Linden girls, Demopolis boys pick up wins Friday

LINDEN – One of Marengo County’s best rivalries wrote its latest chapter Friday night as Demopolis and Linden varsity squads split their final tilts of the season.

LINDEN 46, DEMOPOLIS 31 (GIRLS)

Demopolis could never overcome its slow start in a game that saw it missing routine starters Shakesaney Bell and Dalaysia Benn. The Lady Tigers were down 9-0 before Shug Billingsley turned a Ja’Kara Taylor pass into a bucket to get her team off the deck. Demopolis trailed 11-2 after the first quarter but rallied to narrow the deficit to 12-10 in the fourth quarter.

When Amber Richardson drained a jumper from the elbow with three seconds left in the opening half to move the Linden lead to 21-12, the accompanying omen was not yet apparent. The shot acted as a spark of sorts for the senior’s game, which had only seen her score five points prior to the jumper. In the second half, Richardson found her shooting stroke and helped propel her team to as much as a 19-point lead. Richardson ended her night with 20 points, 10 rebounds and three steals. Tyroneisha Charleston finished with 10 points and seven rebounds. Dajia Miller added eight for Linden.

Aniya Johnson was the lone player in double figures for Demopolis, capping her night with 11 points.

Linden controlled the rebounding battler with a 31-14 edge. The Lady Patriots were 13 of 23 from the free throw line while Demopolis went 4 of 9.

DEMOPOLIS 63, LINDEN 47 (BOYS)

Depth proved key for Demopolis Friday night as it pulled away from Linden with a 25-12 fourth quarter. With only eight players dressed, Linden led 17-14 after the first quarter of play and 23-21 at half.

Demopolis utilized the high energy, game-changing play of Nelson Haskin as a spark on both ends of the floor as it took over in the second half.

Haskin came off the bench for nine points, eight rebounds, six blocks, three assists and three steals. The Tigers elevated their tempo alongside Haskin’s play and used their press to berate Linden.

When the ball made it across half court, Graderius Brown looked to keep his team in it with an unprejudiced shot selection from three-point territory. Brown cashed in seven triples to lead the Patriots with 21 points. When he drained a three to narrow the deficit to seven, the Tigers responded with a flurry.

Shakari Williams drove baseline and pulled up for a jumper. Melvin Childers then stole the ball on the ensuing inbound and hit a layup. The following inbound was stolen by Haskin and dished to Childers for a layup, giving Demopolis a 6-0 run in an eight-second span to effectively put the contest out of reach.

Childers paced Demopolis with 22 points and four steals. Williams had 13 points and six rebounds. Keyjuan Gracie finished with nine points.