Demopolis rolls in home opener; Haskin notches triple-double

November 28, 2017November 28, 2017 Jeremy D. Smith AHSAA, Alabama, basketball, Demopolis, demopolis high school, DHS, prep sports, Tigers

11-28-17 — Demopolis, Ala. — Demopolis’ Taylor Herelle goes up for the first bucket of the night for the Tigers during their first home game of the season against the Keith Bears.

Demopolis took a few minutes to get started Tuesday night in its home opener against Keith. Once the Tigers got the ball rolling down hill, they never looked back en route to a 51-31 win.

Demopolis trailed 5-0 early as Keith started off hot. The flurry faded quickly and the Tigers embarked upon a 16-3 run to close the first quarter. The game never got close again.

“We kind of got nervous. This was our first home game and we tried to do stuff we couldn’t do,” Demopolis coach Norvie Womack said. “As the game went on, we played well. We won every quarter. We just got better and better and we kind of wore them down.”

Demopolis stretched the lead to 10 by halftime and continued to add to that total with a quickened pace and constant ball movement.

“We try to get balanced scoring. Last year, you kind of just had one person scoring. We’re trying to balance them out so it will be easier for our leading scorer,” Womack said. “We emphasize passing and cutting, that kind of stuff.”

With last season’s leading scorer Shakari Williams playing under the weather and the Tigers’ current leading scorer Melvin Childers in early foul trouble, Taylor Herelle stepped in to light up the scoreboard. Herelle finished his night with 15 points.

Nelson Haskin controlled the paint at both ends of the floor for Demopolis, finishing with 10 points, 14 rebounds and 10 blocks for his first career triple-double. Nine different Tigers scored in the game and all 10 players that dressed logged significant minutes.

“If you plan on going deep in the playoffs, you have to be deep on the bench,” Womack said. “The season is just starting, so we’re going to play everybody. We get a good rotation in, so if someone goes down it’s just the next man up because he has been playing the whole season.”

Demopolis (3-0) is set to travel to Class 6A Bessemer City Thursday night.

“They’re fast. They’re quick. They can handle the ball. We’re going to win with numbers. That’s how we’re going to play,” Womack said.