Alexandria’s Will Ginn wins his first game as head coach

Calhoun County in AL – uesday basket: Alexandria’s Will Ginn wins the first game of his tenure as head coach. JCA also spoils Justin Amberson’s debut as Wellborn coach.

BOYS GAMES Alexandria 64, Talladega 52

Arab 46, Southside 28

Crossville 70, Gaylesville 53

Glencoe 55, Etowah 75

Faith Christian 50, Spring Garden 46

Hoover 74; Oxford 47

Jacksonville 69, White Plains 38

Jacksonville Christian 62, Wellborn 50

Sand Rock 71 Gaston 46

Sardis 70, Hokes Bluff 6

Westbrook 62, Weaver 51

GIRLS GAMES

Southside 46, Arab 52

Crossville 40, Gaylesville 32

Hoover 67; Oxford 32

Jacksonville 37, White Plains 28,

Jacksonville Christian 77, Wellborn 37

Sand Rock 48, Gaston 30,

Sardis 54, Hokes Bluff 31,

Talladega 66, Alexandria 44

Weaver 36, Westbrook 64

By Al Muskewitz

Will Ginn always wanted to coach. As his father and brothers, Ginn also wanted to be a coach. He didn’t care if he was a head coach or assistant. All he wanted was to lead and teach players.

He spent many years working as an assistant coach before finally being able to lead the Alexandria basketball team to victory at Talladega, with a score of 64 to 52.

Ginn stated, “It’s great to get the first one,” Ginn added. “Talladega has a great team so I was proud for our guys. They worked hard. They weren’t great at playing, but they worked hard and fought. They were a credit to me.

Ginn continues the family tradition of calling the shots for the basketball teams. His brother Todd is the Valley Cubs’ basketball coach. Their late father Larry Ginn (Hall of Famer) coached both teams to over 800 victories.

The newest head coach stated that he has always enjoyed helping others. I enjoyed helping Todd and Coach Johnson, as well as the B team. Although I didn’t really want to be the boss, I enjoy coaching. It’s a huge deal to be back in Alexandria, where Daddy coached.

“Honestly, it’s something I love doing. Coaching junior high football was, I assure you, the most enjoyable time of my life. To me, coaching is enjoyable in any form. This is what I have always longed to do, so it doesn’t matter if it’s junior high, B-team, or varsity. I love it all. It’s all fun as long as the kids have fun.

Ginn’s first game in charge of the team was a battle. The Valley Cubs led early, were trailed by two at the half-time break and pulled away in halftime with an equal-opportunity strike.

Drake Davis (12 points), and Kory Cargal (10 points) were their top scorers. However, five other players had at least six points each and all of them scored.

Ginn stated that the “they came out and kinda punched us in our mouths early.” “I think that we were a bit nervous. Cargal played last year and got some good minutes. However, most of our guys were on the B-team last year or didn’t get enough minutes so I believe they were nervous. After that, we settled down and started to play a bit better.

“We gave a good effort in the third quarter, and I felt we did a decent job of ending the game.” For the first game, we did a decent job of shortening and smartly putting it away.

He has now won his first win. His dad is only 599 wins behind him. He goes after win No. 2 Thursday against Moody.

He recalled, “When I was playing in high school, somebody asked me a question about me comparing me with my brothers.” “They had already won, and I replied that it wasn’t something I ever think about because I’m far too behind to ever compare.

“My brothers won two state championships in basketball and football, and I was just trying to get to Birmingham. It would be foolish to compare myself with him. I’m trying to be the best Alexandrian I can.

ALEXANDRIA 64; TALLADEGA 52

ALEXANDRIA – Drake Davis 5 0-1 12 Evan Snow 2 1-2 6 6, Antonio Ross 4 0-1 8 Jaylen Henderson 3 1-3 8 Matthew McElroy 3 4-5 10, Cleat forrest 2 2-3 7, Van Cottrell 0 0-0 2, Caleb Folsom 2 2-2 9. Totals 24 10-16 64.

