These people will be playing basketball in Huntsville in July

   
   

Click here to follow us on Twitter.

Indoors, I presume.

Three area players and one coach will suit up for the South boys and girls teams in the North-South All-Star basketball game in Huntsville this summer, the AHSAA announced Thursday.

Opelika’s Jacoby Payne and Auburn High’s Jeremy Nolen made the boys squad, while Central’s Monique Jackson made the girls team.

Edward Bell’s Mitch Joiner will be part of the South boys’ two-coach staff, along with Johnny Mitchell of Brantley.

Payne averaged 13.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game this year for the 28-6 Bulldogs, who finished the regular season ranked No. 3 in the Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 6A poll and came up just short of making it to the Final Four thanks to an overtime buzzer-beater by Central at the Central Region final.

The 6-foot-5 Nolen was one of a rotating cast of post players for the 19-13 Tigers, who bowed out to Prattville in the sub-regionals.

Jackson averaged nearly 18 points and 19 rebounds per game this season for the 21-9 Red Devils, who made it to the Central Region finals before losing to Jeff Davis.

Joiner led the Bears to a 27-2 record and the 1A state championship this season, the first title in any sport at Edward Bell.

The two girls teams and two boys teams will square off in a Thursday doubleheader (July 15) at The University of Alabama-Huntsville’s Scogin Hall, beginning with the girls’ game at 5 p.m. The boys’ contest following at 7 p.m.

The 14th annual Alabama All-Star Sports Week runs from July 12-16 and features all-star teams of rising seniors in volleyball, baseball, softball and soccer, and a football game for graduated seniors.

Here’s the whole release if you want:

MONTGOMERY – Sixty outstanding junior basketball players from across the state have been named to the North-South teams for the 14th annual Alabama All-Star Sports Week competition in Huntsville July 12-16, according to Steve Bailey, Director of the Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches Association (AHSADCA)..

The two girls teams and two boys teams will square off in a Thursday doubleheader (July 15) at The University of Alabama-Huntsville’s Scogin Hall, beginning with the girls’ game at 5 p.m. The boys’ contest following at 7 p.m.

Sports Week, which also includes in-state all-star games in volleyball, baseball, softball, football and girls and boys soccer, will feature clinics and special sessions for coaches, principals, athletic directors, cheerleader coaches and officials. An All-Sports Equipment Expo and other related activities are scheduled throughout the week. A highlight of Sports Week will be a Sportsmanship Banquet honoring all schools that have not had an ejection or fine during the 2009-10 school year.

The AHSADCA operates under the auspices of the Alabama High School Athletic Association. Membership includes coaches of all AHSAA sports as well as administrators of member schools.

The coaches for the SOUTH GIRLS team are Charlie Shipp of Class 6A Final 48 participant Davidson and Eddie Jackson of Class 3A state champion Sumter County. Tony Stallworth of the Crenshaw County Board of Education will serve as administrative coach for the girls and boys teams.

Members of the SOUTH girls team are:

Guards: Jatoria Carter, Jeff Davis; Madison Longchamp, Providence Christian; Eisha Person, Brantley; Tyika Robinson, J.F. Shields; Chelan Blow, UMS-Wright; Gabrielle Williams, LeFlore; Aundre Adams, Davidson; Esther Stokely, Faith Academy; Brittany Keel, Horseshoe Bend.

Forwards: Juanice Newton, Sumter County; Tia Faleru, Carroll-Ozark; Devina Moulds, Davidson; Monique Jackson, Central-Phenix City.

Centers: Sharee Williams, Greene County; Shatavia Farris, Carver-Montgomery.

Coaching the NORTH GIRLS team are Jana Killen of Class 4A state runner-up Deshler and Jim Brown of Briarwood Christian. Tim Miller of Bob Jones will serve as administrative coach for the North boys and girls teams.

NORTH girls team members are:

Guards: Delisa Madry, Austin; Krista Simmons, Fairfield; Lexie Stanley, Glencoe; Amara Mayers, Madison Academy; Alicia Williams, Fort Payne; Sharin Rivers, Sparkman; Rikeya McKinnon, Bob Jones.

Forwards: La’Keira Lowe, Midfield; Victoria Billingsley, Wenonah; Nyla Johnson, Madison Academy; Conner Jordan, Fort Payne; Ashley Southern, Deshler; Natasha West, Russellville.

