McEachern rumbles past Alexander behind Ace Bailey Double-Double

Despite foul trouble, Ace Bailey scored 19 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in a 58-46 boys basketball win over Alexander Saturday night

LOGANVILLE, GEORGIA – McEachern head boys basketball coach Tremayne Anchrum called Saturday night’s 58-46 win over Alexander their best win of the season and for good reason.

On a night where superstar Ace Bailey didn’t have his best night offensively, due in large part to foul trouble, his teammates picked him up.

The trio of Jayden Bynes (10 points, 6 rebounds), Nnadozie Onyirimba (9 points, 7 rebounds) and Jaye Nash (7 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists) combined to score 26 of their 58 points while Bailey still managed a double-double in the win, scoring 19 points and grabbing 13 rebounds in the win.

Foul trouble kept McEachern star Ace Bailey (let) from having his "A Game," but he still registered a double-double (19 points and 13 rebounds) and got plenty of support from his teammates in a 58-46 win over Alexander / Photo by Colin Hubbard

“It’s our best win of the year because our best player didn’t have the game that he usually has,” Anchrum said. “Jayden stepped up for us. Christian Curl coming back from injury. You have to win games like that and we won a game like that against a great team. They are state champions and they’re going to be state champions again.”

Grayson Rams Proving to be the state of Georgia's best with another Impressive win

The Indians have played a very challenging schedule up until this point and Saturday night was no different.

Facing off against Alexander, who came into the game with a 13-1 record on the season, they found themselves in a fight early on.

At the end of the first quarter, the Indians found themselves trailing the Cougars 12-11 with Braedan Lue responsible for six of their 12 points.

But by halftime, the Indians were in control.

After opening up the quarter on a great 10-2 run, the Indians went on to take a 31-21 lead into the break with Bailey leading all scorers with 11 points and six rebounds. Lue was held to just two points in the second quarter to lead the Cougars at the break with eight.

Bailey picked up his fourth foul midway through the third quarter and was forced to the bench, but the Indians held tough.

Their lead grew by two points and they took a 48-36 lead into the fourth before the game was put out of reach in the closing minutes.

The Indians have played a very challenging schedule up until this point and now find themselves at 10-3 on the season with the win.

When it comes to competing for a Class 7A state championship in the state of Georgia, the Indians are right in the mix and Anchrum said he likes where his team is at.

“We’re progressing,” Anchrum said. “Every day it’s a step. We know where we want to get to and we know we have to take steps like this in order to get where we want to. I’m getting a chance to let them play a little bit because they’re older. I’ve got a bunch of seniors, so I don’t have to call a play every time we go down the floor. Sometimes I just let the guys play basketball. At the end of the day, I’ve got to figure out times where it’s better to let guys play a little bit more in order to get more out of them.” 

Photo by Colin Hubbard

Photo by Colin Hubbard