MILLPORT, Ala. — South Lamar High School basketball coach Tony Seals is happy to see his “big guy” play well after a strong test earlier this week.
Ryan Jaynes scored 19 points and had 12 rebounds Monday against Sulligent. Seals, who coaches both the boys and girls teams at South Lamar, said Jaynes proved himself in the contest.
“We try to get the ball in his hands as often as possible because he”s a 6-foot-3 guy who shoots the ball pretty well,” Seals said. “He”s averaging a double-double for the year.
“He showed me what he was capable of doing because Sulligent is pretty good inside.”
Seals was so impressed with Jaynes” performance because Sulligent relies on point guard Ryan Reeves (who starred on the football team as a defensive back) and forwards Ishmael Riggins (running back/defensive lineman) and Tony Johnson (offensive lineman/linebacker) inside.
“That”s what I was waiting on, playing somebody of their caliber inside to see what he could do,” Seals said.
The Lady Stallions are still trying to win their first game, but Seals has seen improvement.
“We”re getting better,” he said, looking at the performance of point guard Nasheema Cunningham. “She is averaging double digits (in scoring).”
Nasheema and sister Angel take care of the ballhandling duties.
“Both of them are left-handed, and that”s unusual,” Seals said.
Sulligent
Boys basketball coach Tommy Chism said “football” is starting to wear off for the Blue Devils. Sulligent held its fall awards banquet Tuesday night at Jay”s Country Squire Steak & Fish in Sulligent, closing the book on a 10-3 campaign.
Meanwhile, most of the Sulligent award winners will be on the court this weekend when the West Alabama Conference tournament opens at Sulligent. The four-day tournament begins Friday with junior varsity, girls, and boys teams from Gordo, Fayette, Vernon, Winfield, Hamilton, Haleyville, and Sulligent.
“We”ve got a lot of getting better to do,” Chism said. “We”re getting past football mode. We are doing more things right.”
Ryan Reeves has returned to the team after an injury, but Chism said he is still trying to fit in.
“He”s not full-fledged yet,” he said. “It takes a while. He”s still in the process.”
With the holidays, Chism said tough teams are scheduled in the next few weeks.
“Hopefully, we won”t drop any,” he said. “But the experience will be good.”
Girls basketball coach Ronnie Hubbert said he is still working to find a point guard, awaiting the return of Paige Dean and Laura Ashley Dean. Paige has been wearing a back brace since suffering an injury in the summer. Laura Ashley is dealing with torn ligaments.
Lamar County
The Bulldogs picked up their first Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 2A, Area 12 victory, edging Red Bay 57-56.
“It was our first area win and it was a sloppy win,” Lamar County coach Keith Smith said. “We have trouble scoring all the way around. We struggle sometimes, but our effort has been good.”
Marquez Lacey, who is averaging 18 points per game, led Lamar County.
“He scored 21 against Haleyville, including the game-winner in overtime,” Smith said. “He had 21 against Hatley and 13 (Monday night).”
Smith said Lacey, a junior, is getting his legs under him while developing his skills.
“He hasn”t played organized basketball since the seventh grade,” Smith said. “He”s gone from point guard to forward. He”s got a lot of potential, but he”s gotta keep the hammer down and learn to push himself.”
Lamar County is also scheduled to play in the single-elimination West Alabama Conference tournament in Sulligent. Smith said he expects good competition.
“This will help us prepare for the playoffs,” Smith said. “If you like basketball, this will be pretty competitive.”
Pickens County
The Lady Tornadoes missed an opportunity for a victory Monday night in a 49-47 loss to AHSAA Class 1A, Area 9 foe Berry, Pickens County girls coach Ike Gipson said.
“We were tied with less than a minute to play,” Gipson said. “After we made the shot to tie it, they missed the shot and they fouled us twice. We had two chances to make free throws and we couldn”t hit them. We led several times.”
The girls rebounded Tuesday with a 36-33 victory against Fayette.
Gipson praised the play of juniors Kevauna Sterling and Kelci Stewart.
“(They) have played better game per game than the seniors,” Gipson said. “We have eight players and we played three seventh-graders against Fayette.”
Unavailable for comment were Lamar County girls coach Jason Clark, Pickens County boys coach Russ Wallace, Pickens Academy boys coach Justin Thompson and girls coach Wade Goodman, and Aliceville boys coach Joe Hurst and girls coach Sebastian Shamery.
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