Jacksonville, AL. Jacksonville Girls Open Calhoun County Tournament Win a Win over Faith Christian. Shelvin takes over as coach. Includes updated bracket
TOURNAMENT FOR CALHOUN COUNTY GIRLS
Friday’s game
Jacksonville 67, Faith Christian 25
Al Muskewitz
JACKSONVILLE – Jordan Shelvin had been helping out a driver with his last delivery when Corey Mize, a Jacksonville girls basketball coach, called.
First, the head coach asked his assistant if he would be able to attend the 4:30 p.m. match. Shelvin replied, “Yes.” Mize said to Shelvin, “Show your skin, you have the game.”
He said, “It blew me mind.”
Shelvin would normally be a faithful assistant to the head coach, taking on whatever role he needed. Friday night, Mize’s wife Chelsea (the Weaver volleyball coach) was in labor and required him to take over as head coach.
It was around noon. Six hours later, Allie Codi Mize was born to the Mizes. Shelvin also had his first win as head basketball coach when the Lady Golden Eagles defeated Faith Christian 67-25.
Mize, reporting from the hospital, said that Mize had reported that Mize was able to report that Mize delivered “at 1:54 today”. “Baby, momma, are perfect. It was a fun game. It was a wonderful day.”
Shelvin works as a sales manager for a large beverage distributor. But when he’s not working, he helps to coach all three Jacksonville basketball teams. Tres Buzan appointed him as the girls assistant. He then took over the role of the head boys coach. But he felt a deep sense of gratitude for the girls who were still developing as a team. He is also the coach of the junior varsity.
He said, “With the coaching transition that occurred this summer, I had a choice but I couldn’t make a decision so I chose both.”
Shelvin realized that his role was more as a motivator on Friday. This is in line with his strengths. He allowed the girls to choose what they wanted and then let them go. The girls responded to the emergency coach by scoring 15 of the first fifteen points. They led 20-10 at the end of the first quarter and then outscored Lady Lions 24-2 in the second.
Ashley Grant was Jacksonville’s first 30-pointer of her career with 32 points. Alexis Phillips scored 14 points with six rebounds, five steals and five assists. Dee Prothro had 10. Faith was led by Ally Folsom, who scored 13 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.
Grant stated that Grant felt like he wanted to be a proud Mizes player. “When I got to halftime, I had 17 points. That’s when I realized that (30 could be possible) and Jordan was like, “Hey Ash, you gotta get 30, Ash.”
Since I was a small girl, I’ve wanted to reach 30. It would be an incredible milestone for me if I got 30 points. It’s always a goal.
Mize will likely be back on the bench against Ohatchee in the Lady Golden Eagles’ second round game. Mize, the newly undefeated head coach, is fine with returning the keys.
He stated, “I believe I’m going retire with a 1.000 win percentage.” He said, “Your dream is coach, to become a head coach at some point in your life. But I believe my purpose is to be a vessel for everyone, coach or player. They can ask me anything they want, and I will be there.
FAITH CHRISTIAN- Ally Folsom 5-14-3-7 13, Serity Pate 2-80-0 5, Cheyenne Rice 2-0-0 4, Anna Robertson 1-5 0-0 2, Emma Shaw 1-1-2 1, Maya Montgomery 1-1 0-0 0. Totals 10-35 4-9 25.
JACKSONVILLE – Ashley Grant 13-23 3-3 32, Alexis Phillips 6-10 0-0 14, Dee Prothro 4-5 2-3 10, Halaina Lozano 2-8 1-2 5, Ontarriah Braxton 1-4 2-2 4, Mya Swain 1-7 0-0 2, Olivia Rowan 0-0 0-0 0, Camryn Stone 0-0 0-0 0, Rachel Sanders 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 27-61 8-10 67.
Faith Christian 10 2-5 8 – 25
Jacksonville 20 24 17 6 – 67
3-point goals: Faith 1-7, Robertson 1-1, Shaw 0-1, Folsom 0-2, Pate 0-3, Shaw 1-1; Jacksonville 5-24, Grant 3-9, Phillips 2-5, Lozano 1-5, Braxton 0-1, Swain 1-1, Sanders 0-3). Faith 42 (Folsom 12, Pate 7, Jacksonville 28 (Phillips). Fouled out by Robertson. Total fouls: Faith 11, Jacksonville 12.
