By Al Muskewitz, East Alabama Sports Today
PIEDMONT – Sophomore Alex Odam became the all-time leading scorer in Piedmont boys basketball history Monday night when he went for 17 points in the Bulldogs’ 72-39 rout of Glencoe.
Odam, who has been playing on the varsity since the seventh grade, needed 17 points – his career scoring average – to pass Danny Bryan on the Bulldogs’ boys all-time scoring list, and he hit it right on the number. He scored the milestone points on a layup off a sideline inbounds pass in the third quarter. Odam did not play in the fourth.
He now has 1,687 points in 99 career games (No. 100 will be Tuesday at Cherokee County). Bryan amassed his career total in 78 games from 1964 to 1967.
“It was fun, pretty special,” Odam said of achieving the milestone. “I’m glad I got to do it with this group of guys and my dad being the coach. It was pretty special.
“It’s kind of hard to wrap my head around right now, I guess. Maybe when I get older I’ll understand it more and all the great players who played here and stuff. I do understand it’s pretty special. I’m just blessed to be able to accomplish it.”
The next target on the list is the school’s all-time leading scorer boys or girls. That spot is currently occupied by Terrace Ridley, Piedmont’s current girls coach, who scored 2,064 points for the girls team as Terrace Spears from 1985 to 1989. Odam passed Ridley’s brother-in-law, Randall Ridley, to become the No. 2 on the boys list.
Odam wasn’t the only Bulldog to have a big night against the Yellow Jackets. Omarion Foster scored a career-high 20, with 16 coming in the first half. He also had seven rebounds, three assists and three steals.
“He played good,” Odam said. “He really got us going in the first half. It’s the best I’ve seen him play in a while. He does everything. He’s fun to play with.”
Sean Smith and Luke Bussey each added 10 points for the Bulldogs. Bussey also had six rebounds, four assists and six steals.
Girls
Piedmont 54, Glencoe 49
Ava Pope led three Piedmont scorers in double figures with 19 points as the Lady Bulldogs moved a little closer to the .500 mark. The win raised their season record to 10-11.
Jaycee Glover scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds and LeLe Ridley added 12 for Piedmont. Pope and Glover each hit three 3-pointers and the Lady Bulldogs’ top three scorers were a combined 13-of-19 from the free throw line.
Kinsley Gray led Glencoe with 19 points. Kayla Traylor had 16.