Sports

Photo by Gary Wells Several area team competed in the Twin Bridges Kick Off Classic last Saturday (Mar. 16) in Gadsden. Gadsden City’s Ella Howard and Etowah’s Miranda Nassif shared the top local individual low finishes with respective 86 scores. Glencoe’s Lauren Cole (pictured above) shot an 87. Westbrook Christian finished as the top local

By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent Auburn Week 10 Review Auburn wrapped up the regular season with perhaps its best win of the year. The Tigers outlasted Tennessee, 84-80 on Senior Day at Auburn Arena, though it was sophomore Chuma Okeke that led the way with 22 points. Bryce Brown and Jared Harper added 16 points each,

Photo: Southside High’s Karlee Thompson slides into home plate as Etowah catcher Lexi Brown awaits the throw during the Lady Panthers’ 2-0 victory in girls’ softball last Tuesday (Mar. 12) at SHS. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger) By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor Despite being out-hit by a 7 to 2 margin last Tuesday (Mar. 12) the Southside High softball team

By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor Several local high school basketball players were recently named to the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s 2018-19 All-State teams. Coosa Christian senior guard Claire Davidson (pictured above) was named to the Class 1A second team, while Glencoe junior guard Anna Beth Giles and Gadsden City senior forward Dee Pearson made the Class 3A

Gadsden City High’s Ella Howard (pictured above) was the area’s low scorer at the Yellow Jacket Invitational Golf Tournament on Feb. 7 at Silver Lakes in Glencoe. Howard shot a 78 to pace the Lady Titans, who finished with an overall score of 315. Haley James shot a 112 score for GCHS, followed by Daisy

Two Gadsden State basketball players recently received postseason recognition. For the men, sophomore guard Xavier Malcolm was named to the Alabama Community College Conference’s All-Region 22 t team as well as the All-North Division second team. For the women, freshman guard Morgan Frazier was selected to the All-North Division second team. Malcolm averaged 18.5 points,

By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent Auburn Week 9 Review The Tigers had their best week of the season as they earned wins over Mississippi State and Alabama, and AU is rapidly improving its seeding for the NCAA Tournament. Thanks to 24 points from Bryce Brown, Auburn knocked off Mississippi State, 80-75, in Auburn Arena. Three days

Photo: Shond McKinney (pictured at right) and the Gadsden State mens basketball team lost to Coastal Alabama South, 74-73, in the Alabama Community College Conference Tournament quarterfinals last Tuesday (Mar. 5) at Lawson State in Birmingham. (Courtesy of Gadsden State)  By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor For the second straight year, the Gadsden State mens basketball team ended

Photo: Kanecia Payne (pictured at center) and the Gadsden State womens basketball team lost to Wallace-Hanceville, 68-60, in the Alabama Community College Conference Tournament quarterfinals last Wednesday (Mar. 6) at Lawson State in Birmingham. (Courtesy of Gadsden State)  By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor Poor shooting and foul trouble plagued the Gadsden State womens basketball team in the

Photo: Westbrook Christian senior John Ross Morgan signs a letter of intent last Wednesday (March 6) to play football and baseball at Birmingham Southern College. Pictured, sitting, from left: John Ross’ mom Holly, John Ross, John Ross’ dad Barry. Standing, from left: Westbrook Christian athletic director and head baseball coach Matt Kennedy, former Westbrook Christian

File photo courtesy of Daily Mountain Eagle By Mike Goodson/Sports Correspondent It was “bombs away” for the Cardinals last Friday. The Gadsden State mens basketball team knocked down a school-record 22 three-point baskets en route to a 116-78 win over Lurleen B. Wallace in an Alabama Community College Conference Tournament play-in game last Friday (Mar.

Five players scored in double figures in Gadsden State’s 72-62 victory over Coastal Alabama South in an Alabama Community College Conference Tournament play-in game last Saturday (March 2) in Bay Minette. The Lady Cardinals (11-17) face Wallace State-Hanceville in the ACCC Tournament quarterfinals on Wednesday, March 6, at Lawson State in Birmingham. Kanecia Payne paced

By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent Alabama Week 8 Review After a disappointing three-game losing streak, the Crimson Tide earned an impressive pair of wins to get back on the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble. Alabama easily handled Vanderbilt, 68-61, in Coleman Coliseum, and followed up with an excellent 68-62 road win against South Carolina.

Photo: 2017 Coosa Christian graduate and UAH sophomore Alaina Hampton (left) tags out a baserunner during a softball game earlier this season. (Chuck Hampton) By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor Alaina Hampton is making her presence felt in the Rocket City. Coming off an outstanding 2018 season for the University of Alabama-Huntsville softball program, the 2017 Coosa Christian

Photo: Lettermen of the USA recognized several U.S. military veterans at the inaugural One Yard at A Time benefit banquet on Feb. 8 at the Marriott Grand Bohemian Hotel in Mountain Brook. Pictured, front row, from left:  Dale Overton, Phillip Quigley, Harold McMurran, Charles Henry, Major Wooten, Todd Boland. Back row, from left:  Leonard Thomas, Chris

