Sports

Photo: Sardis High School senior Jacob Hopper signed a football scholarship with the University of South Alabama on Dec. 19 at the SHS gym. Pictured, sitting, from left: Jacob’s dad Jody, Jacob, Jacob’s mom Tabatha. Standing, from left: SHS assistant football coach Clay Wright, SHS assistant football coach Ty Harris, SHS assistant football coach Matt

By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent Friday, Dec. 20  Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl Buffalo vs. Charlotte (+6.5). Charlotte is making its first trip to a bowl game in school history, and the 49ers have had their best season since joining the FBS. Buffalo is back in a bowl game despite losing quarterback Tyree Jackson to the NFL, but

GIRLS Class 7A 1. Hoover 2. McGill-Toolen Catholic 3. Spain Park 4. Theodore 5. Hewitt-Trussville 6. Auburn 7. Sparkman 8. Foley 9. Austin 10. Vestavia Hills Class 6A 1. Hazel Green 2. Eufaula 3. Athens 4. Lee-Huntsville 5. Carver-Birmingham 6. Opelika 7. Mae Jemison 8. McAdory 9. Carver-Montgomery 10. Homewood Class 5A 1. Charles Henderson

Photo: Coosa Christian Bella Millirons (33) attempts a shot between Spring Garden’s Kayley Kirk (left) and Macy Reedy during the Lady Conquerors’ 71-47 loss in girls basketball last Tuesday (Dec. 17) in Gadsden. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger) By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor The Coosa Christian girls basketball team hung with the state top-ranked team for the better part of

Messenger file photo by Gary Wells By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor When the dust settled following the release of the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s reclassification for the 2020-21 to 2021-22 academic semesters on Tuesday, Dec. 17, one local school moved up, two moved down and eight stayed put. Class 5A Southside moved to 6A, where it

Messenger file photo by Alex Chaney By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor With regard to the annual All-Etowah County Schools football team, a certain Hokes Bluff High senior running back finished where he started. For the fourth year in a row, Darrian Meads was named the All-Etowah County School Overall MVP, a streak that saw Meads (pictured above)

Photo: Ashville High’s Kathleen McCarthy (second from right) competes in the Class 1A-5A girls 1600-meter run during the AHSAA Holiday Meet on Dec. 13 at the Birmingham CrossPlex. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger)  Several area runners competed in the AHSAA Class 1A-5A Holiday Invitational indoor track meet on Dec. 13 at the Birmingham CrossPlex. The lone local medalist was

Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor On top of winning an Alabama Community College Conference championship, competing in the NJCAA Tournament and being named the ACCC co-Player of the Year, Taylor Spradley recently received nationwide recognition for her prowess on the volleyball court. The Gadsden State sophomore earlier this week was named

By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent SEC Championship Game Review LSU remained perfect on the season as the Tigers cruised past Georgia 37-10 in the SEC title game. Quarterback Joe Burrow likely clinched the Heisman Trophy several weeks ago, but he left no room for any doubt on Saturday in Atlanta. Burrow threw for 349 yards and

GIRLS Class 7A 1. Hoover 2. McGill-Toolen 3. Spain Park 4. Theodore 5. Auburn 6. Hewitt-Trussville 7. Sparkman 8. Austin 9. Foley 10. Grissom Class 6A 1. Hazel Green 2. Eufaula 3. Athens 4. Lee-Huntsville 5. Carver-Birmingham 6. Opelika 7. McAdory 8. Carver-Montgomery 9. Mae Jemison 10. Homewood Class 5A 1. Ramsay 2. Charles Henderson

File photo by Chris McCarthy By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor It was bombs away for the Southside High boys basketball team last Tuesday (Dec. 10), and Chris Lengyel was the Panthers’ primary long-range gunner. The senior shooting guard shot 57 percent (4-for-7) from the three-point line as Southside opened its Class 5A, Area 12 schedule with a

Messenger file photo by Gary Wells By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor The Southside High girls were reminded last Tuesday (Dec. 10) that 24 minutes does not a basketball game make. In their Class 5A, Area 12 opener against Alexandria, the Lady Panthers enjoyed a nine-point lead at the start of the fourth quarter. Over the next 12

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