Fort Dale teams sweep Thanksgiving Classic Championship
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, both the Fort Dale varsity basketball team and the Lady Eagles' basketball team captured the Fort Dale Academy Thanksgiving Classic Tournament Championship with both teams defeating Wilcox Academy in the opening round and Sparta Academy in the championship game.
The varsity boys, who opened up the 2006-07 season 0-2, regrouped during the tournament to even their record at 2-2.
During the first game against the Wilcox Academy Wildcats, the Eagles opened up a 32-22 halftime lead and then exploded offensively in the second half.
While the Eagles' offense found its rhythm during Friday's game, the defense also settled down, holding Wilcox to just four points in the third period and just one point in the final period.
Junior Davis Watts was the leading scorer for the Eagles with 10 points, while also pulling down a team-high six rebounds, two assists and three steals.
Ben Bates finished the night 3-of-4 from the three-point line with nine points while Bobby Martin finished with eight points, five rebounds and five steals.
Shanks Simmons also had six points in the win.
In the championship game Saturday, the Eagles got revenge on the same Sparta team that defeated them in the opening game of the season by downing the Warriors 48-34.
The Eagles opened up a 10-9 lead in the first period and then extended it to 24-16 at the half and they never looked back.
Although Sparta pulled the score to within two points with just over five minutes remaining in the game, senior guard Adam Vickery nailed a three-pointer to extend the Fort Dale lead to five and the Eagles pulled away from there.
Davis Watts finished the night with a double-double with his 15 points and 11 rebounds, while also finishing with five steals.
Adam Vickery had 10 points and four steals in the championship game and Andrew Jones had eight points, five rebounds and five steals in the win.
Bobby Martin also had six points and nine rebounds for the Eagles.
The Warriors were led by Michael Campbell with 14 points and Chris Cinereski with 10 points.
Selected to the All-Tournament Team from Fort Dale were Vickery and Jones, while Watts was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.
The Fort Dale Lady Eagles' basketball team had a similar road to the Thanksgiving Tournament Championship by defeating Wilcox 48-29 Friday and then defeating Sparta 52-37 Saturday.
During Friday's game, the Eagles held only an 8-7 lead after the first period and then only a 21-18 led at the half before opening up the offense and a 33-22 lead in the third period.
Jennifer Pouncey had a huge night for the Eagles, finishing with a double-double. Pouncey finished the night with 16 points, 13 rebounds and four steals.
Morgan Pouncey and Michelle Hulick each contributed nine points while Casey hicks had five points, five steals and four rebounds.
The Eagles had an easier time during Saturday's win over Sparta.
The Eagles, who already defeated Sparta in the first game of the season, opened a 12-point halftime lead and never looked back.
Jennifer Pouncey topped her first game double-double with a triple-double by scoring 18 points, pulling down 11 rebounds and taking 11 steals.
Morgan Pouncey had 13 points for the Eagles while Abby Martin had seven points, six rebounds and four steals.
Michelle Hulick also had six points and eight rebounds.
For Sparta, Erica Palmer was the leading scorer with nine points while Mallory Kendrick had eight, Susan Ann Cook had seven and Morgan Harden had six.
Hulick and Morgan Pouncey were named to the All-Tournament team while Jennifer Pouncey was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.
The Eagles junior varsity, girl's and boy's basketball teams return to action Thursday, November 30 at home against Monroe Academy. The JV game starts at 4 p.m., followed by the girls and then the varsity.