Sports

Messenger fille photo by Chris McCarthy By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent Southside improved to 5-2 on the year with a 54-33 road win over Etowah County rival Hokes Bluff on Thursday, Dec. 5. Parker Crask led all scorers with 14 points off the bench while pulling down four rebounds. Michael Rich, Jr., scored nine points and

Messenger file photo by Gary Wells By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent The Hokes Bluff’s girls basketball team evened the season series against Southside after the Lady Eagles knocked off the Lady Panthers, 49-34, on Thursday at HBHS. The Lady Panthers (2-4) won the previous meeting 35-32, but Hokes Bluff turned a seven-point halftime lead into a

By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent Iron Bowl Review When the Iron Bowl makes its way to Jordan-Hare Stadium every other season, the potential for out-rageously bizarre games is exacerbated for Alabama. After the first quarter, last Saturday’s Iron Bowl was about as peculiar of a game as the series has seen in 84 meetings. The teams

Messenger file photo by Gary Wells By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor Negative reinforcement served as a motivating factor in Hylan Higdon’s recent academic and athletic achievement. “So many people told me that I was never going to make it, but I never let that stuff knock me down,” said the Glencoe High School senior. Higdon proved

Photo: Glencoe High’s Anna Beth Giles (4) drives to the basket as Hokes Bluff’s Bailee Latronico (21) looks on during the Lady Yellow Jackets’ 67-60 victory in girls high school basketball on Monday (Dec. 2) at GHS. (Courtesy of Gary Wells) By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor After leading by double digits for three quarters, Glencoe weathered a

Several local players recently were named to the Class 2A, All-Region 6 football team for the 2019 season. Westbrook Christian had four players make the team in junior offensive lineman Hall Boulware, senior kicker Will Edwards (pictured above), senior defensive lineman Derek Graham and senior receiver Joe Tucker. Three West End players were selected –

By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent Alabama Week 13 Review Alabama obliterated Western Carolina, 66-3, last week. The Crimson Tide now has an upcoming matchup with Auburn that could determine their postseason fate. Mac Jones was nearly perfect against the Catamounts in his second career start. He threw for 275 yards and three touchdowns, including two to

Photo: West End boys basketball coach Richard Hollingsworth instructs his players during the Patriots’ game against Ashville on Nov. 22. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger)  By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor Richard Hollingsworth has brought his brand of winning basketball to Altoona and Walnut Grove. The long-time Westbrook Christian and Coosa Christian coach accepted the West End High School boys basketball

Photo: Ashville High School senior Chloe Wills signed a softball scholarship with Central Alabama Community College on Nov. 20. Pictured, sitting, from left: mom Christy, Chloe, dad Bubba. Standing, from left: AHS softball coach Kristen Seals, CACC softball coach Greg Shivers, AHS assistant softball coach Shea Monroe. (Submitted photo) By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor Chloe Wills will

Photo: Gadsden City High seniors Austin Brewer and J.J. Gray signed baseball scholarships with Southern Union Community College on Nov. 22. Pictured, sitting, from left: Austin’s dad Heath, Austin’s sister Grace, Austin’s mom Geri, Austin, J.J., J.J.’s dad Jason, J.J.’s mom Janice, J.J.’s brother Chase. Standing from left: GCHS assistant baseball coach Ricky Ray Clayton,

Photo by Gary Wells Glencoe High senior Anna Beth Giles poses with head coach Jaimie Barkley after Giles scored her 1,000th career point in basketball during the Lady Yellow Jackets’ 48-25 win over Cherokee County on Nov. 22.    

By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent Alabama Week 12 Review Alabama breezed past Mississippi State, 38-7, last week but the win was certainly not the headline in Starkville. The Crimson Tide lost quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for the season after he dislocated his hip late in the first half on a sack. The injury ended his season and

Photo: Members of the Coosa Christian varsity girls basketball team participated in the FCA Media Day last Sunday (Nov. 17) at First United Methodist Church of Gadsden. Pictured, sitting, from left: India Brown, Kaylee Hasley, Emily Snow. Standing: head coach Jayme Hollingsworth. (Chris McC artsy/Messenger)  By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor A number of local high school basketball

Photo: Westbrook Christian’s Karmichael Cattling runs past a pair of North Sand Mountain defenders during the Warriors’ 35-13 loss in the second round of the Class 2A state football playoffs last Friday (Nov. 15) in Higdon. (Jason Bowen/Jackson County Sentinel) By Jason Bowen, Jackson County Sentinel North Sand Mountain advanced to the state football quarterfinals for

By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent Alabama Week 11 Review A handful of first half errors put Alabama in a 33-13 hole at halftime against LSU last week, and a valiant second half effort came up just short in a 46-41 home loss. A red zone turnover on the opening possession of the game and an interception

Photo: Hokes Bluff’s Jalen Robinson (8) catches a touchdown pass in front of Northside’s Wes Maluda during the Eagles’ 35-21 loss in the first round of the Class 4A state football playoffs last Friday (Nov. 8) in Northport. (Alex Chaney) By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent Hokes Bluff’s football season came to an end on Nov. 8

Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy The Gadsden State volleyball team will be recognized at a community pep rally and dinner sponsored by The Chamber of Gadsden and Etowah County and hosted by Back Forty Beer Company. The Lady Cardinals won the National Junior College Athletic Association Gulf Atlantic District A/B Volleyball Championship on Nov.

