White Plains, AL White Plains, Alabama after Anniston, White Plains trade huge shots in the closing three minutes. Senior gets the final shot to propel Wildcats to into the upper levels. Anniston’s girls get back to their winning ways.
Scoreboard for Thursday
BOYS
White Plains 38, Anniston 36
Faith Christian 59, Winterboro 47
Piedmont 90, Weaver 55
Saks 65, Wellborn 43
Jacksonville The city is 59 years old. Cherokee County 44
GIRLS
Anniston Anniston 78 White Plains 26
Piedmont 71%, Weaver 22
Cherokee County 49, Jacksonville 44
Winterboro 60, Faith Christian 18
Central-Clay 53 Shelby County 15
By Joe Medley
Third-ranked White Plains and sixth-ranked Anniston were able to defend each other so well that neither team scored more than 40 points.
When both teams were in need most each team came up with a way to score. White Plains just scored last.
Josh Wheeler’s drive and a short turnaround jump as the clock ran out helped White Plains to a 38-36 victory. It was the Wildcats have won for the second time against Anniston during the season.
Both were games with low scoring both of which were games with two points.
“We’re quite even,” Wheeler said. “It’s always a blast.”
White Plains (15-7) won 48-46 against Anniston (11-6) at the end of December. 11 and both teams came up with an opportunity to defend against each other better the second time around. Wheeler was the top scorer for White Plains by scoring 13 points, while Center Carter Johnson added eight. Anniston’s Jacorrie Lane ran the lane with enough skill to score 20 points. Isaiah Allen hit three 3-pointers in his way to scoring 11 points.
A key part of White Plains’ defensive strategy was a patient offensive … ensure that the 6-foot-7 Carter plays the ball on every play and continue to build. Anniston’s Delroy Francis did his best to make Carter’s job in the post difficult.
The grind continued until it didn’t.
Allen’s 3-pointer off the corner brought Anniston ahead by 34-33 at the 2:29 3 of the corner.
Wheeler came back with a triple from the corner, giving White Plains the lead, 36-34 after 1:29. White Plains coach Chris Randle made a defensive adjustment.
“We were aware of the possibility that we’d have to give up a pair, but the final possession, with a score of two and a half, we couldn’t bear to lose the three pointer which is why we switched all of our possessions,” Randall said. “They did a fantastic job on their cutting move, however we knew they were running out of timeouts.
“Unless we ended up in danger, we’d have take the final shot.”
Anniston was able to find the way. Devin Coleman drove into the Lane and then saw Francis flashing across the field for the bucket to tie with 45 seconds remaining.
That was the catalyst for the last play.
“To be an extremely low scoring game it was an extremely great performance,” Anniston coach Torry Brown stated. “Both teams performed well. They only made one more game than we did. This is how it can go sometimes.”
Randall was determined to have the ball to be in his best player’s hands. Instead of letting the Wildcats keep the ball in their hands in order to slow the clock to shoot the final shot, he chose to call motion offense. Five White Plains players on the floor touched the ball however, Wheeler was the first to touch it.
He dribbled to the center of the lanes, then started turning right, but then turned back the lane, shouldering Allen before hitting the shot that was in dispute.
“If Josh misses that, and we’re beaten in overtime, I’ll go to bed and I’m okay,” Randall said. “It’s our top player, on center of the court, holding the ball in his hands.
“Sometimes, plays don’t win games. Players do.”
Wheeler stated that surviving the last 45 seconds in Anniston’s man to-man defensive for 45 seconds was the most important thing.
“The most important thing was that we didn’t change the ball in that final moment,” Wheeler said. “He (Randall) seemed to be taking me to task all game about not taking a lot of shots and I knew I needed to take action.”
Girls
ANNISTON 778, WHITE PLAINS 26, The team was held to just 33 in defeat at Handley on Tuesday. Class 4A’s seventh-ranked Anniston (19-3) scored 37 points at the end of second quarter on Thursday and was ahead 50-8 at the halftime.
The Bulldogs had a day of fixing up following their loss to 44-33 at Handley during Class 4A the Area 8 game.
“We started working to strengthen our defenses,” Anniston coach Eddie Bullock stated. “We concentrated on following the instructions that we were instructed to do, as we did a little off-color, and we ran into a few minor issues on the team that we needed to address.
“I believe we’ve got it repaired.”
A’Kayla Perry was the only player among A’Kayla Perry to four Bulldogs in double figures, scoring 18 points on Thursday. Tykeria Smith scored 15 points points, Serena Hardy 12 and Jada Fomby scored 11.
“We also focused on trusting our team members,” Bullock said. “We leave, and everyone expects Tykeria to be scoring. she as well as A’Kayla. However, we’ve had five or six girls who are able to score a basketball in the event that we share it with each other and get it moving.
“That’s something that needs to be addressed. When you’re to the open road you shouldn’t be able to beat only two or three scorers.”
Addi Bradley, and Savannah Phillips led White Plains with six points each.
The Wildcats are now 8-13 after an 8-2 opening, due to injuries. White Plains went without Cassidy Arnold who was injured with an injury to her knee during a game at Cherokee County on Tuesday. White Plains also lost Rebecca Marshall and Bella Higgins to knee injuries. Wildcats were also without Bella Higgins and Rebecca Marshall due to knee injuries, Marshall during the summer.
Ella Ponder suffered a dislocated shoulder injury against Anniston.
“It’s an ideal opportunity to teach girls about the challenges they face,” first-year White Plains coach Clay Sprayberry said. “You’re likely to be hit by things in the course of your life, and you’re going need to battle through it.
“That’s among the many things that Coach Randall mentions. You’re either up or up and that’s the way is going on here. Next person goes down, next person up.”
As a background, White Plains played the seventh-ranked team in the state. It was just a few days after losing its only game against teams in Class 6A.
“I don’t care about girls or boys, Eddie Bullock is one of the top coach in Alabama,” first-year White Plains coach Clay Sprayberry said. “He’s always getting the Anniston girls in the right place and they run 90 miles per hour.”
