Tigers lose tourney to Bulldogs in overtime
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, December 20, 2000
Overtime proved to be the right time for the Andalusia
Bulldogs.Brian Weeden made eight free throws in the extra
period to help lift the Bulldogs to the Andalusia Christmas
Tournament championship on Saturday night at the Andalusia
Gym.Weeden finished with a game high 18 points while
6-foot-5 center Alvin Daniels also had 18 to deliver the
Bulldogs’ 55-45 victory over Greenville.The title win marks
the 19th time the Bulldogs have won their own invitational
tournament. At 34 years, the Andalusia Christmas Tournament
is the longest running tournament in South Alabama.&uot;The kids
did what I asked them to do. We ran our breakdown offense in
overtime and that meant our No. 3 player would have to
handle the ball. That was Weeden,&uot; said Andalusia Head Coach
Richard Robertson whose team improved to 8-3 on the
season.The Bulldogs had a chance to win in regulation but
the play fell apart in the final five seconds and that left
Daniels trying a desperate shot that failed to draw iron.&uot;We
mis-played the final nine seconds. We took ourselves out of
the play,&uot; Robertson said.The missed shot capped a wild
second half that saw 13 lead changes.The final lead change
occurred early in overtime when Daniels scored off the low
blocks to put Andalusia up 45-43. Greenville then made the
first of three critical turnovers.A bad pass gave the ball
back to the Bulldogs. Andalusia ran some clock before Weeden
was able to draw a foul with 2:38 left. He made both ends of
the one-and-one to make it 47-43.A miss by Greenville’s
Carlos Davison handed the ball back to the Bulldogs. Again
Weeden was fouled. He made one of two to boost the lead to
48-43.A second Greenville turnover helped send Daniels to
the line. He made one of two to put the lead at 49-43 with
2:06 left. A third turnover essentially sealed Greenville’s
fate.Weeden made one of two shots for a seven-point lead at
50-43 with 1:52 left. Greenville would score their only
basket of the overtime with 30 seconds to go but by then,
Andalusia’s lead had reached 11 at 54-43.’You know,
Greenville played right into our hands. We were able to run
some clock early in the second half because we were trying
to protect Andrae who was in foul trouble. They then allowed
us to hold it for the last shot in regulation,&uot; Robertson
added.Greenville Coach Raymond Gee was quite displeased at
the foul disparity.&uot;I feel they took this game from us. I
mean, they had three second half fouls. How many did we
have? Twelve,&uot; Gee answered. Greenville lost their top
player in Sam Williamson to fouls with 2:48 left in
regulation.Leslie was named the Tournament’s MVP despite
averaging just 10 points in the final two games. He had 13
in the finals.The Bulldogs made 17 field goals and were 21
of 33 from the free throw line.Andalusia took a 24-17 lead
late in the second quarter before settling for a 26-21
halftime lead. They then held the ball for much of the third
quarter while Leslie sat with three fouls.Greenville, now
7-2, was led by Williamson’s 16 points. Joshua Smith had
nine.Scoring for the night had Andalusia (55):
Weeden 18,
Daniels 18, Leslie 13, E. Johnson 2, Junior 2. Greenville
(45): Williamson 16, Smith 9, Blackmon 6, Powell 5, Davison
4, Toles 2.