Bob Jones gets split with Mountain Brook
Dalton Barkley goes up for a shot against Mountain Brook
(RECORD PHOTO/LINDSAY VAUGHT)
MADISON- At Bob Jones the second half of the basketball season got underway Friday night as one of the top ranked programs in the state- and defending boys state 6A champion- Mountain Brook paid a visit.
After two third place finishes in holiday tournaments, the Bob Jones girls got back on the winning track with a 44-39 victory.
Mountain Brook came into the game with a 15-2 record and ranked fourth in the state.
“This was a tough game because we just started back to school and we’re coming off a long holiday break. Mountain Brook is a good team, they’ve got size and they play smart and I’m pleased with the win,” said Bob Jones Coach Danny Petty. “I just wanted us to play well. We had a good first half, in the second half we turned it over too much. Meredith shot the ball well. Chandler made some key free throws.”
Bob Jones jumped out to a quick 11-6 lead after one quarter as Meredith Lovelady had the hot hand from behind the arc. She sank three three-point baskets in the first half and had 11 points in the first half. Bob Jones biggest lead was at 23-14. Mountain Brook got to within 40-37 late in the fourth quarter but Chandler Elder sank six free throws in the fourth quarter to secure the win.
Lovelady finished with 16 and Elder and Ashley McKay had 10 points each.
Bob Jones record is now 11-5. They enter a crucial stretch of area games starting with a home game against Hazel Green next Friday, Jan 10.
“Hopefully we can get back focused get back in a routine and finish strong,” Petty added.
The Bob Jones boy’s team had a tough task facing a Mountain Brook team that surprised everyone last year as they kept winning all the way to a state title. The top player on that team, Mikell Grant, has graduated and is in junior college but his little brother Tawarron played very well.
Mountain Brook, 17-3 overall, won 61-41.
Bob Jones fell behind early 11-4 but closed to 14-10 after one quarter. The second quarter proved their undoing as the Patriots scored only 3 points and fell behind 27-17. Bob Jones cut the lead to 36-32 after three quarters but the fourth quarter was all Mountain Brook as the Mounties outscored Bob Jones 25-9.
Dalton Barkley led the Patriots with 16 and nine rebounds.
