By Erik Harris
HOOVER – Clay-Chalkville got the Big Orange Classic started with a, 56-52, win over Shelby County on Saturday. The win lines the Cougars up with Class 6A, Area 12 foe Center Point in the second game, which is scheduled to tipoff at 5:15 p.m. in Hoover High School’s game gym.
Head coach Jeremy Monceaux wasn’t pleased with his team’s free-throw shooting late. Clay-Chalkville missed five consecutive freebees in the closing moments to leave the Wildcats in a close contest, but managed to connect on its last three to squeak its way into the winners bracket.
“The game should’ve been over probably with four minutes left if we go out there and make our free throws, but I’m hoping that that’s (a Christmas distraction),” said Monceaux.
Point guard Jalen Jordan came through for the Cougars with a steal in the closing seconds that put him on the charity line with a two-point advantage. He delivered with a pair of makes to end the game.
Jordan finished with a team-high 14 points.
He got offensive help from M.J. Embree, who ended the contest with 12 points, and Anthony Holmes, who came through with 10 points.
As a team, Clay-Chalkville had to climb out of numerous holes to earn the win. After turning the ball over multiple times in the opening minutes, the Cougars played from behind throughout the opening frame.
The second quarter didn’t start any prettier. They got the second quarter started on the wrong side of an 8-0 run. Two buckets from Holmes and an Eddie Cole triple wasn’t good enough to catch Shelby County before the break. The visitors led 34-29 at the half.
Clay-Chalkville made mistakes, but fought its way back into a tied ballgame with 3:10 remaining in the third. Jordan drove the lane and evened the score at 39-all with his right hand. Nearly two minutes later, Jordan delivered an assist to Holmes to take a 41-39 advantage.
The score stayed close from that point forward.
Opportunistic defense presented an open layup to Ahkari Thompson, which put the Cougars ahead, 53-49, with 2 minutes remaining. From there it was all about free-throw shooting.
Erik Harris is the Sports Editor for the Trussville Tribune. Follow him on Twitter @jeharris2 or email him at jmseharris2@gmail.com.