White Plains, AL White Plains, AL White Plains’ boys finish their regular season with a victory over Faith Christian to reach 8-2 after a season-ending excursion to the beach. Welsh family wins Spring Garden over Donoho, and much more.

FRIDAY’S BOYS GAMES Alexandria 62, Saks 42

Fayetteville 57, Talladega Co. Central 49

Glencoe 60 Southside 59

Jacksonville 82, Oxford 44

Jacksonville Christian 86, Valley Head 58

Piedmont 80, Westbrook 48

Ohatchee 70 Ragland 67

Sand Rock 57, Cedar Bluff 40

Spring Garden 70, Donoho 49

White Plains 56, Faith Christian 48

By Joe Medley

Chris Randall could be forgiven for chatting about vacations to Florida on the cold night of February however, this was not a more-than-be-there musings of his longtime White Plains coach. The Dec. 27-30 game is in part to be related to the Wildcats in their stride as they prepare for the area tournament next week. Stride in the same way that White Plains did Friday, infusing Faith Christian’s senior night’s best and winning 56-48 to close out this regular-season.

Faith Christian looks forward to Tuesday’s Class 1A, Region 8 tournament game against Donoho in Winterboro. With eight wins in its last ten matches, White Plains will face Cherokee County in the 4A, Area 10 tourney at Jacksonville on Thursday. The Wildcats have had a successful run, including an at-home win over Cherokee County. Randall mentions White Plains’ trip to Sandestin. “I do not think we’ve had an awful night since returning from Florida,” Randall said. “We were beaten twice, but we’ve played well. We’ve been in sync. “We’ve simply got to continue working as we are.”

The pivotal moment was when White Plains fall behind 27-5 to Whitewater (Ga.), an institution with 2,500 pupils. The Wildcats came back and were ahead in the last minute. A charge/block call with only four seconds remaining decided the game. “I only remember Josh Wheeler taking a charge towards the end and refs getting it wrong,” White Plains senior Luke Bussey said. “We could have been victorious, but everyone was involved in making plays. Everyone was making an extra passes. “We were playing like an entire team. It was a good look.”

The positives of the game at Florida was not a quick process for Randall. It was White Plains assistant coach Bradley Dawson getting him off the ledge. “I’m looking to jump off the top of the Hilton and Bradley’s telling me”That’s the most wonderful chance that could have happened to us in the world,'” Randall said. “It was a tying point for us. I believe it energized us. “It transformed our season. It demonstrated to our team members how much we could accomplish by playing together. We developed and became much more difficult as a group.” It proved it on the team on Friday, and gave a strong answer to Faith Christian’s initial-quarter problem. [read more…]

Spring GARDEN 70 DONOHO 49 There were Kirks, Welshes and Austins in the Spring Garden basketball program for as long as the boys head coach Levi Hatcher can remember. In the final game of the regular season of the season the Welsh family scored 56 points and led the Panthers to their fifth straight win. Jake Welsh was the most active with a game-high 30 points, while also collecting six rebound. Twin brother John scored 16 points and 11 rebound. The cousin Cam scored 10 points on three 3-pointers.

“I haven’t been involved in the organization frequently however there hasn’t been an entire year when there weren’t one, three or even five players,” Hatcher said. “All three are like our driving force. There are others who play their part and perform their duties in order to help keep our team running However, John is a fast player on the defensive, offensive offensive and defensive side. that is constantly putting it in the open. “Usually John is the one who gives us plenty of points from the offensive side but this time he performed an excellent job in the defensive side, rebounding as well as and changing shots. I felt that Jake was the most aggressive player I’ve witnessed all season and it’s happening just at the right moment. We hear about him constantly as a dominating presence simply dominating your space, and he did it, and you can see by the outcome that he did.”

Jake immediately got to work. He scored the team’s first nine points, and scored 11 points in the first quarter. The only thing he couldn’t do was John scored a couple of 3sand Cam began the second quarter by scoring the Panthers scoring their initial six points. Jake is averaged 19.0 points over the winning streak of five games. The Panthers lead by seven during the third quarter. They they regained the lead by 19-2 throughout the remainder of the game and took an advantage of 24 points to the fourth.

“Last night, we took on Handley in the last game and … it was a game that pulled this one out, and we were a lot of confidence heading into the game,” Hatcher said. “I advised them that this shouldn’t be a game where you’ve had an emotional game prior to the game and then you’re left with unhappiness. “I believe we came out somewhat lacking on the defensive end which is why we focused on certain defensive rotations that had to be made, and there were a couple of mistakes, but the team came back and played much better in the third period on the defensive side.” – Al Muskewitz

ALEXANDRIA 60, SAKS 42: Alexandria scored greater 3-pointers (12) as field goals of 2 points (nine) and raced to a lead of 24-7 in the first quarter, and 39-15 at the haftime.

Jaylen Henderson scored a team-high five triples as she led his team the Valley Cubs with 19 points. Drake Davis hit four threes and added 14 points.

Cristian Smith led Saks with 11 points for Saks.

Alexandria waits for the Southside Lincoln winner of the Class 5A Area 12 championship game. Saks will take on Weaver at the 3A, Area 11 tourney on Tuesday, at 7. p.m. in Piedmont.

GLENCOE 60 SOUTHSIDE 60, SOUTHSIDE 59. OTBraylen Smith’s shot with 15 seconds remaining in overtime was the difference in the game as Glencoe ended the regular season at 14-12. The champions of the reigning Etowah County champions turn their focus to the upcoming Class 3A area 12 tournament. They will play Yellow Jackets will Westbrook Christian on Tuesday, at 7 p.m.

Garrett Morgan led four Glencoe players to double figures with 18 points on Friday. Wade Segrest added 16, Aiden Cornutt 14 and Andrew Greene 10. Cornutt’s 3 pointer towards the end of the game forced overtime as well as The Yellow Jackets went on to celebrate the senior day of Andrew Greene as well as Nolan Fairley in style. Cayden McMichael was the top scorer for Southside in scoring with 21 points while William Shirley added 17.

Piedmont 81, WESTBROOK CHRISTIAN 48Rollie Pinto tied Cole Wilson with three team-high 3-pointers. She also was the leading scorer in Piedmont in scoring with 21 points. Wilson had 12 points.

Alex Odam added 19 points and Ishmael Bethel scored 15 points to lead the Bulldogs (21-5) The Bulldogs (21-5) are playing host to Wellborn in the Class 3A area 11 tournament opening game.

OHATCHEE 70 RAGLAND 70: Jake Roberson hit four 3-pointers on his way to scoring 22 points to take the lead over Ohatchee.

Kelbe Crook scored 14 points, and Jesse Baswell 12. Baswell made two 3-pointers.

Ohatchee will take on Hokes Bluff in the Class 3A, Area 12 tournament on Tuesday.

JACKSONVILLE CHRISTIAN 86%, VALLEY Head 58 Ethan Fair and Braxton Brown each scored 27 points in leading the Thunder (17-8). Fair also collected nine rebounds, dished five assists, and racked up seven steals. Cam Moses had 11 points and Tyler Doggrell had eight rebounds.