By Kevin Eckleberry

Sports Editor

With a huge assist from senior Jordan Ring, the LaGrange Academy Warriors are still perfect.

Ring knocked down a clutch 3-pointer late to tie Saturday’s game against Oak Mountain, and he made another one from long-distance with a few seconds left to give the Warriors a 61-58 victory.

In Saturday’s girls’ game, the Lady Warriors kept their unbeaten record in tact as well with a 59-22 victory.

In the boys’ game, Ring’s game-winning shot, which came with the game tied at 58-58, gave the Warriors an 8-0 record.

Ring finished with 26 points, including 13 points in the fourth quarter, and he made six 3-pointers.

“It was great for his confidence,” LaGrange Academy head coach Matt Dalrymple said. “He needed a game like that. He shot it well.”

Ring’s basket capped a comeback victory for the Warriors, who trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half.

The Warriors got within 10 points at the half when Malcolm Kenyon made a 3-pointer, and by the start of the fourth quarter, they were down by five.

Oak Mountain managed to hang onto the lead until Ring’s 3-pointer tied it with 40 seconds left.

Oak Mountain had a chance to reclaim the lead, but a missed free throw gave the ball back to the Warriors with 30 seconds left.

The game-winning shot, Dalrymple said, did not go according to script, but Ring made the shot anyway.

“It wasn’t the way the play was designed,” Dalrymple said. “Jordan had it on the right wing, and he threw up a three and it went in. It worked out.”

A pair of freshmen, Mayokun Oshinowo and Drew Moody, had big games for the Warriors.

Oshinowo had 15 points and five 3-pointers, while Moody chipped in with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

The Lady Warriors didn’t need any fourth-quarter dramatics to improve to 8-0.

The game was relatively competitive in the first half, with the Lady Warriors taking a 32-20 lead at the half.

In the second half, the Lady Warriors nearly tossed a shutout.

Oak Mountain didn’t score a point in the third period, and it managed just two points in the fourth quarter.

In the second half, LaGrange Academy outscored Oak Mountain 27-2.

“They just guard the ball so well,” LaGrange Academy coach Rorie Bradley said. “Offensively, we’re still a work in progress, but the defense, it’s just been pure effort.”

Khadija Neely led LaGrange Academy with 13 points, while McCall Langford scored 10 points.

The story of the game, though, was the stifling defensive effort.

“Everybody’s contributing (on defense),” Bradley said.

LaGrange Academy’s teams visit Springwood School (Ala.) on Thursday.