 rebounds for last year’s state champs in 34 games.
Reeltown’s Solomon says his rebounding standout Langston really showed what she was capable of in the tough win over Horseshoe Bend.
“Makayla really stepped it up, especially in the fourth quarter,” Solomon told the Alex City Outlook. “I think Makayla really rose to the challenge down the stretch.”
The defensive efforts edged out two strong 3-point shooting performances by Homewood High School’s Lady Patriots and Priceville High School’s boys team.
Homewood beat Bibb County in December 58-54 with seven different players sinking 3-point goals in the win. Annie McBride and Madeline Massie had two each for the Lady Patriots (11-7) while Charlotte Deerman, Katelyn Pope, Lydia Pope, Hollis Tangye and Madeline Alford sank one each for a total of treys in the win.
Katelyn Pope is a senior, Madeline Massie is a junior and the other five girls for Coach Gavin King’s team are ninth graders.
The AHSAA girls’ state record for most players on one team making a trey in a contest is eight, set by Locust Fork in a 95-36 win over J.B. Pennington in 2018. The Hornets had 20 3-pointers in that win.
Priceville’s boys, coached by Gordon Dilbeck, beat Brewer 80-47 in December with eight Bulldogs sinking a combined 16 3-point goals in the win. Sammy Holmes led with five treys, followed by Elijah Hopkins with three, Tyler Case and Cole Linderman, two each, Brody Long, Kekey Fletcher, Chris Thomas and William Baker, with one each. Brewer also had three players sink a total of seven 3-pointers – Russell Mahan had four, Mac Shadden had two and Xavier Toney had one.
The two schools combined for 23 treys from 11 different players.
The AHSAA boys’ single-game record for most players making a 3-pointer is 16, set by Plainview (10) and North Sand Mountain (6) in a 119-55 win by the Bears in 2018.
North Sand Mountain and Gaston had 14 players can treys in a 105-51 Bison win last season. The 11 by Priceville and Brewer ties Hayden and Cleveland in a 101-74 Hayden win in 2017 for third in the AHSAA Record Book.
MILESTONES DEE SMITH, PARK CROSSING: Had 24 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds in a 72-59 win over Bullock County for the Thunderbirds (14-3). He also had 20 points and 15 assists in a 64-53 win over Selma and has had 10 assists or more in eight games this season including five of Park Crossing’s last six games. The 15 assists tied for 18th most all time according to the AHSAA Record Book. The single-game state record (21) was set by Shoals Christian guard Chad Burdine in the 2002-2003 season.ALEX ODAM, PIEDMONT: Reached 2,000 career points with 15 in a 54-42 boys’ basketball loss to Saks. He also scored a career-high 43 points in a 73-57 win over Glencoe and scored 18 points, including a basket with 15.4 seconds left, to give his team a 55-53 boys’ basketball victory over Fort Payne in the semifinals of the Champions Boys Christmas Classic.
BELLA MILLIRONS, WESTBROOK CHRISTIAN: Scored 30 points and had 15 steals in a 79-23 girls’ basketball victory over Gaston. The steals tied Athens Bible’s Carson Fielder (2017) for third-most in a game in AHSAA history. She also had 29 points in a Westbrook’s 85-66 win over Ragland to go over 1,500 points for her career. Wanda McDaniel of Speake High School set the state record for steals in a game 1993 with 23 and Leah Strain of Woodland had 16 in the Bobcats’ 89-26 win over Lineville in 2009.
DRAKE JAMES, HALEYVILLE: Scored a career-high 37 points in a 73-66 win over Pleasant Grove in late December to go over 1,000 points scored for his career.
LELE RIDLEY, PIEDMONT: Scored 13 points and added 10 rebounds in a 50-38 girls’ basketball loss to East Paulding in the Haralson County (GA) Tournament. The junior hit a free throw in the final minute to reach 1,000 career points.
Other top performances reported include:
GIRLS SANIYA KEYS, COTTONWOOD: Managed 39 points to lead Cottonwood past Geneva County 71-70 in a Class 2A, Area 2 game.TANITA SWIFT, CENTER POINT: The Eagles’ point guard and senior team captain scored 30 points in a 49-48 loss to Oneonta. She scored a season-high 37 points and grabbed 13 ebounds in a 71-43 win over Cordova earlier in this season.
KENDALL LACOSTE, UNIVERSITY CHARTER SCHOOL: Had 30 point and 10 rebounds in a 55-54 loss to A.L. Johnson. She also scored 37 points and was 15-of-15 at the foul line in a 54-48 loss to Washington County earlier this season.
CALEY GARRETT, SAND ROCK: Sank seven 3-pointers and finished with a career-high 31 points in a 84-36 girls basketball win over Locust Fork. She also added seven steals.
RAEGAN RICKARD, DESHLER: The Tigers’ point guard managed 14 points and 12 assists in an 82-32 win over Giles County (TN) last week.
