By Charles Prince

The North Jefferson News



On Friday night in Morris, two cross county rivals split a pair of games on the hardwood, as Mortimer Jordan took the girls game and Gardendale was the victor in the boy’s game.



Mortimer Jordan girls 72,

Gardendale girls 52

Jordan (19-6) shot the ball about as well as they have all season as their shots fell from the field, from beyond the 3-point line and at the foul line.

The Lady Blue Devils sank 46 percent of their shots from the field, shot 50 percent behind the 3-point line and hit 80 percent at the foul line.

“We shot really well, that was probably the difference in the game,” Mortimer Jordan head coach Marty Caldwell said. “We just made our shots and kept the lead.”

Jordan lead 35-26 at the half and went onto avenge a loss earlier this year at Gardendale.

Brianna Nation led the Lady Devils with 20 points, including 4-of-5 shooting from 3-point range.

Peyton Davis was a tower of power in the middle with 20 points, 16 rebounds and five blocked shots.

Ashley Merritt added 14, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range. Ashlee Porter scored 11 and handed out eight assists and Shea Bowman had seven.

Gardendale’s Kristian Moody tried to keep the Lady Rockets (16-10) close as she poured in 27 points, while sinking 8-of-10 shots from 3-point range.

“We played well defensively and we had a good effort against Moody, but she still had a big game,” Caldwell said. “We played her well and she still got 27, so she showed what a outstanding player she is.”

Kenosha Carter had eight, Taylor Lindsey had six, Taylor Powell scored five, Elizabeth Schultz, Chandler Cushman and Sidney Long scored two each and Kaitlyn Plan and Bekah Myers scored one point each.



Gardendale boys 52,

Mortimer Jordan boys 40

In the nightcap, points were much harder to come by as the Rockets raced to a 18-3 lead, but then struggled scoring for much of the rest of the contest as they picked up win No. 22 against seven defeats.

“We got off to a great start going up by 15 after one quarter,” Gardendale head coach Bill Griffin said. “But we didn’t play as well after that, but you have to give Mortimer Jordan credit, they fought back and got the lead down to eight or 10 points a couple of times, but we were able to hold on.”

Hunter Graveman led the Rockets with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Zac Davis scored 10 and pulled down seven rebounds.

Drew Faile had eight points and nine rebounds. Nigel Ramsey had eight points.

Clint Guin scored five. Alan Jackson added four more, Julius Shelton scored three points and Trey Hilliard and Tyler Burgess scored one point each.

“After the quick start, I don’t think we shot the ball well at all,” Griffin said. “But they didn’t shot it well enough either to come all the way back. I think both teams played hard, but neither of us shot well.”

For the Blue Devils (12-13), senior point guard Brent Nation led their scoring with 12 points, followed by Ryan Densmore with nine and Nathan McIntosh with eight points.

The Blue Devils will close out their home schedule today beginning with a girls game at 2:30 p.m.