WEEKEND PREPS: Tallassee wins annual McPhillips wrestling tourney; MA hoops sweeps Julian

BOYS BASKETBALL

Montgomery Academy 78, Julian 53

Montgomery Academy opened its 2026 portion of the schedule with a 25-point win over the Phoenix on Saturday afternoon at Joe Mooty Court as five players scored in double figures.

Braden Gordon led the Eagles with 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists, followed by Jarrett Friendly with 16 points, 12 rebounds, five blocked shots, four steals and three assists. Will Renfroe added 13 points, nine rebounds and four steals and Paxton Haigler was huge off the bench with 12 points and four rebounds. Caleb Myles added 10 points, seven rebounds and three steals.

Montgomery Academy (10-5) will travel to Alabama Christian on Tuesday for a 3A Area 5 game.

Evangel Christian 58, Escambia Academy 55

D’john Wright hit the game-winning shot to lead Evangel Christian past Escambia Academy 58-55 in the Lions’ gym on Saturday afternoon.

Wright took the inbounds pass with .15 seconds remaining and the game tied 55-55, pulled up for a 3-point shot and hit the game winner for the Lions, finishing with 18 points and four assists.

Samuel Thrasher had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds for Evangel, followed by Donnell Harris with eight points, three assists, three rebounds and five steals. Elias Bradford finished with eight points and Nathaniel Doss chipped in six points, three assists, two rebounds and two steals.

Evangel Christian (5-6) will travel to Greenville to play Fort Dale on Tuesday in the area opener.

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Montgomery Academy 48, Julian 25

The Eagles shook off a sluggish start with a strong finish to break in the new year with a 48-25 win over the Phoenix at Joe Mooty Court on Saturday.

Montgomery Academy led by just three points at the end of the first quarter before outscoring Julian 38-18 over the final three quarters. Garland Thomas scored a team-high 15 points along with four rebounds, three assists and three steals.

E.G. Hines added 11 points, three assists, two steals and a team-high nine rebounds, while Bailey Davis also had nine rebounds in addition to 10 points. Kaci Armistead had five points, five assists, three rebounds and a steal.

Montgomery Academy (5-9) will travel to Alabama Christian on Tuesday for a 3A Area 5 game.

WRESTLING

Tallassee captures annual Julian McPhillips Invitational

The Tigers placed at least one wrestler among the top four in all but two weight divisions to cruise to an easy victory in the annual Julian McPhillips Invitational at St. James on Friday and Saturday.

Tallassee scored 253.5 points, followed by Dothan (116), Reeltown (113), St. John Paul II (105.5), Prattville Christian (97.5) and Catholic (91.5)

Escambia County, Elmore County, Stanhope Elmore and American Christian rounded out the top 10 followed by Julian, Carver, Pike Road, Holtville, Houston Academy, St. James and Northside Methodist.

In the 108-pound division, Carver’s Justin Wells defeated Tallassee’s Braxton Alvarez. In the 115-pound division, Tallassee’s Thomas Patterson defeated St. John Paul’s Ethan Lowe. In the 122-pound division, St. James’ Noah Rains defeated Dothan’s Jaylon Ward.

In the 128-pound division, Reeltown’s Justin Thomas defeated American Christian’s Jack Galloway, while in the 134-pound division Tallassee’s Karter Armstrong defeated Escambia County’s Cordaryl Lewis. In the 140-pound division, St. John Paul’s Xavier Escorpizo defeated Tallassee’s Aiden Bridgman.

In the 146-pound diviosion, Reeltown’s Drake Wood defeated Houston Academy’s Abe Haskins. In the 152-pound division, Tallassee’s Avery Brantley defeated Pike Road’s Jack Posey. In the 159-pound division, Tallassee’s Brady Adams defeated St. John Paul’s Maximillien Bell. In the 167-pound division, Tallassee’s Hamp Love defeated Escambia County’s Mirio Crenshaw.

In the 177-pound division, Tallassee’s Tra’mel McCoy defeated Dothan’s Malcolm White, while in the 192-pound division, Julian’s George Hunter defeated American Christian’s Cole Savage. In the 217-pound division, Prattville Christian’s Brysen Bowman defeated Reeltown’s Devin Bragg and in the 287-pound division, Stanhope Elmore’s Dominic Sager defeated Prattville Christian’s Orion Garrett.

In addition to Bowman and Garrett, Brysen Pugh placed third in the 159-pound division for PCA.

While no Catholic wrestlers reached the finals, Andrew Gueret (140 pounds), Caleb Armstrong (177 pounds) and Cameron Chappelle (192 pounds) finished in third place and Edmund Feil (115 pounds) and Carter Anderson (134 pounds) were fourth in the 17-team field.