By Johnny Sanders, Sports Editor
MOODY – The Moody Blue Devils have proven that they can go toe to toe with just about anyone this season. They eliminated the top-seeded Springville Tigers earlier in the Saint Clair County Tournament, getting them to the championship game against the second-seed Ragland Purple Devils on Saturday evening. Continuing their dominating ways in the tournament, the Blue Devils proved that they were kings of Saint Clair County boys basketball with an impressive 36-point win in the championship game.
“Great team win,” said Moody Coach Chad Bates. “Everyone scored. Everyone contributed. I’m so happy for the guys to go out and win County. Hopefully we will keep improving and take this momentum into the area tournament.”
Both teams had a bit of a slow start in the first quarter with the defenses holding the offenses in check for most of the period. Ragland only managed 10 points in the first and Moody only outscored them by 3, scoring 13 of their own. Davion Dozier would have 8 of the 13 points to go with 5 from Caden Helms.
The Moody offense would build momentum like a snowball heading down a steep hill, putting up 18 in the second quarter to Ragland’s 11. Dozier would be silenced in the period but Helms would take up the slack, putting up 5 more in the second to go with 4 from Chase Jackson and 3 from Kolby Seymour. The Blue Devils would go into the half with a 31-21 lead over Ragland.
That snowball would continue to get bigger and bigger in the third. Moody blew the doors off of the place, scoring 25 points in the third frame and the defense would hold Ragland to just 4 points. Helms would go off, scoring 10 points in the quarter and Dozier would add 8 for the Blue Devils. What was once a fairly close game would become a bludgeoning headed into the final quarter of play. Moody 56, Ragland 25.
Ragland would get their highest output in the fourth quarter, scoring 13 points while Moody would score 18 of their own, getting several other players involved in the scoring. Helms would have 9 more to cap off his spectacular night and Dozier would grab 6 additional points.
On the night, Caden Helms would score 25 points for Moody. Davion Dozier added 22 of his own.
The Blue Devils won their first county championship since 2016, ending 7-year drought.
“I thought our defense was really good all night. Koby (Seymour) did a great job defending Jordan all night. Blaine and AJ did a great job of keeping Brayden from getting to the basket,” said Coach Bates. “Caden played lights out, getting steals, hitting shots and helped us get them out of their zone. Davion played great defense on the inside and didn’t allow them to ever get anything going in there.”
Moody will host Mortimer Jordan on Tuesday night.