By Stephen Dawkins

A first-year senior is making life a little easier for Jemison’s first-year boys basketball coach.
Scottie Hall, who has never before played varsity basketball, has posted a double-double in each game this season, leading Stacy McGehee’s first Jemison team to a 2-3 record and hopes for continued improvement as the season progresses.
“Scottie has been a pleasant surprise,” McGehee said. “He’s real active on the boards.”
Hall has played much bigger than his slim 6’2” frame, averaging 13 points and more than 14 rebounds per game in McGehee’s fast-paced attack.
Last week, Hall had 13 points and 14 rebounds in a 62-30 win over Isabella on Dec. 11, and he had 20 points and 17 rebounds in a 73-67 loss at Chilton County.
In that game, the Panthers cut their rivals’ lead from 24 to seven points in the fourth quarter.
CCHS attacked the offensive glass and used half-court pressure, in the first quarter, and full-court pressure, in the second, to build a 41-30 halftime advantage.
The lead grew to 19, at 59-38, when senior guard Taylor Hughes drained a wide open 3-pointer with 2:19 remaining in the third quarter.
The Tigers (3-2) led by as much as 24 points in the fourth quarter before Jemison used its own full-court press to speed up the tempo and cut the lead.
Jemison’s Javae Swindle scored seven of his 12 points in the final period in an effort to close the gap, and Cornelius Strong scored eight of his 12 in the frame.
Against Isabella, Zak Kaylor recorded 13 points, six assists and four steals. Cornelius Strong had 12 points, and Trey Bryant had 10 points.
Jemison had 18 team steals.
“We’ve got a group that’s playing hard, trying to learn how to win a little bit,” McGehee said. “We’re getting there.”

Thorsby drops two area games
Thorsby last week fell to 0-3 in Class 2A, Area 9 play with losses to Fultondale (65-47 and Shades Mountain Christian (60-12).
The Rebels (2-3) trailed Fultondale (2-4, 1-1 area) 47-38 entering the fourth period on Dec. 7 but was then outscored 18-9.
Evan Bryan led the Rebels with 13 points. Marcus Bray posted eight points and 13 rebounds.
Jace Maddox also scored eight points for the Rebels, and Jeremiah Good had seven points.
Against Shades Mountain (10-1, 2-0) on Dec. 11, Bray was Thorsby’s leading scorer with eight points. He also pulled down eight rebounds.
Andrew Farris had seven rebounds in the game.

By Stephen Dawkins

The Thorsby basketball team lost its point guard and two primary post players from one year ago.
The Rebels hope to make up for it by becoming a threat to score from beyond the 3-point line.
The graduation of 6’5” center Nathan Thornton and 6’2” forward Daniel Farris left Thorsby without its two tallest players, and the transfer of Eddie Hubbard left the Rebels without their starting point guard.
But there have been some pleasant surprises. Sophomores Jace Maddox and Aaron Thornton have impressed in practice, coach Corey Clements said.
“Both of them can really shoot the ball,” Clements said.
Most of the scoring slack, though, will have to be picked up by senior guard Evan Bryan, junior forward Andrew Farris and junior center Marcus Bray.
“Our area is going to be tough again, and I think the teams in the county will be better this year,” Clements said. “It’s going to be a difficult schedule.
“We’ve been practicing for three weeks now—it’s time to get started.”