James Clemens clinches Area 16, hosts Bob Jones…again
Jordan Harris puts up a shot against Decatur
(RECORD PHOTO/FLOYD PARKS)
MADISON- Bob Jones vs James Clemens part three will be unlike any of the previous games between the two Madison high schools. Those games were for bragging rights only. Now, a coveted trip to the AHSAA Northwest Regional at Wallace State-Hanceville is within the grasp of both teams. But only one will advance.
James Clemens wrapped up the Class 6A, Area 16 championship on Monday with a 50-37 win over Decatur. It is the school’s first basketball area championship. That win combined with Bob Jones’ 60-39 loss at Hazel Green sets up a rematch Friday night in the state playoffs sub-region round. The game is Friday, Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. at James Clemens.
The Jet’s celebrated the area title but quickly turned their attention to facing Bob Jones for the third time this season. Bob Jones won 49-40 back on Nov. 21 and James Clemens won on their home court 63-57 on Jan. 31.
“Two good basketball teams and we get to host. It’s good for the city of Madison and our fans,” said James Clemens coach Luther Tiggs. “For four quarters we will see which team can go out and execute and win the game.”
Tiggs has good reason to be confident. The Jets are 22-8 and playing their best basketball of the season having won six of their last seven games. On their home court they are 10-1 with the only loss to non-area opponent Lee-Huntsville to close the season.
The Jets are led by two seniors Tykeem Franklin and Jordan Harris. Franklin has averaged almost 20 points per game in the second half of the season. Harris hit for 38 points against Bob Jones in the Jets win.
Against Decatur, Franklin had 22 points to lead all scorers and Harris had 17.
But in the last meeting between the two, Bob Jones leading scorer Josh Mitchell missed the game. He will play Friday night but Tiggs is not concerned.
“It is not going to change it much. They‘ve got good players. I look at that no different than foul trouble or injury. It’s still five-on-five and players make plays. There won’t be any secrets. Both teams will be well-prepared. It will come down to who plays the best for 32 minutes.”
Tiggs will count heavily on Franklin and Harris but his role players could be the difference.
“People underestimate our role players. Trevor Makarov, what he brings to our team is leadership, toughness and Deondre Douglas has taken on the best offensive players on the opposing teams and shut them down.”
“We are not a one man team by any stretch of the imagination; we have a good group of guys that have bought in, have done every thing we asked them to do, and we will go toe-to-toe with whoever we face,” Tiggs said.
Tykeem Franklin (12) and Jordan Harris
(RECORD PHOTO/FLOYD PARKS)
In this case, the opponent happens to be their biggest rival who always brings out a big crowd. Throw in that it is now a state playoff game in the sub-region round and you have the makings of a record crowd.
Bob Jones enters the game at 17-11.
The last time Bob Jones made the Northwest Regional at Wallace State was 2011 when they lost a semi-final game to Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa. In 2010, the Patriots defeated Minor and Sparkman at the NW Regional and went on to win the state 6A title at the BJCC.
A James Clemens win would be the first trip to the regional for the Jets.