Centers: Brittany Agee, Bessemer City; Chelsea Haggermaker, Clements.

Members of the SOUTH BOYS coaching staff are Johnny Mitchell of South Regional Class 1A finalist Brantley and Mitch Joiner of Class 1A state champion Edward Bell of Camp Hill.

SOUTH boys team members are:

Guards: Deion Curry, Pickens County; David Young, Greene County; Kevin Maye, Sumter County; Jeterious Johnson, J.F. Shields; Charles Eaton, Selma.

Forwards: Jacoby Payne, Opelika; Malcolm Riley, Selma; Rodney Cooper, Russell County; Jacob Coker, St. Paul’s; Preston Solomon, Daphne; Kent Langham, Robertsdale; Demario Butler, Baldwin County.

Centers: Roquez Johnson, Carver-Montgomery; Joshua Martin, Horseshoe Bend; Jeremy Nolen, Auburn.

Selected to coach the NORTH BOYS are Faron Key of Arab and Tommy Lewis of Class 3A Final 48 participant Piedmont.

NORTH boys team members are:

Guards: Samuel Luke Brackin, Hatton; Zach Owens, Faith Christian; Levi Randolph, Bob Jones; Ricky Tarrant, Pleasant Grove; Orlando Coleman, Pleasant Grove; Trevor Lacey, Butler; Spencer Palmer, Madison Academy; T.J. Vines, Albertville; Marvin Whitt, Homewood; Waynarous Snodgrass, Anniston.

Forwards: Devin Langford, Lee-Huntsville; Reggie Spencer, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa; Jamar Pope, Sparkman.

Centers: Jeremy Watson, Homewood; William Truss, Vestavia Hills.

6 area teams among the ranked in first ASWA poll

Click here to follow us on Twitter.

That’s not one of them. That’s Hoover which, God knows, needs more press. But I’ll come back to them.

The three state champs from last year are all in the ASWA’s top 5 to start off this time around: Auburn High baseball (5th in 6A), Glenwood baseball (2nd in AISA) and Glenwood softball (also 2nd in AISA).

Here’s why I put Hoover up there: the Bucs were at the Auburn Spring Invitational last weekend and I was somewhat surprised whilst covering it at the amount of top-notch statewide softball talent displayed there.

And this first poll’s the proof, because six of the teams in attendance rank among the top 10: Sparkman (No. 1), Hueytown (No. 5 in 6A), Satsuma (No. 7 in 6A), aforementioned Hoover (No. 8 in 6A), Eufaula (No. 6 in 5A) and Alabama Christian (No. 2 in 4A).

Central beat Sparkman and lost to Hoover and Eufaula at the tournament. So they could be somewhere in that top 10 soon if they keep on keeping on.

Also, Dadeville should be knocking on the door in 3A. The Tigers are only 8-9—which is, um, unimpressive—but they’ve only been playing 4As, 5As and 6As so far. Once they get to their area—in which they are vastly suprerior to everyone else—those wins will start coming. They lost to Eufula, beat 6A Prattville (which isn’t ranked, but should make the Central Regionals no problem) and took ACA to its last out in the Auburn Spring Invitational.

Expect the name “Dadeville” to show up in that poll soon.

Four area baseball and two area softball teams are among the top 10 in the state in their respective classes, according to the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s first poll of 2010, released today.

Last year’s Class 6A state champion, Auburn High (13-4), is No. 5 in its class, behind Fairhope, Vestavia Hills, Alma Bryant — which beat the Tigers, 6-4, earlier this year — and Pelham.

Beauregard (11-4), which made its first trip to the state quarterfinals last year, starts off at No. 7 in 5A.

Last year’s AISA Class AAA state champion, Glenwood (7-1), is ranked second behind Marengo, with that one loss coming to No. 10 Lee-Scott (5-2).

Glenwood’s softball team (8-2) — also the defending state champion — is also No. 2 in its poll behind Marengo, which beat the Gators 2-1 at a tournament last weekend.

Lee-Scott (7-5) is ranked No. 7.

Dr. ‘Strange Game,‘ or How Matt Cimo Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Long Ball

Click here to follow us on Twitter.

Equal shout outs to Tim Cottrell and Stanley Kubrick on the post title.

