– posted by Mike Cummings
It’s that time again. Most local teams are gearing up for holiday tournaments across the state, with a few already under way today. This is one of my favorite weeks of the basketball season, right up behind regional week and the state tournament. On to the soapbox …
THE SOAPBOX
Some of you might have noticed in the prep notebook last week when I put the spotlight on Hartselle High’s boys basketball team. When that article went to press, the Tigers had won three straight games after a tough three-game losing streak to start the season.
Well, now they’re above .500 for the first time this season, and they deserve some recognition for that. It was hard enough starting the season against Decatur and Brewer, but Hartselle did so after having most of its roster on the football field for the first three-plus weeks of November.
The Tigers understandably struggled at first, dropping three straight before grabbing their first win against Cullman. Coach Keith Wright and his staff have done a solid job, and this team should be around when the playoffs start in February.
TEAM OF THE WEEK
Decatur boys: The Red Raiders won twice more last week, bringing their winning streak to six games. They’re now 9-2 on the season and knocking on the door of the ASWA rankings (which won’t come out again until January).
Jamie Lee’s team next heads to Scottsboro for a tournament before playing in the Huntsville Times Classic next week.
Look for more on the Red Raiders in Tuesday’s edition of The Decatur Daily.
Honorable mention: Tanner boys and Brewer boys. Both teams are also riding long winning streaks. Tanner won its ninth straight Monday night, and Brewer has won eight straight.
Cody Whitlock
Justin Graves