TALLADEGA-Najeh SWIN 5 0-0 10, Jaquintex Garrett3 1-2 8, Jaden Townshipsel1 0-0 2, Terrance Swain4 1-1 9, LeCroy Lewis2 0-0 4, DontaviousCochran2 0-0 4, Rlandis 0-1 0, Kenny Jackson3 1-2 7, Jaylyn Johnson3 1-3 7. Totals 23 5-9 52

3-point goals: Alexandria 6 (Davis 2, Snow, Henderson, Forrest, Folsom); Talladega 1 (Garrett). Total fouls: Alexandria 14, Talladega 18. Officials: Tillery, Douthitt, Brown.

JACKSONVILLE, WHITE PLAINS 39 Although the Golden Eagles were beaten in the first half by White Plains, they came out looking like a completely different team at the break.

John Broom was able to score 17 of his 30 game-high points in the second period when the Golden Eagles outscored visitors 38-17. It was a four point game for the Wildcats in the second quarter, but Ethan Duke made a 3-pointer to give the Golden Eagles a lead and they pulled away.

Carter Johnson of White Plains tied his career record with 18 points. In his three previous games, he has scored 52 points.

JACKSONVILLE, WHITE PLAINS39

WHITE PLAINS- Carter Johnson 9-120-0 18, Luke Bussey 4–11 1-1 10, Daniel Williams 3-5 0-0 6, Z.J. Rosario 1-8, 0-0 3, Paul Laube 2-3 0-0 2, Joshua Wheeler 1-0-0 0, Dylan Barksdale 4–11 1-1 10, Daniel Williams 3-5 0-0 6, Z.J. Totals 18-42 1-1 39.

JACKSONVILLE- John Broom 12-16, 2-2 30, Devin Barksdale 2-10, 2-4 7, Jaquan Ervin 2-6 0-0 4 Ethan Duke 1-1 0-0 3 Kydric Fisher 1-3 0-0 3 Jaliek Long 2-6 0-0 4, Caden Johnson 1-2 0-0 4, Caden Johnson 1-3 0-0 4, Jaquan Johnson 2-6 0-0 4 Ethan Duke 1-1 0-0 3, Jaliek Lang 1-3 0-0 2, Imoreee Young 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 Totals 28-54 4-7 69.

3-point goals: White Plains (Bussey 0-1, Rosario 1-4, Wheeler 0-2, Ray 2-2); Jacksonville 9-25. (Broom 4-7., Cm. Johnson 2-5, Barksdale 1-9, Cd. Johnson 0-1, Duke 1-1, Fisher 1-1, Long 0-1. Rebounds: White Plains 20; Bussey 5, Jacksonville 33 (Prothro 9) Total fouls: White Plains 6, Jacksonville 8. Officials: Prociuk, Montgomery, Oden.

JACKSONVILLE CHRISTIAN CHRISTIAN 52, WELLBORN 50 Ethan Fair scored twenty points, and Jordan Garner was within one rebound of a double -double as Wellborn’s Justin Amberson made his coaching debut.

Fair scored 20 points with five rebounds and three assists. He also had five steals. Garner had 13 points and nine rebounds.

Ethan Tidwell, a senior at 6’8″, led Wellborn with 20 points. He was aided by four 3-pointers. As a team, the Panthers made 10 3-pointers.

Amberson stated that “he had a great match.” He has worked hard on his outside/inside skills. I keep an eye on him to see if they are playing and, if so, I let him play the shots he chooses.

He is definitely one our top leaders, and this being his senior year, he wants to have a great year. We want to give him every chance to play the way that he wants. He is a strong insider, but also a threat to the outside.

JACKSONVILLE CHRISTIAN, WELLBORN50

JCA – Emmanuel Kidd 0 1-2 1 Ethan Fair 7 4-5 20 Tyler Doggrell 1 0-0 6, Braxton Brown 1 0-0 3 Noah Lee 3 0-0 8 Jordan Garner 5 0-1 13 Cam Moses 3 0-0 7, Cooper Bates 3 0-0 4. Totals 22 8-12 62.

