Alexandria, AL – Alexandria boys and girls win in the early-season battle of teams from the upper echelon during Calhoun County high school basketball
Scoreboards for Thursday
BOYS
Alexandria 62, White Plains 58
Piedmont 70, Weaver 63
Jax Christian 76, GSD 25
Fort Payne 67, Jacksonville 44
Anniston 58, Talladega 46
Spring Garden 79, Gaylesville 53
GIRLS
Alexandria 55, White Plains 46
Piedmont 1977, Weaver 27
Fort Payne 60, Jacksonville 54
Anniston 45, Talladega 27
Jax Christian 70, GSD 22
Spring Garden 83, Gaylesville 13
Lincoln 43. B.B. Comer 42
By Joe Medley
White Plains — In a game in which both teams were missing important players, Alexandria’s team were able to hold off White Plains in a game played on Thursday.
Drake Davis scored a team-high 18 points. The Valley Cubs hit 14 of 18 free shots throughout the final quarter to win at 62-58 in a game that began the season between two teams from Calhoun County’s top teams.
Alexandria is missing post Quendavion McDowell, who was attending the sister’s Air Force graduation ceremony in Texas Upped to 4-1.
White Plains, missing Dylan Barksdale among five players out from flu, fell to 9-2.
“Tough game, difficult environment with a very good team that’s very well-coached,” Alexandria coach Will Ginn stated. “Just content to get out with an impressive win.”
Alexandria has a slam to White Plains post Carter Johnson and jumped out to a 17-6 lead. White Plains rallied to within 17-16, but were trailing 29-19 by the half.
With the top three-point shooter Josh Wheeler having just returned from a week-long absence with a flu, White Plains made one three-pointer in the opening half. He scored 2 of the Wildcats with six threes in the second period but Alexandria made 12 on the game.
“They created open threes but we didn’t,” White Plains coach Chris Randall stated. “They did an excellent job of doubling Carter and Carter was, for the most of the time, was able to do a great job in taking the ball away in the way he was supposed to have.
“We simply didn’t have enough threes, and we didn’t play with enough force and make it into the line for free throws.”
Wheeler who smashed three threes on the way to 11 points, hit one of them to pull White Plains within three points prior to a timeout at the 4:45 mark of the 4th quarter.
Alexandria was the first to come out of the timeout and played keepaway to cause White Plains foul.
Christopher Aquirre hit four 3-pointers and scored 17 points and Jaylen Henderson threw down two threes to score 14 points.
Johnson played a dominant role in White Plains with 12 points.
“It was not simple,” Davis said. “We accomplished our mission. We’re down one man right now, as ‘Q’ is not in town. He’s typically good on the boards which is why it was difficult to do without him however, we managed to get the job completed.”
Girls
ALEXANDRIA 55 White Plains 46Highlighted with freshman Landry Patterson’s 2 3-pointers, Alexandria beat White Plains 21-8 in the fourth quarter.
Patterson scored five 3-pointers en leading to 15 points. Alexandria increased its record to 4-1.
“Being freshmen I’m trying to be a model for other girls of my age,” Patterson said. “Whenever I have my ball I simply shoot it and I was able to make my teammates proud, and I was extremely pleased with me. It was really satisfying to be a part of the team.”
Valley Cubs also scored 16 points. Valley Cubs also got 16 points from point guard Charlee Parris as White Plains, playing without injured post Isabella Higgins (knee), who double-down against post-player Allyssa Hunt, and attempted to stop Parris drive.
“She gets so much help,” Alexandria coach Craig Kiker told reporters. “They were forced to double her each time. I don’t believe that a lot of the time she was making the right choice when she took the ball however they were concerned over her as well as Charlee frequently, and they left Landry in the open the ball to play.”
Cooper Martin led White Plains (8-3) with 21 points, which included five 3-pointers. Cassidy Arnold added 11.
“We experienced a breakdown in defense which is why the Patterson girl made the three,” First-year White Plains coach Clay Sprayberry said. “We tried to play the box-and-one to prevent the team from going for it towards the Hunt girl I felt she was in control despite the fact that she only scored just four points.”
