Sports

Messenger file photo by Gary Wells By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor A Panther and a Conqueror highlight the 2019-2020 All-Messenger boys and girls basketball teams. Southside’s Chris Lengyel and Coosa Christian’s India Brown were the respective girls and boys Player of the Year for the 2019-20 All-Messenger basketball team. A senior center, Brown averaged 18.5 points and

Photo: Former Gaston High head football coach Swane Morris (pictureed at center) instructs his players during a 7-on-7 scrimmage with Coosa Christian last July. Morris resigned his position last month to take an assistant coaching/teaching position at Pierce County, Ga. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger) By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor After 20 years and more than 100 victories as a

Released March 20 Baseball Class 7A 1. Mountain Brook 2. Hoover 3. Sparkman 4. Spain Park 5. Prattville 6. Bob Jones 7. Hewitt-Trussville 8. Baker 9. Florence 10. Oak Mountain Class 6A 1. Chelsea 2. Russell County 3. Cullman 4. Athens 5. Hueytown 6. Faith Academy 7. Hartselle 8. Saraland 9. Robertsdale 10. Gulf Shores

Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent Southside swept Sardis in a pair of tightly contest games between two Etowah County rivals last Saturday (March 14) at Danny League Field. The Lions (2-8) took a 4-2 lead in the top of the sixth before the Panthers (9-7) answered with two runs in

Photo: Hokes Bluff’s Hunter Burke slides into third base as Southside’s Landon Brasher applies the tag during the Eagles’ 9-8 victory in high school baseball last Saturday (March 14) at SHS. (Courtesy of Alex Chaney) By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent Hokes Bluff held off a late Southside rally to knock off the Panthers, 9-8, in eight

Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent Southside softball celebrated an impromptu senior night with a pair of home victories over Etowah and Gadsden City on Saturday, March 14. As of last Tuesday (March 17), all spring athletics in the state of Alabama were postponed until at least April 6 as schools

Photo: Hokes Bluff’s Haleigh Cashman finished first in the long jump event during a track and field meet at Lincoln High School on March 12. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger) By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor The Hokes Bluff girls track and field team took home 10 medals, including three first place gold, on the way to winning the Lincoln Open

Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor Gadsden City High came away with 18 medals, including eight first place finishes, at the Gadsden City Open Meet No. 2 on March 12. Earning gold for the Titans were Jakari Embry in the boys 110-meter hurdles (14.66) and 300-meter hurdles (42.59); Jeremiah Watts in the

Messenger file photo by Gary Wells A pair of local student-athletes recently were named to the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s 2019-20 All-State girls basketball team. Coosa Christian senior center India Brown (pictured above) was a Class 1A first team selection, while Hokes Bluff senior guard/forward Kristin Shields was named to the Class 4A honorable mention

From Steve Savarese, Executive Director, Alabama High School Athletic Association: Based on the governor’s and the Alabama Slate Department of Education’s (ALSDE) directives to close all schools across the state for a period of 2.5 weeks beginning Wednesday, March 18, 2020, all athletic events including, but not limited to, contests, practices, weightlifting and conditioning are

By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent Auburn Week 10 Review Auburn entered the regular season finale on a two-game losing streak, but the Tigers submitted their best performance of the season last Saturday (March 7) at Tennessee in an 85-63 victory. Samir Doughty buried eight 3-point baskets and scored 32 points, and Auburn dominated both halves in

Released March 12 Baseball Class 7A 1. Mountain Brook 2. Hewitt-Trussville 3. Bob Jones 4. Baker 5. Hoover 6. Florence 7. Sparkman 8. Prattville 9. Mary G. Montgomery 10. Spain Park Class 6A 1. Chelsea 2. Cullman 3. Russell County 4. Faith Academy 5. Hartselle 6. Athens 7. Hueytown 8. Robertsdale 9. Saraland 10. Benjamin

Photo: Southside High’s Grace Ann Clontz signed a bowling scholarship with Springhill College on March 4 at the SHS auditorium. Pictured, sitting, from left: dad David, Grace Ann, SHS bowling coach Zack Blume. Standing, from left: sisters Cora Lee, Jennifer and Jessica; mom Tiffany. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger)  By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor Several Southside High School seniors signed

Photo: Southside High’s Isaac Franklin (right) maintains his balance as Ashville’s Bruce Pantoja (16) defends during the Panthers’ 10-0 victory in boys soccer last Tuesday (March 10) at Barney Hood Stadium. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger) Isaac Franklin scored goals four goals to lead Class 4A/5A No. 2 Southside to a 10-0 victory over Ashville in boys soccer

Southside High’s Camryn Davis (center) closes in on Ashville’s Taylor Knight as Meghan McCarthy (right) looks on during the Lady Panthers’ 10-0 victory in girls soccer last Tuesday (March 10) at Barney Hood Stadium. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger)