WELLBORN – Conner Woodard 0 0-0 0 Avery Odam 3 2-2 8 Carlos Hubbard 0 0-0 0 Jesse Lewis 1 0-0 3 Ollie Boot 3 0-0 8 Immanual Singleton 0 0-0 0 Raymond Williams 0 0-0 0 Ethan Tidwell 7 2-2 20 Jackson Long 3 0-0 9, Trey Downs 0 0-0 0 Totals 18 4-4 50. Lackey, Taylor, Pratt.

3-point goals: JCA 10, Fair 2, Doggrell Lee 3, Garner 3, Moses; Wellborn 10, Lewis, Boot 2, Tidwell 4, Long 3. Foulled out: Boot. Total fouls: JCA 9, Wellborn 13 Officials: Lackey, Taylor, Pratt.

WESTBROOK CHRISTIAN CHRISTIAN, 62, WEAVER50: The Warriors made 13 3-pointers to win and were 8-for-10 at the free throw line in quarter four to beat Weaver. In the game, seven Westbrook players made at least one 3-pointer.

Weaver was led by Tristan Brown, Armane Burton and 14 points each. Jeffrey Miles had 13.

WESTBROOK CHRISTIAN, 62, WEAVER50

WEAVER – Tristan Brown 4-2-14, Elijah Smith 10-0 3, Jeffrey Miles 5-2-13, Dawson Brooks 2-0-2 4, Zach Garner 1-0-0 2, Armane Buxton 7 0-3 14. Totals 20 4-9 50.

WESTBROOK – Cam White 3 0-2 9, Steven Barnes 2 3-4 8, Cooper Greer 2 1-2 7, John Gilchrist 0 0-0 0, Keaton Bean 1 0-0 3, Eli Edge 2 3-4 7, Josh Terrell 4 2-2 13, Brady Carden 2 0-0 5, Cam Carden 1 2-2 4, Isaac Armstrong 2 0-0 6. Totals 19 11-16 13.

3-point goals: Weaver 6 [Brown 4, Smith and Miles]; Westbrook 13 [White 3, Barnes, Greer 2, Bean & Terrell 3, B. Carden, Armstrong 2). Miles. Burton fouled out. Total fouls: Weaver 15, Westbrook 9.

FAITH CHRISTIAN 51, SPRING GARDEN46: Thomas Curlee scored 11 points of his game-high 27, and the Lions won the second quarter. Curlee grabbed 11 rebounds while Arevalo had an impressive 13 rebounds.

FAITH CHRISTIAN 50 – SPRING GARDEN 46

FAITH CHRISTIAN – Thomas Curlee 10-23 2-4 27, Yoshua Arevalo 3-10 3-6 9, Eli Robinson 3-5 0-2 7, Conner Richerzhagen 2-4 0-0 6, Tyler Bell 0-3 1-4 1, Parker Robertson 0-2 0-0 0, Joseph Carroll 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-47 6-16 50.

SPRING GARDEN – John Welsh 6 0-4 12, Jon Marc Rogers 4 1-5 9, Braxton Haney 0 0-0 0, Conner Bates 4 5-7 13, Chapel Pope 2 0-0 4, Cole Bailey 0 0-0 0, D’Angelo Wright 0 0-0 0, Cam Welsh 3 0-2 8, Totals 19-61 6-17 46.

3-point goals: Faith 8-25 (Curlee 5-11, Arevalo 0-5, Robinson 1-3, Richerzhagen 2-4, Bell 0-1, Robertson 0-1); Spring Garden 2-17 (C. Welsh 2). Rebounds: Faith 34 (Curlee 11 Arevalo 13).

Spring Garden 34. Hughes, technical foul. Fouled out by Robinson. Total fouls: Faith 16, Spring Garden 18. Officials: Batey, McCord, Wise.

Girls

JACKSONVILLE CHRISTIAN77, WELLBORN37: The Lady Thunder scored five double-digit scorers and posted two doubles to defeat the Lady Panthers.

JCA’s Erin Prater was the top scorer with 23 points. Rebekah Carter (10 pts, 15 rebounds), and Kara Grace (10/13) both had double-doubles. Kirsten Walker and Addy Lee each had 13 points.

