Big week on the hardwood

If you enjoy quality high school hoops, then this week is the holiday present that keeps on giving. The schedule ahead definitely isn’t short on good basketball.

Three local teams will be playing in the Huntsville Times Classic, which is arguably the best high school boys basketball tournaments in the state. The tournament begins Tuesday at Huntsville High, with Athens playing Class 6A, top-ranked Bob Jones in the opening game at 9 a.m. Class 6A, tenth-ranked Austin opens the tournament with Johnson at noon, and Decatur will play Columbia at 4:30 p.m.

The Huntsville Times Classic winner – and those that finish not far behind – are usually contending for state titles in late February and early March. That’s not likely to change  this season. Seven of the 16 teams in this year’s bracket are ranked in their respective classifications.

Rather check out some great girls basketball? Well, the local options are plentiful. The Decatur Orthopaedic Clinici Classic, one of the best tournaments in north Alabama, will begin Tuesday at Decatur High. This year’s DOC bracket is loaded with future Division I players and teams that should contend for state titles, including a Clarksville (Tenn.) squad that touts three Southeastern Conference signees. Here’s a a story that was published in Monday’s edition of The Decatur Daily this always-fun event: http://decaturdaily.com/stories/Clarksville-train-arriving-here,89407?content_source=&category_id=&search_filter=&event_mode=&event_ts_from=&list_type=&order_by=&order_sort=&content_class=&sub_type=stories&town_id=

Another great girls basketball tournament will be taking place this week a few miles down the road in Rogersville. The Northwest Alabama Christmas Classic, which is hosted by Lauderdale County High, begins today. This tournament always showcases some of the best small-school teams in Alabama and Middle Tennessee.

So, if you love basketball, then this week almost is packed with entertainment. But who’s complaining? It’s the gift that keeps on giving for basketball fans.

Justin Graves

Holiday hoops

Tis the season for basketball. With the holidays comes tournament hoops. Dozens of high school basketball tournaments are scheduled to take place in north Alabama  during the holiday break, and one of the bigger events is already in full swing.

The Huntsville Times Ladies Classic tipped off Wednesday at Bob Jones, with three local teams advancing to the quarterfinals. Brewer will play Buckhorn today at 1 p.m. Thursday, and Austin will play Athens at 2:30 p.m. (the game time had to be pushed back an hour since Athens City Schools are still in session).

Because all three of these teams are on the same side of the bracket, there’s a good chance one of them will advance to the championship game. That semifinals is scheduled for Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

Three area head coaches gone

The Morgan County Board of Education accepted the resignations of Brewer football coach Daniel Gullion and West Morgan’s Shannon Shaw tonight.

Brewer went 0-10 this past season. West Morgan lost its first four games and finished 4-6.

Also, the Moulton Advertiser reports Lawrence County head coach Shane Smothers has accepted an assistant role at neighboring Russellville.

Super 25 poll

The Alabama Sports Writers Association voted on a Super 25 poll at the conclusion of the football season, and a pair of area teams are included. Hartselle finished third in the rankings, while Tanner came in at No. 19. 

