Sparkman evens season series with win over Bob Jones

Dalton Barkley guards Sparkman’s Rashawn Green in action from Friday night’s game
(RECORD PHOTO/LINDSAY VAUGHT)

HARVEST-  Bob Jones entered Friday night’s game with a chance to clinch Class 6A, Area 15 but Sparkman had other ideas as the Senators rose up and posted a 60-53 win that throws the area race into a 3 three way tie.

Sparkman took a first quarter lead and had a 24-20 lead at halftime even though their leading scorer, Jamal Johnson was held scoreless.

Johnson would make up for that in the second half as he came back strong to score 18 including 8 of 9 from the free throw line. Early on it was Donovan Davis who had the hot hand for Sparkman. He finished with 10 and Patrick Vaughn also had 10.

Bob Jones made a third quarter push and wiped out a nine point deficit to tie the game at 41 when J.D. Sims pulled an offensive rebound and scored on a put back. But that was as close as Bob Jones got as Johnson asserted himself by scoring eight straight points including a steal and score. His three-point play put Sparkman up 51-46.

Bob Jones had trouble penetrating the zone defense Sparkman coach Jaime Coggins used late in the game. Bob Jones got 15 points from Ralph Templeton, twelve from Dalton Barkley, and eleven from Josh Mitchell.

Sparkman won despite getting outrebounded 35-25.

“We had our chances tonight we just didn’t capitalize on them,” said Bob Jones coach Graham Aderholt. “They have got a good team and a really good player in Jamal. We just got to hang in there and keep working.”

“It makes it a must win against Buckhorn next Friday night,” Aderholt said. “Our goals are still out there to get.”

GIRLS SPARKMAN 57 BOB JONES 41

Bob Jones was thinking upset of the state’s top ranked team in 6A as the game neared halftime.

Kyonna Leslie and Meredith Lovelady staked Bob Jones to a one-point halftime lead as the pair combined for five three-point shots to boost Bob Jones to a 26-25 lead at the break.

But Sparkman heated up from the outside in the third quarter as Chelsea Robinson came off the bench to hit three three-point shots. Alexis Jennings was an efficient three for three from long range and finished with a game-high 25 points and 8 rebounds.

Sparkman is unbeaten in Class 6A, Area 15 standings and plays at Hazel Green next Friday.