EA senior leads team in shooting

Whether dishing to another teammate or taking a shot on the court, Escambia Academy senior Tyler Sells is just doing what he’s learned.

Sells, EA’s point guard turned shooting guard, said he spent hours watching a bunch of street ball on YouTube.

“I got all of my stuff from it,” Sells said.

Sells and the rest of the Cougars are headed to the AISA Class 3A, Region 2 tournament this week at Fort Dale in Greenville. EA tips off against the winner of Autauga Academy and Monroe Academy on Friday at 4:30 p.m.

Sells said this season has been a good one, adding that the team has helped his game.

“The team’s like a family to me,” he said. “You’ve got to put in the work and coach (Hugh Fountain) makes me do a lot of stuff for my game. He helps me a lot.

“This is the only team that’s treated me like family, and makes me better,” he said.

Fountain said Sells is doing a good job of playing in his role as a shooting guard.

“He’s been a guy that started out the year as a point guard, but he’s really turned more to a 2 (number that indicates position), and has produced more offense for us,” Fountain said. “To me, Tyler and our guards’ play have been the keys to our season.”

With Sells and the rest of the Cougars, EA utilizes a full-court press attack at times, which creates offense on the other end.

On the upcoming tournament this week, Sells said he believes the team can beat anybody in the region.

“In my point of view, there aren’t teams that can beat us in the region,” he said. “It all depends on how we play as a team. I’m ready for it.”

EA’s girls play tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. against Morgan Academy.

The regional tournament is a single elimination tournament that determines who gains a berth to the Elite 8, which is held between Feb. 4-8.

Sells is the son of Renee Brown and Justin Norman of Poarch.