SCHWEERS CLASSIC: MA runs past Trinity for tourney title

Trinity’s Brady Bennett attempts to drive by Brewer Welch in Montgomery Academy’s win over the Wildcats in the finals of the Schweers Capital City Classic on Saturday. (Tim Gayle)

By TIM GAYLE

Montgomery Academy’s defense has made a recent habit of turning opponents’ mistakes into easy transition baskets.

Trinity became the latest victim as the Eagles’ 24-point first quarter quickly decided the championship game of the 30th annual Jack Schweers Capital City Classic as Montgomery Academy rolled to a 74-43 win on Saturday afternoon at Trinity’s Captain Jack Court.

Montgomery Academy (12-1) rolled through three games in the tournament, averaging 76.3 points. Trinity (10-4) lost for the second time in a week to the Eagles, although last week’s 64-56 defeat didn’t have the same sting.

“I think the difference in this game and the one we played against them about a week ago is we were able to score early and that allowed us to get into some of our pressure stuff,” Montgomery Academy coach Jeremy Arant said. “I think they struggled a good bit with our pressure stuff today. When you’ve got (point guard) Brewer (Welch) out there who’s 5-foot-10, 5-foot-11, and then everybody else you put on the court is 6-foot-4 or taller and can all run, you’re going to give people fits.

“Somebody like Jarrett (Friendly, who’s 6-foot-6) allows us to play that way because he’s so long but he’s so athletic and covers so much ground so we don’t have to worry about our matchups as much.”

Friendly had four points in the first quarter and six in the second, scoring all 10 of his points in the first half as the Eagles rolled to a 43-24 lead. Skyler Stovall scored 19 points in three quarters of work, including nine points in the first quarter.

Braden Gordon, a day after torching Pike Road for 44 points, had seven points in the first quarter and finished with 10, giving him 63 points in three games to earn tournament Most Valuable Player honors.

“Braden was hooping,” Stovall said. “Brayden’s always hooping, though. He’s got that dog in him.”

Gordon had 10 points, six rebounds, three steals and three assists on Saturday, grabbing 24 rebounds in three games.

“It was mostly me finding my groove again,” Gordon said. “I had a bad stretch of games a few weeks ago where I just couldn’t hit anything and I just had to get back in the gym and stop being so hard on myself because I was playing good, I just wasn’t making shots. I just played good this weekend.”

Joining him on the all-tournament team were teammates Stovall and DJ Vinson, along with Trinity’s John Morris and Brady Bennett but Gordon, playing in his first season on the varsity, was an obvious choice for most valuable player honors.

“I didn’t really think about it, to be honest with you,” he said. “I just wanted to win.”  

Stovall finished the game with 19 points, five rebounds, six steals and three assists, while Friendly had 10 points, seven rebounds, three steals, two assists and a blocked shot. Mason Ellis chipped in nine points and had three steals and three assists, while Vinson have five points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots.

Morris finished with 20 points, including 12 in the second quarter. Patton Mitchell added eight

Montgomery Academy will travel to Panama City Beach next weekend to compete in the Marlin Christmas Classic at Arnold High School on Dec. 27-30. Trinity is scheduled to play at Holtville on Dec. 30.

30TH ANNUAL JACK SCHWEERS CAPITAL CITY CLASSIC

BOYS

Thursday’s Results

Game 1 -- Prattville 75, Prattville Christian 68

Game 2 -- Trinity 65, BTW Magnet 25

Game 3 -- Pike Road 71, Montevallo 65

Game 4 -- Montgomery Academy 71, Catholic 26

Friday’s Results

Game 5 -- Trinity 62, Prattville 50

Game 6 -- Prattville Christian 44, BTW Magnet 41

Game 7 -- Montevallo 42, Catholic 40

Game 8 -- Montgomery Academy 84, Pike Road 71

Saturday’s Results

Game 9 -- Championship, Montgomery Academy 74, Trinity 43

Game 10 -- Fifth place, Montevallo 57, Prattville Christian 40

Game 11 -- Third place, Pike Road 82, Prattville 63

Game 12 -- Seventh place, Catholic 68, BTW Magnet 38