HS Hoops Update: Local teams complete holiday tournaments

Hewitt-Trussville

The Hewitt-Trussville boys basketball team traveled to Atlanta the weekend before Christmas to play a pair of games in the War Eagle Classic, hosted by Woodward Academy. On Dec. 21, the Huskies fell to Cedar Grove (Georgia) 50-45. The following evening, Pace (Georgia) took down Hewitt 60-58.

Following Christmas, the Huskies played in the Big Orange Classic at Hoover. The Huskies began the tournament with a 66-54 loss to Hoover on Dec. 27. Cameron Glover led the team with 16 points, while Colin Glover and Tyler Pickett each scored 10 points. Ahman Ellington led Hoover with 31 points. The following day, Hewitt fell to McAdory 67-52. Colin Glover led the team with 19 points.

The Huskies were back in action on Jan. 4 and picked up a 67-53 win over Madison Academy. Jaxon Hunter posted a career-high 25 points in the game, with Cameron Glover adding 13 points and Brandan Copeland scoring 11.

The Hewitt-Trussville girls played in the USMC BallN Prep Holiday Invitational at Thompson following Christmas and won two of their three games. On Dec. 27, the Lady Huskies fell to Class 7A power Sparkman 47-40. Amiya Payne scored 11 points in the game to lead the team. The following day, the Lady Huskies knocked off Niceville (Florida) 50-41, led by 20 points from Morgan Kirk. Hewitt beat Stephenson (Georgia) 55-37 on Dec. 29 to conclude the event.

The Lady Huskies fell to Madison Academy 65-50 on Jan. 4. Leah Harrison led the team with 21 points in the effort, with Payne scoring 20 as well.

Heading into Class 7A, Area 6 play, the Hewitt boys have a 6-8 overall record, while the girls are 11-6. Hewitt-Trussville hosts Vestavia Hills on Tuesday and travels to Spain Park on Friday.

Clay-Chalkville

The Clay-Chalkville boys basketball team played in Shades Valley’s annual Choo-Choo Classic tournament the week before Christmas. The Cougars opened play on Dec. 20 with a 60-52 win over Carver-Birmingham, as Daniel Beachem led the way with 20 points in the contest. The following evening, the Cougars dropped a tight one to Shades Valley, 55-52. Beachem once again led the team with 14 points. Jaylin Mack scored 13 points, and Dayon Bryant added 11.

Clay-Chalkville finished third in the tournament with a 52-40 win over Woodlawn on Dec. 22. Bryant posted 20 points, and Beachem scored 11 in the victory.

Following Christmas, Clay-Chalkville won a four-team tournament at Calera. On Dec. 27, the Cougars defeated Bibb County 61-42. Bryant scored 23 points to lead the team, and Chance Armstrong added 11 points. Clay knocked off Saraland 60-43 the following day to win the event, led by Bryant’s 21 points and 16 from Beachem.

The boys won their fourth straight on Jan. 4, as they beat Selma 54-50 in overtime. Armstrong led the way with 17 points, with Mack adding 11 points and Donovan Shangase scoring 10.

The Clay-Chalkville girls basketball team played in Spain Park’s Chevron Lady Jag Classic the week before Christmas and opened play on Dec. 20 with a thrilling 48-46 win over Midfield. Erica Lockhart led the team with 20 points, and Tamyia Muse added 11 points for the Lady Cougars. The following day, the Lady Cougars were knocked off in the quarterfinals by Wenonah, 51-39. They finished the tournament with a 54-51 loss to Cullman on Dec. 22.

The girls team edged out a 52-50 win over Selma on Jan. 4.

The Clay boys have a 9-8 record on the year, while the girls are 8-9. Clay-Chalkville plays its second Class 6A, Area 12 contest on Tuesday as it travels to Pinson Valley. On Friday, the Cougars head to Oxford.

Pinson Valley

The Pinson Valley boys basketball team traveled to Columbus, Mississippi, the weekend before Christmas to play in the Joe Horne Christmas Classic. On Friday, Dec. 21, the Indians fell to Starkville (Mississippi) 63-56. Kam Woods led the way with 22 points and three assists. GaQuincy McKinstry added 11 points and two assists, and Marques McConico had 11 points and two steals in the game.

The Indians rebounded the following night with a 67-55 win over Okolona (Mississippi). Woods once again posted 22 points to go along with four rebounds and three assists. McKinstry registered 14 points and a pair of assists, McConico had 11 points and four boards, and Geordon Pollard tallied seven points and 11 rebounds.

Pinson Valley went to Montgomery following Christmas and emerged victorious in the Dwight Madison Roundball Classic. On Dec. 27, the Indians began their run with an 82-78 win over Hillcrest-Evergreen. Woods scored 24 points to go along with six rebounds, four assists and three steals. McConico also scored 24 points and grabbed six boards. McKinstry had 11 points, four rebounds and two blocks. Horace Wilson had eight points and 10 rebounds, while Pollard notched nine points and 10 rebounds.

The following day, Pinson knocked off Calhoun 91-74. Woods drained 6-of-10 3-point attempts and scored 29 points to go with five assists. McKinstry had a big game as well, going for 28 points, five assists and three steals. Pollard notched a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Wilson grabbed 17 rebounds to supplement his six points.

On Dec. 29, the Indians won the event with a 60-47 win over Starr’s Mill (Georgia), a team that knocked off Class 6A top-ranked Carver-Montgomery in the semifinals. Woods filled the stat sheet yet again, with 27 points, six rebounds, four steals and three assists. McConico had 13 points, McKinstry had 10 points and four rebounds, and Wilson posted six points and 14 rebounds.

The Pinson Valley girls also played in the Dwight Madison Roundball Classic. The Lady Indians fell 63-49 to Carver-Montgomery on Dec. 27 and lost 43-39 to Center Point the following day.

The Pinson boys have a 12-5 record on the year now, while the girls are 4-13. This week, Pinson Valley hosts Clay-Chalkville on Tuesday in an area contest. The Indians head to Midfield on Thursday.