Photo: Glencoe High’s Katie Giles finished sixth in the Class 3A girls state cross country meet last Saturday (Nov. 9) in Oakville. (submitted photo) By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor Several area runners turned in medal-winning performances at the AHSAA cross country meet last Saturday (Nov. 9) at Indian Mounds Education Center in Oakville. The top 15 finishers in

Messenger file photo by Gary Wells By Eddie Edwards/Sports Correspondent Westbrook Christian won its first postseason game since 2010 with a 25-22 victory over Aliceville in the first round of the Class 2A state football playoffs on Nov. 8 at Aliceville. The Warriors (8-3) travel to Higdon this Friday, Nov. 15, to face North Sand

Photo: Etowah High’s Tae Wright (7) tackles Center Point’s Jayson Jones during the Blue Devils’ 42-13 loss in the first round of the Class 5A state football playoffs last Friday (Nov. 8) in Attalla. (Travis Green) By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor For the first time in four years, Etowah will not participate in the second round of

By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent Auburn Week 10 Review Auburn did not play a home game in the month of October, so the Tigers expected to return home to play in front of a raucous crowd last week at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Instead, the crowd was anything but, and AU snuck away with a 20-14 win over

Released Nov. 6 Class 7A Rank Record Points 1. McGill-Toolen 10-0 261 2. Central-Phenix City 9-1 220 3. Thompson 8-1; 176 4. James Clemens 8-2 151 5. Hoover 8-2 150 6. Prattville 8-2 100 7. Mountain Brook 8-2 96 8. Vestavia Hills 7-3 53 9. Theodore 8-2 48 10. Auburn 7-3 33 Others receiving votes:

Photo: The Gadsden State volleyball team gathers around the tournament bracket after winning the NJCAA Gulf Atlantic District championship last Sunday (Nov. 3) in Boaz. Pictured, kneeling, on left: Shelby Bates. Kneeling on right: Joanie Lang. Middle row, from left: Madelyn Massey, Jaylyn Freeman, Grace Nolen, Brooke Murphy, Gracie West, Leighanna Tralongo. Back row, from

Photo courtesy of Toni Bishop By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor The Southside High boys and boys cross country teams finished in first place at the Class 5A, Section 2 Meet at Oxford’s Choccolocco Park on Nov. 1. The Panthers had four runners finish in the top 15, led by Ryan Maudsley first-place time of 17:00.05. Mason Williamson

Photo by Chris McCarthy By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor The Ashville High girls cross country team had three runners place in the top 10 and four more in the top 25 on the way to a first-place finish at the Class 4A Section 3 Meet on Nov. 1 at Fairview. It was the second straight section championship

Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor The Glencoe High girls cross country team finished third at the Class 3A, Section 2 Meet at Auburn on Nov. 1 The Lady Yellow Jackets qualified for the AHSAA state meet this Saturday, Nov. 9, at Oakville Indian Mounds Education Center in Danville. Katie Giles

Submitted photo By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor Helped by four top 10 showings, the Westbrook Christian boys cross country team won the Class 1A/2A, Section 4 Meet on Nov. 1 at Oxford’s Choccolocco Park. The Warriors qualified for the AHSAA state meet this Saturday, Nov. 9, at Oakville Indian Mounds Education Center in Danville. “I was very

Messenger file photo by Colin Edwards Will Noles finished with 216 offensive yards and rushed for four touchdowns as Westbrook Christian ended the regular season with a 38-18 victory over Sand Rock last Friday (Nov. 1). Noles rushed for 101 yards and four touchdowns on nine carries and was 8 for 13 in passing for

Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy Courtesy of al.com Ashville has suffered through 14 straight losing seasons and Vincent hasn’t had a winning season since 2013, but both coaches found reasons to be optimistic about the future of their teams after Ashville earned 41-14 victory last Friday (Nov. 1) at Vincent. Class 4A Ashville (2-8)

Photo: Hokes Bluff’s Ashton Gulledge (2) attempts a pass during the Eagles’ 35-12 win over Sardis on Nov. 1. (Alex Chaney) By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent Hokes Bluff relied on a pair of four-year starters for a 35-12 win over Sardis on senior night at Mike Robertson Stadium in Hokes Bluff on Friday (Nov. 1). Running