Jacksonville (AL) – Oxford’s experienced girls defend their Calhoun County Tournament championship. They are back-to-back since 2006
TOURNAMENT CALHOUN COUNTY
Girls Championship
Oxford 56, Anniston38
By Al Muskewitz
Mya McGrue is the primary role of the Oxford girls basketball team. Mya McGrue is a defensive specialist on the Oxford girls basketball team.
McGrue also disrupted the Lady Dawgs plans. Woods fell into early foul trouble, and the Lady Jackets played what Bennett called “point guard-by-committee” which helped Oxford control its pace. It was Oxford’s eighth county title all time and the first time it had gone back-toback since 2005-06. Anniston suffered its worst defeat in seven county tournament finals losses when the Lady Jackets lost to Anniston. The Lady Bulldogs won the tournament 21 times. Oxford’s five-year streak of winning titles ended last year.
Anniston scored 38 points, which was the lowest Anniston had scored in a girls’ county final since 1998 (27 against Jacksonville). It also marks the third-lowest total in their finals history. Bennett stated that Anniston is an established program and it makes you proud to beat Anniston. Coach (Eddie Bullock) does a great job with them. His children play hard, are so quick and good at defense. “It’s the first time this has happened since 05-06, so it’s quite special to be able do that. It’s a long, exhausting week. It was something we were discussing on the bus. It’s been here every night so, to finish it off (with that title), it just brings such good energy to your programs.”
McGrue may be regarded as “a stud defensive play” and was voted the best defensive player in the tournament. However, she helped the Lady Jackets get going with their scoring. McGrue scored their first basket, which was made by her own steal. They then had six of their first twelve points and quickly took control of the game. In the second quarter, she had seven consecutive points. That gave her 13, two more than Anniston’s total. Bennett stated, “She can stretch the defense and get out in front,” Because she is so fast, you are always under pressure to stop her. Because she’s so fast, she does a fantastic job of getting defense at disadvantage. Everyone in the NBA talks about their Big 3. Well, our Big 3 are Mya, Justice, and Xai (Whitfield).