WESTBROOK 64. WEAVER 36. For three quarters, the Lady Bearcats were with Westbrook before the Lady Warriors pulled away. In the fourth quarter, Westbrook made five of seven 3-pointers. Ellison Stewart hit three of those and scored 11 of her 12 points. D.J. Gibbs was back in the Weaver lineup, and led the Lady Bearcats to 10 points.

WESTBROOK CHRISTIAN 64. WEAVER 36

WEAVER – Annalynna Canchucaja 0 0-0 2, Erionna Richard 1 0-2 2, D.J. Gibbs 4-2-10 Ellamae Kines 1 0-2 1, Alayia Da’Ambrosia 0.0-0 0, Iyanna Wright 1.0-2 2, D.J. Totals 14 5-13 36

WESTBROOK CHRISTIANS – Bella Millirons 6, 1-4 13, Kylee Wiatt 1 0-02, Sara Cate Windle 0 0-0 0 Ellison Stewart 4 1-3 12, Chloe Jones 1 0-0 4, Danielle Prime 0 0-0 2, Gracie Hyfield 0 0-2 0 3, Kathryn Elam 0 0-2 0 McKayla bean 4 2-6 11, Keyara Jones 1 0-0 5, Alyvia Caren 2 0-0 5 0-0 Totals 25 7-18 64.

3-point goals: Weaver 3 (Atchley 2, Miles); Westbrook 7 (Stewart 3, Lipscomb, Bean, Jones, Carden). Total fouls: Weaver 14, Westbrook 14. Officials: Wofford, Thomas, Smith.

TALLADEGA 66. ALEXANDRIA 45: After staying with their hosts for three quarters the Lady Cubs ran out of gas, and Talladega won. After leading scorers Trinity Webb (and Houston Goins) had done most of the damage in the first three quarters, Zae Cunningham combined with Kailynn Williams scored 14 points in the final quarter.

Webb and Goins each scored 19 points. Cunningham scored 14 points, while Williams scored 10. Alexandria was led by Kirsten Heathcock and Jordyn Wade, who had 16 and 14 points, respectively.

TALLADEGA 66. ALEXANDRIA43

ALEXANDRIA – Jordyn Wade 6 2-5 16, Kirsten Hitchcock 5 2-4 14, Jill Cockrell 0 0-0 0 Charlee Pearris 3 0-0 6, Kailey Dickerson 3-6, Kailey Dickerson 3-6, Sumira Duncan 1-6 2, Sumira Duncan 1 0-2 Totals 18 4-11 43.

TALLADEGA- Trinity Webb7 4-7 19, Kailynn Wilkins 5 0-0 10, Houston Goins7 2-2 19, Zae Cunningham7 0-0 14, Keyoshia Gard 0 0-0 0, MakayalaWhite2 0-2 4, Jekeria Wood 0 0-2 0. Totals 28 6-12 66.

3-point goals: Alexandria 3 (Walker 2, Dickerson); Talladega 4 (Webb, Goins 3). Technical fouls: Parris. Total fouls: Alexandria 12, Talladega 11. Officials: Douthitt, Brown, Tillery.

JACKSONVILLE 37. WHITE PLAINS28

WHITE PLAINS – Isabella Higgins 5-14 2-9 12, Cassidy Arnold 4-6 1-2 10, Braeton Moran 2-7 0-0 4, Hallie Williams 1-2 0-0 2, Abbie Dickeson 0-0 0-0 0, Kylee Provencio 0-1 0-1 0, Chloee Cromer 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 12-39 3-12 28.

JACKSONVILLE – Ashley Grant 6-24 2-2 17, Mya Swain 2-12 2-2 7, Alexis Phillips 2-6 3-4 7, Dee Prothro 3-7 0-0 6, Halaina Lozano 0-2 0-0 0, Ontarriah Braxton 0-0 0-0 0, Olivia Rowan 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 13-51 7-8 37.

3-point goals: White Plains 1-1 (Arnold 1-1; Morgan 0-4, Williams 1-1); Jacksonville 4-23 (3-12, Swain 1-7 and Phillips 1-7, Grant 3-12, Swain 0-2, Lozano 1-2). Rebounds: White Plains 35 (Higgins 12, Moran 7); Jacksonville 31 (Prothro 11). Total fouls: White Plains 12, Jacksonville 14.