SOUTHWEST 2A BOYS FINAL: Davison provides one more highlight reel in Calhoun win
JD Davison and the Calhoun Tigers took care of Thorsby to win the Class 2A Southwest Regional title on Friday. (Tim Gayle)
By GRAHAM DUNN
It wasn’t necessarily a coronation for JD Davison. But it felt like it.
The senior led Calhoun to the Class 2A Southwest Regional title on Friday with an easy 66-47 victory over Thorsby.
The crowd, unannounced in size but easily the largest of the week at Garrett Coliseum, came to see the McDonald’s All-American do his stuff.
He didn’t disappoint, scoring 19 points, grabbing seven rebounds and adding eight steals and 11 assists to lead the Tigers to their third straight trip to the state semifinals and a shot at back-to-back titles.
He finished the day with a windmill dunk to give the masses what they wanted.
“I can say that (they came to see me) but they come to watch my team play… I at least give them one thing for what they came for,” Davison said with a grin.
Calhoun had little trouble with the Rebels, who had all sorts of matchup problems, with or without Davison on the court.
The Tigers opened by scoring the first nine points of the game within a two-minute span and never looked back.
Their lead grew to as many as 25 points in the second half.
But don’t tell coach Ervin Starr it was easy.
“We are a losing situation,” he explained. “They say you only won because you have JD Davison. If you don’t win, it’s ‘how the heck did you lose when you have the McDonald’s All-American?’ It’s going to be hard to enjoy it.”
Another reality – the high school career of Davison has just one more week. That has the senior contemplating what that will feel like before he heads off to play for Alabama next season.
“I’m thinking about it but I’m trying to have fun as I get closer,” he explained. “I do think it about it a lot. It stays on my mind a good bit.”
“Not yet,” Starr replied when asked if he’s thought about the end of the Davison era at Calhoun. “At least I try not to.
“Look, he’s a coach on the floor. He’s a lot smarter about basketball than I am. I’m not ashamed of that. He’s out there to help the guys.”
Calhoun (16-7) will face Midfield on Wednesday afternoon at the Bill Harris Arena in the Class 2A semifinals. The expectations are the Tigers will win it all again but Starr is adamant his team is not assuming another title.
“There are three championships we want to win,” he said. “(In the sub-regional win at Clarke County) we ran off the court like we won the state championship because that was huge. We got to come back here. Regardless of who a team is, or how great they are, you don’t always get this chance. Especially because of COVID, this year is very special.
“Over 90 percent (of high school athletes) will never win a championship. It’s not about their character. These moments are special and our guys know it.”