MARLIE GILES, CHILTON COUNTY: The senior, who is averaging 13.6 rebounds per g game, had 19 rebounds and 16 points in a recent 51-44 win over Stanhope Elmore. She also had five steals and three blocked shots. Her season high is 21 rebounds in s 62-46 loss to Saint James earlier in the season.
MIA HOLLINGSWORTH, HAMILTON: Scored 25 points, had eight assists and four steals as the Aggies downed Haleyville 69-36.
MADDIE DOWLING, GULF SHORES: Had 25 points, including 10 in the final quarter, to spark the Dolphins (13-6) a 48-46 win over McGill-Toolen Catholic to win the William Mitchell Memorial Tourney at UMS-Wright.
LINDSEY MURR, LINDSAY LANE: The junior had 39 points in a 56-25 win over Woodville and 41 earlier this season in a 57-46 win over Section. She is currently averaging 23.3 points per game.TIANA SMITH, DAPHNE: Had 12 points and eight rebounds in the finals of the Daphne Holiday Hoops Classic won by unbeaten Harrison Central, Miss. (19-0) over the Trojans 56-25. She also had 12 points and 16 rebounds in a 51-41 semifinal win over Blount and totaled 10 points and nine boards in a 54-20 win over St. Luke’s Episcopal in the quarterfinals.
BOYS JA’BORRI McGHEE, WINFIELD: Had a season high 47 points in a 90-68 win over Oakman, 38 points and 14 rebounds in a 77-57 win over Sulligent and had 26 points in 26 minutes of play in a 61-40 win over Prattville Christian. He currently leads the AHSAA this season with 30.9 points per game.JAYDEN SCOTT, PARK CROSSING: Had 10 steals and eight points in a 59-55 win over Hewitt-Trussville.
CHRISTIAN ROSS, DALE COUNTY: The junior forward cleared 21 rebounds and scored 20 points in a 52-34 Warriors’ win over Pike County.
CHANDLER SULLIVAN, NORTH SAND MOUNTAIN: Cleared 24 rebounds and had 22 points in the Bison’s 88-55 win over Pisgah.
BRAYLON WASHINGTON, CITRONELLE: The 6-7 senior had 20 points and 21 rebounds in a 73-60 win over Thomasville.
CAMERON SWAIN, TALLADEGA COUNTY CENTRAL: The 6-6 senior blocked seven shots, cleared 20 rebounds and scored 14 points in a 51-36 setback to Childersburg.
TAY KNOX, CHARLES HENDERSON: Totaled 33 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots in the Trojans’ 92-69 win over Carver-Montgomery at the Dwight Madison Tourney at Montgomery.
JAYDEN PARKS, BRANTLEY: Had 27 points in a 71-52 win over Pike County as Brantley went undefeated to win the Pea River Christmas Classic tourney at Elba.
J.D. WILLIAMS, LAFAYETTE: Was 8-of-11 from the 3-point arc and totaled 30 points in a 65-58 win over Wadley last week. The 5-foot-7 senior guard also sank 8-of-9 treys attempted to finish with 24 points in the Bulldogs’ 70-32 win over Horseshoe Bend earlier in the season.
ZEAQUAN BOYD, PIKE COUNTY: Had 32 points in a 71-52 loss to Brantley at the Pea River Christmas Classic tourney played at Elba.
BARRY DUNNING, McGILL-TOOLEN CATHOLIC: The Arkansas signee scored 27 points as the Jackets (15-3) beat Muscle Shoals 61-42 to win the William Mitchell Memorial Tourney at UMS-Wright. McGill, which was tied 29-29 with the Trojans midway through the third period, outscored the North Alabama team 29-11 over the final 13 minutes to capture the title.
EDARIUS COWART, HUEYTOWN: Had 28 points in the finals of the First State Bank Shootout tourney hosted by Plainview High School in Rainsville. The Gophers (12-6) fell 67-63 to to Tennessee power Webb High School (14-1).
SHANNON JONES, MIDFIELD: Had 14 points and 10 assists to lead defending Class 2A state champion Midfield (14-5) to a 73-50 win over Class 7A Albertville.
BRAYDEN KYLE, DECATUR HERITAGE: Had 15 rebounds, 11 points, six assists and five steals as the Eagles (7-4) beat Class 4A Randolph 45-32 in the Randolph Holiday Classic.
DEGINAL SPEARS, ETOWAH: Scored 18 points and teammate Josh Graham also had 18 as the Blue Devils downed Gadsden City 79-76 in the finals of the Gadsden Area Christmas Classic.
EMMANUEL HENDERSON, GENEVA COUNTY: Had 25 points, eight rebounds and five steals in a 62-47 win over Cottonwood.
KETWAN REEVES, JEFF DAVIS: Sank five 3-pointers and finished with 25 points in a win over Brewbaker Tech and had five treys and 21 points in a loss to Lee-Montgomery.