A number of relatives of the guy whose picture is at the top of this post got absolutely demolished at Sam Welborn Field during Auburn High’s 25-24 win over Troup County (Ga.) on Monday night.

The Tigers, who trailed 18-5 at one point, withstood nine hit batsmen and six errors before Todd Thompson ended everyone’s nightmare—or confusion ... or just plain exhaustion—with a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the seventh.

I was at Beauregard’s 4-hour, 45-minute, 18-15, 12-inning win over Tallassee in the second round of the playoffs last year, so I can kind of imagine how nutso the game was.

But I wasn’t there. But I wish I was. So I talked to Tigers coach Matt Cimo a little about it today.

And here’s what I’ve pieced together:

Auburn High baseball coach Matt Cimo watched his team hit nine batters, commit six errors, fall behind by 13 runs surrender 24 on the game and basically do everything it could to lose against Troup County (Ga.) on Monday night.

But when Todd Thompson’s laser beam blasted over the left-feld wall in the bottom of the seventh at Sam Welborn Field — a good three and a half hours after the game started — all was forgiven.

“For a while there, I was thinking, ‘I’m gonna kill these guys,’” Cimo said. “But they kept coming back. So what are you gonna do?”

Thompson’s walk-off grand slam capped a 25-24 win for the Tigers, one in which they came back from an 18-5 fourth-inning deficit, combined with Troup to score the second-most runs in a game in AHSAA history — just behind a 26-25 Maplesville/Billingsley affair from 1985 — and generally played one of the craziest games their coach had ever seen.

“I’ve never been in a ballgame like that in my life,” Cimo said.

Auburn had battled to within 18-17 in the sixth before Thompson grounded out to end the threat. Troup scored six more in the seventh and the game appeared to be over.

But, after a Tanner Cimo groundout to start the inning, the Tigers’ next eight batters scored.

Ending, of course, on Thompson’s bomb.

“Our players went berserk,” Cimo said. “They battled back so many times. To do it with a walkoff was just so exciting.”

Auburn and Smiths Station combined to send 32 fewer runners across the plate in two games Tuesday—the Tigers swept the doubleheader, 7-0 and 6-4—than Troup and Auburn did in one game Monday night.

“It was a strange game,” Cimo said. “I’m glad to be on the winning side.”

AHS’ Jordan, OHS’ White are state wrestling champs, good friends

Click here to follow us on Twitter.

A fact that I have elucidated in greater detail and a more narrative form here.

That was a fun article to read, wasn’t it?

Well, it wasn’t as fun as the interview with the two wrestlers, which went a little something like this (DISCLAIMER: Most of the questions are directed at Jordan because I had a one-on-one with White earlier):

Opelika-Auburn News: So how did you two first meet?
Michael Jordan: Well, he dated my sister.

OAN: Really?
Brian White: ... yeah ... Then I ended up wrestling him early in a summer tournament.
MJ: It was, um, what grade was it?
BW: I was an upcoming ninth grader.
MJ: Yeah, I was going into 10th.

OAN (to MJ): Brian used to date your sister, you said? How long did that last?
BW: I couldn’t even tell you, man. Couldn’t even tell you.
MJ: Yeah, I don’t even know how long it was.

OAN: And you didn’t mind that?
MJ: Nah, it’s alright.
BW: And he got my cousin, so ...
MJ: Nooo ... Actually, what happened was we were at that summer tournament, and I sat with (your cousin), and you had came up to me, and you were telling me like, “Great job, man.“ You said, “I knew I wasn’t going to win, I just didn’t want you to pin me.“ That’s what you said.
BW: Yeah, because my coaches were like, “You want to wrestle?“ And I was like, “OK.“ Tell you what, man, because they already knew they was getting beat. Ask me, “Anybody else want to go out there,“ and I was like, “OK, I don’t care.“ I went out there and wrestled him. I don’t remember what the score was ...
MJ: I remember the score. 14-7. It was 112, he had bumped up.

OAN:What do you guys remember from that match ... besides the score?
BW: I knew it was from points. I knew you won.
MJ: I don’t want to take nothing away from him ...
BW: It was basically strength against strength. And he had speed and more technique, he was older than I was.
MJ: It was technique against strength. I had more technique and a lot of speed in there.