(First place votes, Class and final record in parentheses. First-place vote was worth 25 points, second 24, third 23 and so on.)
1. Prattville (25) (6A, 12-2) 714
*Won Class 6A Championship
2. Hoover (6A, 13-2) 648
*Class 6A Runner-up
3. Hartselle (1) (5A, 15-0) 629
*Won Class 5A Championship
4. Jackson (3) (4A, 15-0) 537
*Won Class 4A Championship
5. Oxford (6A, 12-2) 475
*Class 6A semifinalist
6. Vigor (5A, 12-3) 474
*Class 5A Runner-up
7. Hueytown (5A, 13-1) 419
*Class 5A semifinalist
8. Handley (3A, 15-0) 394
*Won Class 3A Championship
9. Mountain Brook (6A, 12-1) 389
*Class 6A quarterfinalist
10. Clay-Chalkville (6A, 1-9) 380
*10-0 on field; forfeited 9 games
11. Elba (2A, 15-0) 363
*Won Class 2A Championship
12. Briarwood Chr. (5A, 12-2)343
*Class 5A semifinalist
13. Central-Phenix City (6A, 11-3) 331
*Class 6A semifinalist
14. Daphne (6A, 10-2) 306
*Class 6A second round
15. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (6A, 12-1) 298
*Class 6A quarterfinalist
16. Marion Co. (1A, 14-1) 293
*Won Class 1A Championship
17. Oneonta (4A, 12-3) 268
*Class 4A Runner-up
18. Madison Acad. (3A, 12-3) 203
*Class 3A Runner-up
19. Tanner (2A, 14-1) 186
*Class 2A Runner-up
20. Linden (1A, 13-2) 185
*Class 1A Runner-up
21. McGill-Toolen (6A, 11-2) 145
*Class 6A quarterfinalist
22. St. Paul’s (5A, 11-2)<ws>109
*Class 5A quarterfinalist
23. UMS-Wright (4A, 9-5) 108
*Class 4A semifinalist
24. Clay Co. (3A, 12-2) 102
*Class 3A semifinalist
25. Fairhope (6A, 10-3) 96
*Class 6A quarterfinalist
 
Also receiving votes: Spanish Fort (5A, 9-4) 92; Bob Jones (6A, 10-2) 87; Center Point (5A, 11-2) 74; American Chr. (2A, 12-2) 71; Anniston (4A, 9-5) 64; Thomasville (4A, 10-2) 54; Sweet Water (1A, 10-4) 50; Bibb Co. (4A, 12-1) 49; Pinson Valley (5A, 9-3) 47; Ragland (1A, 12-1) 41; Edgewood Acad. (AISA, 13-0) 39; Blount (6A, 10-2) 34; Piedmont (3A, 12-1) 34; Bessemer Acad. (AISA, 12-1) 33; Muscle Shoals (5A, 11-2) 30; Dadeville (4A, 12-1) 27; Lineville (2A, 10-4) 27; Vestavia Hills (6A, 7-5) 27; Murphy (6A, 7-5) 23; Jackson Acad. (AISA, 12-1) 17; Deshler (4A, 11-2) 15; Rogers (3A, 11-3) 14, Auburn (6A, 8-2) 13; Pickens Co. (1A, 11-2) 12; Wetumpka (6A, 2-7) 10; Leeds (3A, 10-3) 9; Fultondale (2A, 10-3) 7; Monroe Acad. (AISA, 11-2) 7; T.R. Miller (4A, 9-3) 6; Flomaton (2A, 11-2) 5; Hanceville (3A, 10-1) 5; Northridge (6A, 10-2) 5; Collinsville (1A, 11-2) 1; Maplesville (1A, 12-1) 1.

Back at Bryant-Denny: Tanner vs. Elba

After an enjoyable lunch with Decatur Daily co-workers Gary Cosby Jr. and Deangelo McDaniel and Tuscaloosa resident/Bama beat writer Michael Casagrande, I’m back in Bryant-Denny for today’s Class 2A final between Tanner High and Elba.

It’s almost halftime in the 4A game between Jackson and Oneonta (coached by former Elkmont bossman Don Jacobs). Jackson leads 28-7. We’re about 2 hours and 45 minutes away from kickoff in the 2A final.

Follow us on Twitter @decaturpreps for updates throughout the game.

Final: Hartselle 13, Vigor 3

Hartselle won its first state championship with a 13-3 victory over Vigor on Thursday night. Gavin Marsh kicked a pair of field goals, and Blake Slayton added a TD for good measure with a minute remaining.

Quarterback Deacon Aldridge was the game’s MVP after rushing for 67 and throwing for 25 more. He injured his foot on the Tigers’ second possession of the game but didn’t miss a snap.

Upcoming: Class 5A state championship game

Follow me on Twitter (@decaturpreps) for updates throughout Hartselle High’s clash with Vigor. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.