Bob Jones get big win over Madison Academy
Dalton Barkley finishes with a slam against Madison Academy (Record Photo/Lindsay Vaught)
MADISON- It was a game between neighbors Friday night as Bob Jones hosted Madison Academy. The Mustangs star Josh Langford showed why he is considered the top basketball prospect in Alabama but Bob Jones held on at the end to claim a 62 to 60 victory.
“They’re a very good team with the best player in the state,” said Bob Jones coach Graham Aderholt. “I’m extremely proud of our kids. We’ve had two good practices this week and we’re starting to get better each game.”
Langford, a 6-foot-5 junior, almost brought Academy back from a 14 point third quarter deficit. Academy closed to within two points in the final minute but Bob Jones broke the all out press and ran out the clock.
Langford had 27 points and shot 50% from the field. In the final minute Cole Tomlinson got a steal and Langford put back a rebound and was fouled. He also had a coast-to-coast lay up with a foul for another three point play.
“It’s fun to play against a great player like that,” Aderholt said. “It motivates our players to try to play on that level.”
Bob Jones shot 40% but still can’t find their range from three point land shooting only 3 of 18.
Dalton Barkley led the Patriots with 17, he was 6 of 11 from the field and hit one three pointer. Barkley had 7 offensive rebounds and 14 overall. Ryan Dupree had 13 points. Deondre Douglas fouled out.
Josh Langford shoots a three
“Just play him tough and not give him anything easy,” was the strategy Aderholt used on Langford. “He is very tough to guard. We wanted to make him work for his points. We did a pretty good job on him. We started with Deondre on him and rotated two other players on him.”
Bob Jones led 13-11 after one quarter and pulled out to a 30-23 lead at halftime. They had their biggest lead at 40-26 before Academy went on a 13-3 run. Two three pointers by Will Acuff sparked the Mustangs. Acuff, starting at guard, hit 4 three pointers and finished with 13 points.
The win gives Bob Jones (5-4) some momentum going into area play which begins next Friday at James Clemens.
