PREP BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Ball reaches 1,000-point milestone; Lady Warriors earn 64-51 win over Holly Pond

Published 9:31 pm Friday, February 1, 2019

WEST POINT — The butterflies in Olivia Ball’s stomach didn’t dissipate until the basketball swished through the net.

Needing just two points to reach 1,000 for her career, the West Point senior stood under her basket before the opening tip of Friday’s home contest against Holly Pond patiently waiting for her unforgettable moment to arrive.

It did — and Ball, who tore her ACL earlier this season, delivered.

The ball found its way into Ball’s hands, and she touched it off the backboard and into the goal to reach her milestone.

Following a timeout, she returned to the bench — brace and all — amid applause from a happy Senior Night crowd.

Gone were the butterflies, replaced with a smile and an overwhelming sense of relief.

“I was so nervous. All I could think was, ‘If I miss this, I’m going to walk out of the gym and not come back,'” a laughing Ball said of her uncontested shot. 

No second chance?

“I might have,” she added with a grin. “Then, if I missed that one, I would say, ‘No more.'”

West Point’s John Welborn and Holly Pond’s Andrew Kelley agreed to the sequence ahead of the contest, with the two teams trading easy baskets to begin at 2-all before things officially got underway.

“I’m really thankful for coach Kelley allowing me to do this,” Ball said. “It was big of him, and I really respect him for doing that. And I want to thank coach Welborn for thinking of doing this for me. It’s been a great four years, and I’m glad he let me get my 1,000th point.”

Perhaps the only person happier than Ball and her family members was Welborn.

Following his squad’s 64-51 win over the Lady Broncos, the longtime coach sang Ball’s praises.

“She’s been playing for me for four years,” Welborn said. “One of the best kids as far as overall. My daughter … I’d want her to grow up and be like Olivia. She’s a hard worker. She’s a mother figure for these other girls, too. She just keeps everybody in line. It’s been a joy to coach her. I wish I had five of her out there. Coach Kelley was good letting us do that, but I knew he would be. He’s a good guy.”

The Lady Warriors outscored Holly Pond 35-22 in the second half to pull out the victory.

Lexi Shadix claimed 19 of her game-high 26 points over the final 16 minutes to lead the charge.

The talented sophomore, who also eclipsed 1,000-career points in the game, contributed a host of blocks, rebounds and steals as well.

“Lexi carried us offensively,” Welborn said. “In the first half, we were switching everything defensively, and they kind of got us in some binds. At halftime, I told them we weren’t switching, and we were going to be physical and fight through screens. You could tell a difference in the second half. Holly Pond didn’t get near as many good looks. That was the main thing for us tonight.”

Mackenzie Carter added 14 for Class 5A No. 8 West Point, which improved to 24-5 this season.

Micah Oldacre rounded out the double-digit showings with 11.

Tess Duke notched a team-high 12 points for Holly Pond (12-13), while Maddie Heatherly (eight) and Kirsten Campbell (seven) were next in line offensively.

Ball and Natalie Trammell are the Maroon and White’s only two seniors.

% Athens 70, Cullman 55: Despite a 31-point effort from Anna Katherine Eastman, the 6A No. 8 Lady Bearcats lost a tough one away from home on Friday.

Jaden Winfrey and Hannah Hoffman secured seven points apiece for Cullman (22-8) in the loss.

% Good Hope 67, Cleveland 62: The Lady Raiders picked up a road victory on Friday.

Ivey Maddox (22), Rudi Derrick (13) and Heather Tetro (nine) provided the top offensive contributions.

% Hanceville 50, Dora 10: The Lady Bulldogs stormed to a road win on Friday to improve to 14-10 this season.

Kelly Pickett paced Hanceville with 15 points, while Mira Gieser (10) and Hannah Flanigan (eight) also contributed.

Varsity Boys

% West Point 80, Holly Pond 77: The Warriors held off the Broncos for a Senior Night victory on Friday.

Kolton Sapp paced West Point (12-16) with a team-high 24 points.

Kobe Bowers (18) and Tyler Thompson (16) also pitched in for coach Randy Jones’ squad.

Kyler Chaney led Holly Pond (12-15) with a 32-point performance.

Isaac Ludwig (17), Cooper Jones (nine) and Brody Rowell (nine) notched buckets as well.

The Broncos trailed by 14 points with less than two minutes left but cut the deficit down to just two shortly afterward.

But a Rylan Jones free throw bumped the Warriors’ lead back to three, and the home team recorded one last defensive stand to seal the deal.

“We were lucky to get the win tonight,” Randy Jones said. “I told coach (Mitch) Morris after the game that his guys never quit. They just kept coming after us. It was good to see our two seniors (Sapp and Jones) go out with a victory, though. They’ve put in a lot of time and work. I’m proud of them for that.”

% Athens 66, Cullman 35: The Bearcats dropped to 18-11 this season following Friday’s road loss.

Jayden Sullins led Cullman with 13 points.

% Good Hope 64, Cleveland 49: The 4A No. 8 Raiders moved to 22-5 following Friday’s road win.

Michael Lowe (17), Cole Maddox (15) and Drew Maddox (10) reached double figures for Good Hope.

% Other score(s): Dora 71, Hanceville 60 (OT)