By JOSH FRYE
News Sportswriter
Escambia Academy gained two more wins last week when Bubba Nettles helped lead the Cougars past Wilcox Academy, 46-44, last Tuesday (January 18), and Landon Sims helped gain victory over Sparta Academy, 54-32, last Thursday (January 20).
With the two victories, EA advances to an 11-4 record and is currently the number two ranked team in the January 20 Alabama Sports Writer Association (ASWA) rankings. In front of EA is Pike Liberal Arts in the top slot, Autauga is currently second, Tuscaloosa Academy is third, and Glenwood tops the fourth-place spot above the Cougars.
Against Wilcox on last Tuesday, Nettles led the team with 19 points, 6 rebounds, 5 steals and 3 assists. Sims had 9 points, 3 rebounds, 5 steals, 5 assists and one blocked shot. Malaki Haynes added 7 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 3 blocked shots. Brian Brown gained 6 points, 6 rebounds and 1 assist, stole the ball twice, and earned a team high of 4 blocked shots. Cameron Ball added 3 points, and Kayne Hooks scored 2 points.
Against Sparta Academy last Thursday, Sims led the team in scoring with 17 points, 8 rebounds, 1 steal and 7 assists. Nettles gained 11 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 steals, and registered 3 assists. Ball added 10 points, 2 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 assists. Brown scored 6 points, gained 4 rebounds and stole the ball twice. Hooks added 4 points and 2 rebounds, Ty McCants scored 4 points, Rayvon Barnes gained 2, and S.J. Riley contributed 1 point.
With the season quickly winding down, EA will next travel to face Lighthouse Christian on Thursday, January 27, at 5 p.m.