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  • Fairview’s Blake Parker lays in the ball past the outstretched arm of West Point’s Nick Nuss. Parker scored 12 points in the Aggies’ 66-61 road win over the Warriors Thursday night. Rob Ketcham

    Fairview-West Point

  • Fairview's Annie Holcomb dribbles around West Point's Kari Williams. Rob Ketcham

    Fairview-West Point

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February 2, 2012

PREP BASKETBALL: Aggies avenge title loss, even season series with Warriors

Fairview girls grab win over West Point

By Rob Ketcham The Cullman Times

WEST POINT — Luke Bailey scored 16 points, J.T. Boatright had 15 and Fairview avenged last Saturday’s loss in the county title game with a 66-61 victory over West Point Thursday night.

The result evened the season series at two games apiece. The Warriors won the first matchup 62-46 back in November, and the Aggies were on the right side of a 56-30 decision Jan. 10.

“We feel good about the win, but we still wish we could’ve won last Saturday night,” Fairview coach Greg Boatright said. “It just goes to show how much parity there is in the county this year.

“It’s a good matchup for both of because we’re evenly matched. These kids have been playing each other since the second and third grade. They know each other, and it can go one way or the other from one game to the next.”

Boatright accounted for the contest’s first points after draining a 3-pointer from the left side of the floor. The senior must’ve made reservations at that spot, as he nailed his next three attempts from the same position.

The Aggies pulled out to a 35-20 lead before West Point’s Tyler Vandergrift, Colby Roberts and Wesley Smith combined on a 12-4 run to close the deficit to seven by halftime.

The Warriors cut the score to one at the beginning of the third quarter after Nick Nuss made two inside shots and Kris Keller contributed an acrobatic layup that kissed off the glass and in.

Fairview countered with a 6-0 run, though, and West Point was never able to get any closer than three points the rest of the night.

Bailey has stepped his game up in the second half of the season, and that continued Thursday night against the Warriors. The senior hit two treys — both in the second quarter — and was content with either slashing to the basket or settling for mid-range jump shots for his other points.

“He’s just shooting the ball with confidence,” coach Boatright said. “He’s got his jump shot going. That’s a big plus.”

In addition to Boatright and Bailey, Blake Parker put up 12 points and Michael Williams tallied seven.

“I’m just proud of my guys,” coach Boatright said. “They came focused and ready to play.

“We all need to be playing well. That’s what it’s going to take to get into the postseason. Every guy is going to have to step it up to go further.”

Although they might not have won the ballgame, West Point did walk away from the in-county battle with the most style points.

While running down the left side of the floor in the third quarter, Vandergrift completed a drop-your-jaw bounce pass between a Fairview player’s legs that was caught and put in by Wesley Smith. Then, in the fourth, Keller drove toward the rim before unleashing a behind-the-back pass to a wide-open Josh Looney, who nailed a trey from the corner.

Vandergrift led the way for West Point with 16 points, and Colby Roberts hustled for 12. Keller contributed 11 points, Josh Looney scored eight and Wesley Smith had seven.



Girls

Fairview 55, West Point 46: Anna Mangum tied it at 25-25 in the second quarter, and Annie Holcomb drained a 3-pointer shortly before halftime to give the Aggies a lead they would never relinquish.

Rachel Persall hit a trey in the fourth quarter to pull the Warriors within 49-45, but Sabrina Russell, Holcomb and Shelby Hayes combined to go 6-of-8 from the free-throw line the rest of the way to stave off the home team.

Persall, West Point’s biggest scoring threat, had 11 points despite seeing limited time after taking an inadvertent poke to the eyes in the first half. The senior then had to leave again temporarily in the third quarter after enduring yet another accidental swipe at her eyes.

Holcomb and Russell both led the way for Fairview with 17 points, and Hayes wasn’t far behind with 11.

Other than Persall’s total, Kari Williams went off for nine points, Madison Rusk scored eight and Alex Baggett had six for the Warriors.

Rob Ketcham can be reached at 256-734-2131, ext. 257 or at robk@cullmantimes.com.

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