By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent Auburn Week 7 Review The Tigers earned a pair of much-needed victories over the past week, including a 79-56 rout of Arkansas at Auburn Arena. AU also defeated Vanderbilt on the road for the first time in nearly 20 years, though the Commodores are winless in the SEC this season. The

Photo: Etowah High’s Emil Smith (10) muscles in between Center Point’s Correy Westone (left) and LeBois Deru during the Blue Devils 69-49 loss in the Northeast Regional Tournament Class 5A championship game on Thursday, Feb. 21, at Jacksonville State. (Gary Wells) By Mike Goodson Sports Correspondent The Etowah High School boys basketball team Blue Devils

Photo: Glencoe High’s Lauren Cole (15) attempts a jump shot as Pisgah’s Kaylee Vaught (2) defends and Molly Heard (23) looks on during the Lady Yellow Jackets’ 67-53 loss in the Northeast Regional Basketball Tournament Class 3A girls championship game on Wednesday, Feb. 20, at Jacksonville State. (Gary Wells)  By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent For the

Photo: Southside High’s Jacob Dease (pictured at top) won a second straight state wrestling championship at the Class 1A/5A state tournament on Feb. 15 at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville. Dease defeated Moody’s Will Jeffcoat (pictured below) by major decision, 13-3. (Submitted photo) By Cole Frederick Sports Correspondent Southside sophomore Jacob Dease capped off

Photo: Westbrook Christian senior Hunter Grimes signed a football scholarship with the University of the South on Feb. 13. Pictured, sitting, from left: Hunter’s grandfather Dr. Larry Grimes, Hunter, Hunter’s grandmother Katie Grimes. Standing, from left: Hunter’s mom Jamie, Hunter’s dad Dee. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger) By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor Hunter Grimes is headed to the Cumberland Plateau

Photo: Glencoe High’s Ashley Morgan (11) attempts a shot as Weaver’s Trinity Pulliam (13) and Maleah Foster (11) defend during The Lady Yellow Jackets’ 67-39 win in the Class 3A Northeast Regional Tournament semifinals last Monday (Feb. 18) at Jacksonville State. (Gary Wells) By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor The Glencoe High girls basketball team had no intentions

Photo: Etowah High’s Jamin Graham (left) goes in for a layup as Arab’s Wesley Tyler defends during the Blue Devils’ 64-44 victory in the Class 5A Northeast Regional Tournament semifinals on Monday (Feb. 18) at Jacksonville State. (Gary Wells) By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor The Etowah High basketball team can now attend to some unfinished postseason business.

Photo: Southside High’s Maci Williams (center) attempts a shot as Scottsboro’s Abby Jones (32) and Emily Garner (40) defend during the Lady Panthers’ 62-47 loss in the Class 5A Northeast Regional Tournament semifinals last Monday (Feb. 16) at Jacksonville State. (Gary Wells) By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor The Southside High girls basketball team fulfilled a goal last

By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent Alabama Week 6 Review For the first time in nearly three decades, Alabama beat Vanderbilt in Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville. Granted, the Commodores are winless in the SEC this season, but it was still a solid performance for the Crimson Tide. However, UA followed up that win with a disappointing performance

By Chris McCarthy/Publisher/Editor Braydon Hill is moving from one successful football program to another. The Hokes Bluff High senior recently signed with Jacksonville State as a preferred walk-on. “It’s something I’ve worked for since I was sophomore when I realized it was something I wanted to do,” he said. “To finally achieve that goal is

Photo: Etowah High’s Taylor Berry (left) drives past Springville’s Max Harrison during the Blue Devils’ 58-57 victory in the Class 5A subregional playoffs last Tuesday (Feb. 12) in Attalla. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger) By Chris McCarthy, Editor/Publisher Etowah learned first-hand last Tuesday (Feb. 12) why Springville won 24 games this season. The Blue Devils fended off a

Photo: Southside High’s Alexis Thompson (right) attempts a jump shot as Springville’s Abbie Talton defends during Lady Panthers’ 50-34 victory in the Class 5A subregional playoffs in girls basketball last Monday (Feb. 11) at SHS. (Gary Wells) By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor The Southside High girls basketball program officially entered uncharted territory on Monday, Feb. 11. Sparked

Anna Grace Goodwin’s buzzer-beating three-point basket gave Glencoe a 56-55 victory over Locust Fork in the Class 3A subregional playoffs in girls basketball on Monday, Feb. 11, at Locust Fork. With the Lady Yellow Jackets trailing by two points and with under four second left, Anna Beth Giles dribbled the ball to halfcourt under heavy

A pair of local high school wrestlers finished in first place at the North Super Sectional Tournament last Saturday (Feb. 9) at the Birmingham CrossPlex. Competing in the 126-pound weight class, Gadsden City junior Samuel Jaggears posted a 2-1 decision over Sparkman’s Cordell Ellison. Jaggears improved to 40-1 on the season. In the Class 1A-5A 120-pound

The Etowah High boys basketball team defeated Alexandria, 73-69, in the Class 5A, Area 12 Tournament championship on Feb. 7 in Attalla. Taylor Berry (pictured above) paced the Blue Devils with 23 points, followed by Trent Davis with 21 and DeRicky Wright with 13. Etowah (16-9) hosts Springville on Tuesday (Feb. 12) in the subregional