OAN: Since then, how big of fans have you been of each other?
BW: I rooted for him at states, sitting in the chair. I was rooting for you at states.
MJ: When you were in the finals match, I was on the floor cheering you on, like “Come on, little Brian.“
BW: I was in the chair cheering you on. Because I don’t like (Spain Park 112-pounder Tommy) Bostany none. I didn’t like the dude you wrestled. He doesn’t like us either ... they don’t like us. (Michael) beat him, I beat him last year ... they don’t like us.

OAN: So Michael, how much time were you spending warming up for you match (which came right after White’s), and how much time were you spending watching his?
MJ: I wasn’t even really warming up, for real. I had already wrestled (Bostany), and you know how when you beat somebody, they’re thinking about it? I was already confident. I knew I was gonna win that one.
BW: That’s like me, you know, (Oak Mountain 103-pounder Jesse Smith) was thinking about losing. He was already like, “Aw, man.“ I got in that head. Mentally.
MJ: I wrestled (Bostany) at the Opelika Duals, and I beat him five to ... (thinking out loud) ... I took him down ... 5-2.

OAN:: Talk me through the state championship match. Did it go about how you expected?
MJ: It went about as I expected. I knew he wasn’t gonna take me down. So that’s all I was doing: taking him down. I wasn’t worried about riding, because ... I’m not a good rider. But I can escape and score, so that’s my main focus.

OAN: So how did it feel on the mat after you won?
MJ: It just felt like another tournament, honestly. I mean, it was big that I won. But I kind of already knew in my head I was gonna win. It wasn’t like, you know, “Whoo whoo!“
BW: Mine was like that.
MJ: Yeah, because (Smith) had beaten you twice.
BW: Mine was like that ... Whoo whoo!

(looking at the pictures taken minutes before that were displayed on photographer Vasha Hunt’s laptop)
BW: That shows how tall he is compared to me, man. You’re like two inches over me.
MJ: Aw, it’s not that much.
BW: I don’t know, I might be squatting down.

OAN: Brian, how would you describe Michael as a wrestler?
BW: Fast. Very fast. For real, dude, you’re like really fast. You’ve got to see yourself.
MJ: I ain’t never seen myself.
BW: Dude, you’ve got to see yourself. You’re like seriously fast. Blink of an eye. Blink of an eye on the mat.

OAN: Michael, same question about Brian.
MJ: He’s a power guy. I mean, if he gets a shot, he’s gonna take you down. No matter how hard you sprawl, he’s gonna take you down. He’s more strength.

OAN: So what is it about each other that makes you want to be around each other so much?
BW: He’s just cool. Cool to be around, man. He likes to have fun.
MJ: Yeah, and we understand each other.
BW: Even though we do come from rival teams, but, you know, that doesn’t really matter.
MJ: That’s not even a rivalry. Auburn-Opelika as wrestling teams? That’s not a rivalry. We’re real close with Opelika.

(And this is where they forget I’m even in the room ... which was kind of cool ...)
MJ: So what weight are you going to next year?
BW: I don’t know, man. My coaches, they told me to not even worry about it. They were like, “Just wait until it comes.“
OAN: What if (White) bumped up to 112?
MJ: Oh, I won’t be there. I’ll be probably 119 or 125.
BW: Because (another Auburn wrestler) will probably bump up to ...
MJ: Yeah, I can talk to him about that ...
BW: He had trouble making weight at 119.
MJ: Yeah, he said he was going to 130 or 135.
BW: Crazy. You gonna do the Dixie Duals that weekend (March 12-14)?
MJ: Mm-mm. I’m training for Nationals in Virginia Beach (March 23-26). Top eight is All-American. I did it my 10th-grade year. I went 3-2. So I’m gonna go this year and see if hopefully I can place top eight. All-American.
BW: I’m supposed to be going to Dixie Duals next week. So that’ll be my warm-up for the national tournament.
MJ: You going to nationals too?
BW: Most likely.
MJ: You need to, man. You can just ride with me and J.T.
BW: I’m trying to. Me and coach (Ryan) Thompson, we’re gonna see.
MJ: Man, you can train with me.
BW: There ain’t nobody I can train with at that school.
MJ: Yeah, that’s true with our school.
BW: They don’t even want to. I’ll be like, “Come on, man, let’s practice.“ And they’re like, “...“
MJ: Well, now, in practice they’ll wrestle me. But they just know ... they get mad.
BW: Like for next week (Dixie Duals), nobody will wrestle me. I’m like, “Come on, man, just practice with me. Just me and you. And they’re like, “Mannnnn. Nah, man.“ There’s probably two dudes that’ll do it. But they’re not even paying attention to (their training). They’re playing football, for real.

