Sports
Holy Innocents' Basketball Teams Stellar at Woodward
Boys beat Alcovy and Sparkman while the girls knock off Alcovy and Griffin.
The Holy Innocents’ basketball teams will go into Christmas on a huge high after its more than stellar play at the Woodward War Eagle Classic. After easy wins Monday, both girls’ and boys’ squads also came away with impressive victories Tuesday against larger schools.
Terry Kelly’s boys erased a 1-point halftime deficit to knock off Sparkman of Alabama 51-44 Tuesday, while Tony Watkins’ & Company defeated the #1-ranked team in AAAA – Griffin – by a 65-48 margin.
Starting with the boys, HI outscored Sparkman 14-7 in the third quarter and didn’t look back in their effort.
Find out what's happening in Sandy Springsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“Our point guards played exceptionally well,” Kelly said. “Ibrahim (Shabazz) started with 10 first quarter points. Later, Matt Meadows came off the bench and controlled our offense with three assists.”
Jules Erving and Brent Duncan both netted 15 points, Shabazz ended with a season-high 13. Cole Smith added six and Harrison Cobb two.
Find out what's happening in Sandy Springsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
As for rebounding, Duncan pulled six and Erving and Shabazz five each.
“Playing two games in less than 24 hours after 10 days off was a real grind,” Kelly added. “The players were resilient, though, in capturing wins over larger public schools.”
Over on the girls’ side, HI overcame some early foul trouble and also played an excellent third quarter in its victory. “We came out playing very well out of the gate, but we had to make some defensive adjustments after the foul trouble,” Watkins said. “The third quarter might have been our best of the season as we were able to take a nice lead. This game should make us better down the road.”
Four scored in double figures – Kaila Hubbard had 17, Erika Cassell and Khayla Pointer 12 each and Aaliyah Milord 11. Shai Blanding chipped in nine and Kennedy Suttle four.
Pointer also handed off eight assists.
A day earlier, both teams knocked off Alcovy High - the boys won 81-44; the girls 67-24.
Looking ahead, both teams will head to Florida next week for more holiday tournament action – the boys will be in Pensacola and the girls Naples.