High school teams hooping it up with a lot of scoring:
GDW Analysis:
In seeing the varsity division of the Southern Youth Basketball League (SYBL) Fall League Thursday for the first time this season, Gameday Weekly was very pleased in the competition held at the Cullman Basketball Complex.
Eight games were studied through the evening by GDW from 5:20 p.m. to approximately 8:30 p.m. The league is two weeks into the 2024 schedule and will run deep into the month of October.
Scoreboard:
West Point 69, Mortimer Jordan II 58
Pennington 72, Mortimer Jordan 68
Cordova 71, Vinemont 66
Brewer 69, Corner 57
Jasper 53, Decatur 46
Dora 65, Fairview 54
Hartselle 67, Hayden 63
Danville 77, Good Hope 67
West Point was the only team to earn victory Thursday. The Warriors led 35 to 28 at halftime and maintained a respectable advantage in the final half.
Leading the way for West Point was sharpshooting guard Jay Lamar with help from Cade Welborn and others.
Pennington put up the most points in the first half, 42 and led Mortimer Jordan by double digits. MJ challenged in the 2nd half and Pennington was able to hang on to a high scoring triumh.
A good first half was between Vinemont and Cordova. The Eagles led the Blue Devils 39 to 36 when time ran out in the half.
Cordova finished with a 9 to 0 run, scoring its last three FGs from long distance.
Fairview was sluggish in the first half vs. Dora, trailing at the break 39 to 22. The Aggies played better in the 2nd half in producing 32 points while Dora managed just 26.
Jasper and Decatur battled hard throughout its game as Jasper managed to get a lead and secure it in the final half.
Hartselle shot well in the first half and a basket as time expired gave the Tigers a 37 to 27 advantage on Hayden.
Hayden made a good effort during the last stanza and closed the margin to four points when time ran out.
Good Hope and Danville had the best first half of all games seen by GDW Thursday evening.
Shots were falling from different locations on the floor for both teams with Good Hope ahead 41 to 40 at the break, being led by the talented offensive skills of Tucker Malin.
But in the late stages of the contest, Danville knocked down several treys and finished with 77 points, 37 in the last half as this was an example for these two teams in being in the same area for the 2024/25 season.
GDW was pleased on the efforts from the teams, players and coaches who can not be a member of the regular coaching staff.
Coaches like Jason Johnsey, now at Mortimer Jordan, Ben Mastin at Decatur were seen in the stands by GDW.
The varsity division plays on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the 4th year of this fall league created by SYBL director Branch Whitlock.
Girls schedule for Sunday:
Holly Pond vs. Hills Warriors 1:20
Good Hope vs. Vinemont 1:20
MBuckets vs. Mortimer Jordan 1:20
Arab II vs. ODS 2:05
Danville vs. Cordova 2:05
Fairview vs. Section 2:05
Arab vs. Hills Warriors 2:50
Section vs. Danville 3:40
Good Hope II vs. ODS 3:40
Photo of West Point's Jay Lamar during a timeout in the 2nd half of West Point vs, Mortimer Jordan II Thursday in the SYBL from the Cullman Basketball Complex.
GDW photo by Johnny Thornton
