Bob Jones keeps winning
Devin Hankins preparing to shoot against Travon Landry.
BY LINDSAY VAUGHT
Harvest- The atmosphere at Sparkman High School gymnasium matched the drama on the court Friday night as two county rivals squared off with nothing more than bragging rights on the line.
Bob Jones continued their winning streak and moved their record to 17-0 as the Patriots finally broke open a close game by outscoring the Senators by 10 points in the fourth quarter to post a 49-37 win.
The fans filled the gym to a nearly full house that included body painted students. The crowd apparently gave both teams a case of the jitters as the shots clanked off the rim for both teams early. Bob Jones missed three free throws before Travon Landry made one to start the scoring. Sparkman meanwhile had more turnovers than points in the first quarter as they did not dent the scoreboard until 4 minutes were left in the quarter.
Bob Jones was equally cold shooting as they missed their first two three point attempts before Tyler Davis hit one to give the Patriots an 8-2 lead at 2:36 of the first quarter. For Sparkman, Jeff Landrom’s rebound and put back narrowed the margin to 8-6 after one quarter.
Landrom continue to assert himself on the glass with an offensive rebound and basket to spark a comeback. Devin Hankins nailed a three-point basket to give Sparkman a lead at 15-14 with 33 seconds left in the half. At halftime the game was tied at 15.
Despite shooting only 24% from the field in the first half Bob Jones remained patient and did not stray from their game plan. That included Travon Landry driving the lane and either drawing a foul, shooting a high percentage shot, or dishing out to a teammate. Landry finished the game with 13 points and 2 assists.
The teams continued to swap leads into the third quarter as Jeffrey Moss heated up driving the lane and scoring with the left hand. Moss had 14 of his game-leading 16 points in the second half. Sparkman got 3-point baskets from Devin Hankins and Lamonte Turner to cut a four point Bob Jones lead to one after three quarters.
A Tyler Davis three point shot opened the fourth quarter and Reggie Ragland blocked a shot and scored his own basket at the other end. Ragland then finished a fast break with a layup and Bob Jones suddenly had a 38-27 lead.
After the game, Ragland got a standing ovation from the crowd for representing North Alabama in the Under-Armour High School All-Star game the previous night. It took a heroic effort but Ragland made the trip back from Tampa, Florida in time to start the basketball game. He finished with 7 points and 8 rebounds.
Sparkman got no closer than 8 points in the final 7 minutes as Moss and Travon Landry hit their shots and free throws down the stretch. Moss had a breakaway slam dunk with 40 seconds left to close the scoring.
For Sparkman Jeff Landrom was the only player in double figures as he finished with 14.
It was the third meeting this season and the final meeting of the regular season for the two teams.
“We didn’t come out ready to play and shot it very poor the first half,” said Bob Jones head coach Danny Petty. “Moss came through for us at the end and Tyler Davis hit some big shots for us.”
Petty said that the team does not feel added pressure from being 17-0.
“We don’t talk about it. We just take it one game at a time. We got a big one against Austin at home.”
In fact the next two games area games at home against Austin on Jan 10 and Decatur on Jan 13.