Blackmon brothers to face off in AHSAA showcase

Click here to follow us on Twitter.

According to a Saturday AHSAA press release (which somehow failed to reach my inbox…), Brian Blackmon’s Opelika Bulldogs and Ben Blackmon’s Greenville Tigers will face off in the fifth annual Champions Challenge at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery on Friday, Aug. 20 at 7 p.m.

This will be the second time the two Blackmons have faced off since Brian took the reins at Opelika before last season. Opelika and Greenville played their spring games against each other at Bulldog Stadium last May, with the Tigers driving for a touchdown before a torrential downpour washed out the proceedings.

Auburn High is also getting in on the action, playing Spain Park the next night in the second game of a doubleheader. The Tigers and Jaguars face off after Trinity and Jackson play at 5.

Here’s the press release. Which, again, didn’t make the journey to my inbox.

This seems like something I should have been told about without having it be forwarded to me by a concerned party.

MONTGOMERY – Greenville and Opelika with kick off the 2010 Champions Challenge Prep Football Classic at Cramton Bowl here next August.

The Tigers and Bulldogs, coached by former Lee-Montgomery standout athletes Ben and Brian Blackmon, respectively, will play at 7 p.m. Friday night, Aug. 20. A doubleheader will follow Saturday, Aug. 21, with Trinity of Montgomery meeting 2009 Class 4A runner-up Jackson at 5 p.m., and Spain Park taking on Auburn in the final contest at 7:30 p.m.

The fifth annual Champions Challenge is a preseason triple-header sponsored by the Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches Association and the AHSAA and will not count on the teams’ records. The regular season will begin the next week, Aug. 26-28.

Nevertheless, it will be a battle both brothers say they are looking forward to.

“Brian and I talk every week, especially every Sunday,” said Greenville head coach Ben Blackmon. “We bounce ideas off each other, discuss our teams. Brian is four years older than me and is my mentor.”

Opelika head coach Brian Blackmon said he and Ben are looking forward to the contest. “We have always been very competitive in all that we do,” he said. “Growing up we always competed hard against each other in the back yard or pretty much in everything we have done. This is a chance for us to coach against each other in a friendly atmosphere. I think the only one that will be uncomfortable will be our mom. She doesn’t want to see either of us lose.”

AHSADCA Director Steve Bailey said he is very excited about the three games scheduled for the 2010 Champions Challenge. “All these teams have great tradition, come from great communities and have tremendous football programs. The Champions Challenge will again be a great way to kick off the football season for our schools.”

Both Blackmons played high school football for Coach Spence McCracken at Lee. “We both have a lot of Coach McCracken in our coaching styles.”

Greenville posted an 11-1 record last season in Ben Blackmon’s second year as head coach—including a perfect 10-0 regular season. Brian Blackmon’s Opelika squad finished 6-3 and was tied for third in the region but lost a playoff berth to Dothan and Enterprise due to a playoff tiebreaker.

Trinity, coached by Randy Ragsdale, also had a perfect regular season in Class 3A, going 9-0. The Wildcats went three rounds in the playoffs before falling to Luverne in the quarterfinals to finish 11-1. Jackson, coached by Jeff Kelly, reached the Class 4A state finals before falling in a close 32-27 final to Cherokee County to finish up at 13-2. 

Spain Park (10-3), coached by David Shores, reached the Class 6A quarterfinals last season. Auburn, coached by Tim Carter, posted its second straight 10-0 regular season and finished 13-1 with a narrow 13-9 loss to Prattville in the Class 6A playoff semifinals.

Hoover, Prattville and T.R. Miller posted wins in the 2009 Champions Challenge, the first tripleheader in the Classic history. Hoover, which beat Prattville in the Class 6A state finals 15 weeks later, downed Oxford 32-27. Prattville beat Carver-Montgomery 37-0 and T.R. Miller defeated Leeds 27-7.