— posted by Michael Cummings
The state softball tournament starts tomorrow morning at Lagoon Park in Montgomery.
Four local teams will compete: Class 5A Hartselle and Lawrence County; Class 4A Ardmore; and Class 2A Hatton.
Follow me after the jump for the first-round pairings and times.
Posted in Softball
Tagged Ardmore, Hartselle, Hatton, Lagoon Park, Lawrence County, Montgomery, Softball, State Tournament
— posted by Mike Cummings
Thanks to the latest round of inclement winter weather, tonight’s girls area tournaments have been postponed. The makeup times are starting to flow in, so we’ll post them here as we get them.
In some cases, one school is hosting both the girls and boys area tournaments. For those areas, the boys’ games have also been affected. Those changes are reflected below.
Posted in Basketball
Tagged area tournaments, Austin, Bob Jones, Brewer, Cullman, Decatur, Falkville, Florence, Hartselle, postponements, prep basketball, Tanner, West Point, winter weather
– posted by Cody Whitlock
Have you asked Santa for prep headlines and a video?
RED RAIDERS ROLLING: The Decatur boys won their sixth straight Friday night in a 63-50 victory over Athens.
DEFENSE LEADS AUSTIN GIRLS TO ROAD WIN: And Austin’s boys won, too.
CLEMENTS WINS BIG 3A, AREA 15 SHOWDOWN: So do the Danville girls.
SECOND HALF LIFTS HARTSELLE BOYS TO ANOTHER WIN: After a three-game losing streak to open the season, Hartselle’s boys are finding their winning form, extending their winning streak to four games with a win against Priceville.
BREWER HIGH BOYS WIN 8TH STRAIGHT: Highlights the hoops roundup.
Today’s video features North Alabama’s most exciting player, Butler High’s Trevor Lacey.
– posted by Cody Whitlock
Here are your top prep headlines for Sunday …
In Saturday’s Alabama-Mississippi Classic in Mobile, Stephen Rivers threw a fourth-quarter TD pass and was the game’s most efficient passer. Read here to find out how other area participants fared in the all-star game.
And in high school hoops action, West Morgan girls won a close one against Hartselle. Link.
The guys at the Huntsville Times have been putting together a series of stories that ranks the metro area’s greatest basketball players from each decade. Here, Mike Easterling revisits Grissom legend Marvin Stone.
Today’s video features one of the worst Heisman acceptances speeches — including a sketchy moment at the 2:50 mark. The video won’t embed, but you probably saw it live Saturday night. Here’s the link if you wish to see it again.
– posted by Cody Whitlock
Here are the first few paragraphs of my column that will appear in Sunday’s Decatur Daily.
HARTSELLE – If Friday night’s game between Hartselle High and Briarwood Christian was only the semifinals, the Class 5A state championship game promises to be a real treat.
In a game that had all the billing of a state title game, No. 2 Briarwood knocked off top-ranked Hartselle 24-21 in overtime at J.P. Cain Stadium.
The visiting Lions advance to face Spanish Fort in Thursday’s championship game at Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium, but Hartselle – which ended its season with 12 wins – proved its place among the state’s elite.
Read why I think Hartselle is among the best of the best and the rest of my thought’s in tomorrow’s paper.
– posted by Cody Whitlock
Greetings from L.P. Field, where the Tennessee Titans are currently leading the Washington Redskins 13-10 …
Hartselle High hosts Briarwood Christian in Friday’s Class 5A semifinals, and my early prediction is that the top-ranked Tigers will be playing for a state title next week.
Second-ranked Briarwood visits J.P. Cain Stadium, and, considering the two teams’ common opponents, Hartselle enters this contest as the favorite. Briarwood defeated Mortimer Jordan 38-0 in the first round and scored a 21-14 win a week later against Walker.
Hartselle beat both teams by a combined 58-14. Playing in front of an energized home crowd for the fourth time this postseason only helps the Tigers.
Better get there early if you want to watch this one from the stands.
– posted by Cody Whitlock
Hartselle won Friday night by doing what Hartselle does best. The top-ranked team in Class 5A ran the ball well and played aggressive defense in a 24-14 win over Russellville in Friday night’s quarterfinal game.
The longer Hartselle hangs around in the postseason, the better this team seems to get. A week after limiting a previously-explosive Cullman offense to six points, Hartselle never allowed Russellville — which entered averaging nearly 40 points per game — to threaten.
Sure, the Golden Tigers’ Brent Calloway rushed for 175 yards, but he fumbled away the ball to Hartselle on the opening possession of the second half. Also consider that Hartselle forced Russellville into consecutive turnovers on downs in the first quarter, and Calloway’s total yardage becomes less meaningful.
If Hartselle continues to run the ball effectively, throw it when it needs to and play smothering defense, the Tigers will be a tough bunch to beat. Playing at home for the fourth straight week only helps.
– posted by Cody Whitlock
Hartselle 24, Russellville 14
Quick-hit recap: Class 5A, No. 1 Hartselle scored on the game’s opening possession and never allowed fourth-ranked Russellville to threaten in a convincing win at J.P. Cain Stadium. With the victory, the Tigers advance to the state semifinals for the first time since 2002. Hartselle had played in the quarterfinals four times in the past five years but failed to advance to the next round.
The Tigers will host Briarwood Christian — a 30-7 winner against Fort Payne — next Friday. Hartselle will play at home for the fourth straight week this postseason.
Statistical quick hits: Malcolm Fossett (Hartselle), 147 yards and one score on 30 carries and 48 yards and another TD on two receptions; Will Lang (Hartselle) 11-of-17 passing for 149 yards and two TDs; Brent Calloway (Russellville), 30 carries, 175 yards, one TD.
Quotable: “I would much rather be playing in the semis instead of watching the Iron Bowl. I’ve got a lot of Iron Bowls to watch, but only one more semifinal to play in.” — Will Lang, after realizing next Friday’s semifinal showdown with Briarwood Christian won’t allow him to watch the Iron Bowl.
Posted in Football, Quick Hits
Tagged Brent Calloway, Hartselle, Malcolm Fossett, Russellville, Will Lang
Cody Whitlock
Justin Graves