Photo: West End’s Ty Taylor delivers a pitch during the Patriots’ 14-1 victory over Gaston last Monday (March 9) at GHS. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger) By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor West End battered the Gaston pitching staff for 15 hits on the way to a 14-1 victory in five innings last Monday (March 9) at Shinbone Ridge. Eli Pearce

Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy A pair of Gadsden State basketball players recently received postseason honors. For the women’s team, Jalexis Russell (pictured above) was named to the All-Region 22 second team and the All-Alabama Community College Conference All-North Division second team. Corien Frazier was selected to the ACCC All-North Division second team. A

By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent Auburn Week 9 Review Auburn’s losses have all come in pairs so far this season. After last Saturday’s road loss at Kentucky, the Tigers lost at home for the first time all season against Texas A&M in a disappointing effort. Auburn is comfortably in the NCAA Tournament and likely will have

Three Etowah County natives are among the AASA Softball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2020. Tina Rood Hopper and Mike Delozier will be indicted in the Player category, while Clark Livingston is included in the Meritorious category. Collinsville’s Donny Jones will be inducted as a player. The AASA’s 29th induction banquet will be held on

Photo: Jalexis Russell scored 32 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in Gadsden State’s 98-67 victory over Coastal Alabama South last Tuesday (March 3) in the quarterfinal round of the Alabama Community College Conference Tournament at Shelton State in Tuscaloosa. (Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy) By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor It was obvious last Tuesday (March 3)

Photo: Members of the Westbrook Christian varsity baseball team gather for a photo during the Etowah County Chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ 2020 Media Day on Feb. 23 at Rainbow Presbyterian Church. Pictured, sitting, from left: Andrew Dutton, Brett Vice, Samuel Dutton. Standing: head coach Matt Kennedy. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger)  By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor A

By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent Auburn Week 8 Review Auburn might not be as strong as last year when the Tigers made a run to the Final Four, but this team is as resilient as any in the country. Auburn trailed Tennessee by 17 points in the second half on Saturday but battled back and won

Photo: Members of the Southside High School varsity softball team gather for a photo during the Etowah County Chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ 2020 Media Day last Sunday (Feb. 23) at Rainbow Presbyterian Church. Pictured, sitting, from left: Kaylee Brown, Lynnsey Hunt, Alexis Rennhack, Austyn Patterson, Savannah Yancey. Standing: head coach Brett Yancey.

Photo: Southside High School head football coach Gary Nelson introduces his family during a meet and greet session last Sunday (Feb. 22) at the SHS library. Pictured with Nelson are wife Stefanie, son Sam and daughter Lucy. (Cole Frederick/Messenger)  By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent Although new Southside High football coach Gary Nelson has not yet conducted

Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy The Southside High softball team went 3-1 at the Albertville Invitational Tournament last Saturday (Feb. 22). The Lady Panthers defeated Ardmore, 13-9; Grissom, 4-3; and A.P. Brewer, 9-5, before losing to the host Lady Aggies by a score of 6-5. Against Ardmore, Macey Herren went 2-for-3 with a home

Photo: Coosa Christian senior India Brown signed a basketball scholarship with Shelton State on Feb. 22. Pictured, sitting, from left: brother London Marbury, India, mom Breshelle Pearson, dad Anthony Brown. Standing, from left: Coosa Christian girls basketball coach Jayme Hollingsworth, Shelton State womens head basketball coach Madonna Thompson, Shelton State womens assistant basketball coach Chris

By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent Auburn Week 7 Review As it turns out, Auburn is not as good without its best player on the floor. Isaac Okoro’s injury has led to two straight Auburn losses at Missouri and at Georgia, and while those losses do not necessarily hurt the Tigers, they don’t need those two defeats

Photo: Hokes Bluff’s Maddie Smith (left) protects the ball from Oneonta’s Virginia Ritchie during the Lady Eagles 56-38 loss in the Class 4A Northeast Regional Tournament semifinals last Monday (Feb. 17) at Jacksonville State. (Courtesy of Alex Chaney) By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent A 20-6 second quarter run propelled Oneonta to a 56-38 victory over Hokes

Photo: Southside High’s Savannah Nunn (right) drives to the basket as Boaz’s Savannah Wood defends during the Lady Panthers 46-33 loss in the Northeast Regional Tournament semifinals last Saturday (Feb. 15) in Jacksonville. (Courtesy of Gary Wells) By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent The Southside High girls basketball team’s season came to an end at Jacksonville State’s

Photo: Gadsden City’s Cianni Rhodes (left) attempts a shot as Hoover’s Madison Adamson defends during Lady Titans’ 70-32 loss to Hoover in the Class 7A Northeast Regional Tournament finals last Tuesday (Feb. 18) at Jacksonville State. (Courtesy of Gary Wells)  By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor The Gadsden City High girls basketball team’s 2019-20 season came to an