The Apalachee High School boys basketball team added another region win to their total last Wednesday and did so at the expense of its county rival.
The Wildcats trailed by a point at halftime but used a 17-point third quarter to regain the lead at 44-39. AHS improved to 4-2 in Region 8-AAAAA with the win and 7-2 overall. The Wildcats were set to play two non-region games later in the week (see related story) before returning to region battles in early January.
“When Winder and Apalachee play it doesn’t matter about the records or which team has been hot,” AHS coach Kevin Morris said after the game. “We are always going to have this type of game. You just want to make sure you get out with the win.”
Cameron Blakley scored a game-high 24 points for the Wildcats with 13 in the first half and 11 more in the second half. Freshman Kamar Baldwin finished with 12 points for AHS as did Rakim Peters.
“Cameron played big,” Morris said. “He was a force on the floor. On offense, he really crashed the board. Even when he doesn’t get the rebound, he will have two defenders on him which helps give someone else a chance to get it.”
Baldwin continues to be impressive as a freshman. He was 6-of-8 from the free throw line.
The win was a team effort, Morris said. The Wildcat coach pointed out a big 3-point basket by Qua Cleveland as well as the defensive efforts of Jermaine Smith and Vontez Heard.
Even a basket from Alantae Billings, his only points of the game, in the second half, was important.
“When Alantae goes in, he is often a little fresher than other players and he has the necessary quickness to make a play,” Morris said.
WBHS had three players in double figures led by Toddrick Barnes and Zay Hester with 14 points each. Travis Demeritte finished with 12 points.
“The points from Toddric were great but defensively, he worked his tail off,” said Bulldoggs coach David Sokol. “It was his best effort of the season overall. He was mentally prepared for the game.”
Sokol said Apalachee made some big attempts dwon the stretch.
“At times we didn’t execute,” he said. “Our defensive effort was fantastic. We had some guys playing who weren’t 100 percent. I thought the game was a lot closer than 11 percent.”
AHS had a balanced scoring attack with nine players contributing points. Kent Knowles, Jody Mathis and Cleveland all had three-pointers while Smith Austin Miller and Billings all scored two.
Chandon Sullivan added seven points for WBHS with Aaron Jeswald scoring five.
The AHS Wildcats return to action Jan. 4 at Salem in region action. The team will then host Heritage Jan. 8
The WBHS Bulldoggs will host Walnut Grove Jan. 4 and Monroe Area Jan. 5. Both are non-region games.
