Pelham 59, Shades Valley 54: Alex Reese nets 24 points as the Panthers improve to 19-3

  • 01/19 - 7:40 PM Boys BasketballFinal
    Pelham 59
    Shades Valley 54
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BIRMINGHAM, Alabama --  The battle of big kids went to the one who played like the biggest big man.

Shades Valley to close out the Bill Harris Arena bracket of the Kings of the Court holiday tournament.

The Panthers led 30-25 at the half and then opened up a 16-point lead in the third quarter before watching that lead wilt from that point. Pelham led 48-34 heading into the final quarter, but the Mounties made them earn it down the stretch.

Nick Lee also had 10 points for the Mounties in the losing effort.

"Pelham's Hi-Lo stuff tonight for hard for us to deal with," Shades Valley coach Mike Burrus said. "Our bigs are kind of young and that made it hard for us to defend. The turnovers hurt us. If we get shots we are not a bad-shooting team, but we turned it over far too much against them tonight. When you play three sophomores and an eighth-grader a lot, then you are going to turn the ball over a bunch."

Reese -- who holds offers from Alabama, Auburn, Murray State and UAB -- continued to show off all the enhancements in his game since last season. He also filled the stat sheet with nine rebounds and five blocks Monday night against the Mounties.

"I shoot the ball a little bit more than last year," Reese said. "I can post up better this year. My jump hook is a lot better now."

The 15-year-old is averaging 21 points and eight rebounds per game this year but again showed off an ability to rise to the occasion when matched up against another of the state's best young talents.

"The biggest thing between this year to last year is confidence," Pelham coach Joel Floyd said. "He had the skill last year, but the confidence is there that wasn't there last season. He had that skill last year, but he didn't have that fire and that confidence. He's demanding the ball at times this year."

The 6-foot-9, 240-pounder had 14 points at the half in an anticipated clash with Shades Valley eighth-grader Trendon Watford. The 215-pound Watford is averaging 15.7 points through 18 games this year, including putting up seven 20-point games during his debut season in Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 6A basketball.

"He's real good," Reese said. "Especially to be in the eighth grade. We are going to be hearing about him for awhile."

The 13-year-old Watford finished with nine points for the Mounties. The first set play the Panthers ran was to Reese. He was paired up in the paint with the 6-foot-7 Watford.

"He was looking forward to the match-up," Pelham coach Joel Floyd said. "The first play of the game was set up for him to go right after their big guy."

Of course, the night wasn't theirs alone. Reese had to be set up by somebody bring the ball up the court. Senior college prospect Zach Allison also had 10 points for the Panthers. J.T. Kepler matched that total to round out the Panthers in double figures.

The highlight of the night resulted in one of those five blocks for Reese. He closed down hard from the box and swiped away a Watford shot from three-point territory.

"I was just trying to get out there and play defense," Reese said.

That sort of play just doesn't happen between two players at that height and skill level no matter what their ages are. Especially on a high school court.

"He's doing stuff like that all season this year," Floyd said. "He had 32 points earlier this season against Spain Park and their big guy (Austin) Wiley," Floyd said.

Shades Valley fell to 7-12 for the season.

Jeff Sentell covers prep sports for AL.com and the Birmingham News. Follow him on Twitter for the latest high school cool across Alabama.

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