Austin slips by James Clemens to claim area title
Alfonso Johnson drive for two against Austin photo by Floyd Parks
Decatur- James Clemens boys team came within a point of making history Monday night as they battled down to the wire but came up one point short of winning the Class 6A, Area 16 title.
The 40-39 final score was an indication of just how close the game was. The Jets had a shot to win the game and had a two point lead in the final minute but couldn’t close it out.
The game featured a defensive battle of huge proportions, and for the capacity crowd was a game to be talked about for a while. It seemed that the last team that scored would come out on top and that is pretty much what happened.
After some stout defense by both teams, the score stood at 4-4 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second, James Clemens jumped out to an 8-4 lead but Austin surged into the lead at 19-16. With the clock winding down, junior guard Tykeem Franklin launched a two pointer that went in and the teams went to halftime 19-18.
The game was close through the third quarter and the fans were whipped into a frenzy by the play of both teams. The fourth quarter would prove to be just as exciting.
With 2:17 to go, James Clemens’ Alfonso Johnson toed the line and made two free throws to tie the game at 34-34. Then with the clock at 1:29, Josh Mitchell drained a 15- foot jump shot for a 36-34 JCHS lead. At that point, JCHS seemed to have the enough momentum to carry them to victory.
Austin surged back to take a 39-37 lead. JCHS in bounded the ball with 34.5 seconds. Austinfouled Josh Mitchell, who made two free throws to tie the game at 39.
Austin in-bounded and with the clock running down,Austin’s Everette Mayes drove to the basket, drawing a foul with 1.4 seconds left.
Mayes hit the first and missed the second, but JCHS called time out for one last second shot. Josh Mitchell’s shot didn’t leave his hand until after the buzzer.
Austin will now host the Hazel Green Trojans and James Clemens will travel to Sparkman. Winners will move on to the NW Regional in Hanceville next week and the loser’s season will be over.
