PREP UPDATE: Catholic rusty in first game following Super 7; Hooper spanks Sparta Academy

Autaugaville’s Kenneth Brown faces pressure from Catholic’s Marquee Belser (3) and Courtney Williams in the Knights’ win over the Eagles. (Tim Gayle)

By TIM GAYLE
Catholic’s basketball players, fresh off a 4A state championship performance in football last Friday in Tuscaloosa, held two practices before opening the season on Tuesday night at home against Autaugaville 

Their performance looked a lot like a team that had only practiced twice before opening the season. 

Catholic trailed the entire contest, finally tying the game on a Rickie Williams’ 3-pointer at the buzzer, then took advantage of a poor shooting performance by the Eagles at the free-throw line to edge Autaugaville 43-37 in overtime in the Catholic gym.

“I’m proud of these guys,” Catholic coach Mike Curry said. “You never saw the score or the play on their face, they just played. We are where we are, we’ve just got to play through it -- whether it’s missed layups, missed passes, missed assignments -- it was on to the next play or if somebody subbed out, it was on to the next man.

“As ugly as it was, it was almost like we were going to find a way.”

Catholic made just three field goals in the first half but trailed just 19-11. As bad as the Knights looked, Autaugaville didn’t look much better, using a pair of Deon Steele 3-pointers to grab an early lead, but struggling to get the ball up the court and missed numerous layups whenever it did. 

Autaugaville (2-4), which has made three consecutive trips to the 1A state tournament, scored 71 points just four days earlier against 7A Prattville, but shot just 23 percent from the field (14 of 60) against the Knights. 

“We just can’t score,” said Autaugaville coach Darren Golson. “Bad decision making. It is what it is. We just don’t have any basketball IQ. They’re going to play hard, but we can’t put it in the bucket. Nineteen points at halftime. We just can’t make a layup.”

Both coaches, using timeouts to change strategy and pressure defense to force turnovers, could do little to change the product on the court. Catholic’s pressure was a little more effective as the Knights outscored the Eagles 12-5 in the final quarter. In addition to turnovers and missed shots, Autaugaville couldn’t help itself at the free-throw line, either, making just 1 of 4 attempts in the final minute and 1 of 6 in overtime. 

The one made free throw, by Kenneth Brown with 11.4 seconds left, gave the Eagles a 3-point lead before Williams threw up a shot from the corner at the buzzer to tie the game. 

“I just told them to push the ball up the floor,” Curry said. “If we could get a quick two, that’s what I wanted to do. I gave them an option. If you can’t get a quick two, we’re going to have to take a three. Those guys have been in enough basketball situations. They read it right.”

In overtime, Courtney Williams hit a 3-pointer from the corner with 1:49 left for the first field goal in the four-minute overtime period by either team, then came up with a steal and a basketball moments later for a five-point lead. Williams scored six of his game-high 12 points in overtime, finishing with 12 points, six rebounds, five steals, 10 turnovers and a team-high two assists.

“He’s feast or famine,” Curry said. “He may turn it over, but he’s going to go steal it back. Courtney just had it going a little late.”

Jo’Tavion Pierce added 10 points, 14 rebounds, three steals and seven turnovers for the Knights, followed by William Hodges with seven points and 14 rebounds.

As a team, Catholic shot just 20 percent (13 of 65) from the field. The Knights did play the game without two potential starters as both Jayden Phifer and Courtney Williams are in Mobile for the all-star football game. 

Brown led Autaugaville with 11 points, followed by Steele with eight. 

BOYS BASKETBALL 

Hooper Academy 60, Sparta Academy 41

HOPE HULL -- Lucas Spellman scored 10 points in the first quarter to get the Colts off to a fast start, but Hooper needed another burst in the third quarter to finally put away Sparta 60-41 at Darrell Self Memorial Gym on Thursday night.

Spellman finished with 22 points, scoring 10 in the first quarter to help Hooper to a 17-4 lead before Sparta trimmed the deficit to 24-21 at the half. Spellman scored seven more points in a 21-point third quarter to put the game out of reach.

Nolan Cole added 10 points for the Colts, followed by Luke Moseley with eight.

Murfee Williams led Sparta (4-6) with 11 points, followed by Jud Robinson with 10.

Hooper (5-3) remains home to play Cornerstone Christian on Friday and Evangel Christian on Monday. 

Pelham 60, Prattville Christian 45

PRATTVILLE -- Collier Connell led the Panthers with 15 points and four rebounds in a 60-45 loss to Pelham on Thursday in the PCA gym. 

Cade Segars added 14 points, while Brady Roberson had eight points and took three charges. PJ Evans scored four points. Lathan Rybarczyk and Wade Mora each grabbed five rebounds. 

PCA (5-7) will play Catholic on Tuesday in the first round of the Jack Schweers Capital City Classic at Trinity.

In the junior varsity game, Cody Chapman led the Panthers with five points in a 56-12 loss to Pelham. Carter Fiacco added four points and five rebounds, while TJ Mitchell grabbed five rebounds for PCA (4-3).

Springwood School 65, Macon East Academy 42

CECIL -- Kegan Roney had a double double with 17 points and 13 rebounds, along with three assists, two steals and a pair of blocked shots in the Knights’ 65-42 loss to Springwood in the Macon East gym on Wednesday.  

Jacob Johnson added 16 points, three rebounds, an assist, a steal and a blocked shot for Macon East (3-6), which travels to Prattville on Monday to play Autauga Academy at 7 p.m.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Pike Road 67, Chilton County 47

CLANTON -- Audrey Blaine had 23 points, six rebounds and five assists to lead the Patriots to a 20-point win in the Chilton County gym on Thursday night.

Jazz Johnson had a double double with 18 points and 15 rebounds, along with six assists and three blocked shots, to help the Patriots. KJ Fencher added 18 points for Pike Road (12-2), which won its eighth consecutive game on Thursday night and will play Lanett next Thursday.

Pelham 50, Prattville Christian 49

PRATTVILLE -- Kayden Carr hit a pair of free throws with two seconds left to send the game into overtime, but Prattville Christian dropped a 50-49 decision to Pelham on Thursday in the PCA gym.

Carr led the Panthers with 27 points and five rebounds and also took two charges. Avery Rogers added 16 points, six rebounds and four assists, while Jenna McClendon had four points, 15 rebounds and four steals. Leah Cate Wilson grabbed seven rebounds and Ally Blankinchip grabbed four. 

PCA (9-2) will play BTW Magnet on Tuesday in the first round of the Jack Schweers Capital City Classic at Trinity.