Cullman's Nick Williams (3) defends against a Hartselle player in Thursday night's game. / Nick Griffin

CULLMAN - The Cullman Bearcats hosted the Hartselle Tigers Thursday night for the Bearcats’ final regular season matchup. It was Senior Night for the ‘Cats so all seniors for both the girls’ and boys’ squads were recognized on the floor in between the two games.

Representatives from the Cullman County Community Development Commission were also in the building to present a $50,000 grant to Cullman High School for its planned gym renovations. The renovations will bring the gym up to code with ADA guidelines. (See more at www.cullmantribune.com/articles/2018/01/29/cccdc-awards-almost-180k-grants)

Varsity Girls: Hartselle 61, Cullman 55

The Lady Bearcats dropped the first matchup of the night to Hartselle in a tight game that never saw either team take more than a six-point lead. The Lady ‘Cats trailed 32-31 at the half and the game continued back and forth till the Lady Tigers began to pull away late in the fourth.

Cullman’s Anna Katherine Eastman gave the Lady ‘Cats a big lift offensively, leading the team with an impressive 22 points and five rebounds. Fourteen of those points came in the first half, but Cullman’s offense couldn’t get back into a consistent rhythm in the second.

Lady Bearcats’ guard Hannah Hoffman was able to carry some of the load late in the game, scoring six of her 11 points in the final frame. Hartselle’s Moriah Taylor led the way for the Lady Tigers, and her game-high 24 points were a problem for Cullman defensively.

The regular season has concluded for the Lady Bearcats and now their focus will shift to post-season play. They will try to put tonight’s loss behind them as they get ready to take on Fort Payne at Brewer High School on Monday at 7:30.

Varsity Boys: Cullman 68, Hartselle 50

In Tuesday night’s second matchup, the Bearcats and the Tigers clashed in a physical game that was very competitive until the second half began. The Bearcats started the third quarter with a 25-18 lead over Hartselle, then their offense exploded, and the defense held the Tigers to just eight points in the frame. Cullman guards Drew Morton and Jacob McAfee got hot from the 3-point line and combined to hit five in the third quarter alone. Morton led the ‘Cats with 17 points and McAfee finished right behind him with 16.

The ‘Cats scored 26 in the third, stretching their lead to 25 points at the start of the fourth quarter, and despite a scoring run late in the game for Hartselle, Cullman’s lead was too much for the Tigers to overcome.

The home crowd began to take over as the ‘Cats continued to drain threes, and by the end of the third you could hardly hear the person next to you. The big swing of momentum and emotion led to some heated moments on the floor, but the ‘Cats stayed in control through the end and finished off the regular season with a win over their rivals on Senior Night.

The ‘Cats are at their best when they get hot from behind the line and they’ll try to keep up the hot shooting in the postseason, starting with a matchup against Fort Payne at Albertville High School on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

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Addison 60, Lindsay Lane 51 (Girls)
The Addison Lady Bulldogs continue their winning ways, defeating Lindsay Lane on the road. They are now 16-8 overall and are 6-1 in their last seven games. 

Lindsay Lane 75, Addison 69 (Boys)
The Addison boys fell to Lindsay Lane on the road in a high-scoring contest. They will take on St. Bernard at home in their final regular season game on Friday.

Good Hope 63, Vinemont 9 (Girls)
The Lady Raiders rolled past Vinemont on Senior Night. Good Hope improves to 9-18 overall. 

Good Hope 56, Vinemont 28 (Boys)
The Raiders won their final home game in impressive fashion against Vinemont. The Raiders improve their record to 15-12 overall and will travel to Hanceville in their regular season finale.

Brewer 53, Fairview 46 (Girls)
The Lady Aggies took on the Lady Patriots in a battle of top 10 teams in Class 6A and 5A, respectively, on Senior Night. In the end, no. 10 Fairview fell just short at home against no. 8 Brewer. The loss snapped the Lady Aggies' eight-game winning streak, and they finish the regular season at 20-7 overall. Abbi Taylor was recognized for scoring her 1,000th point during the Senior Night recognition. The Lady Aggies will take on Curry in the area tournament next Monday at 5 p.m.

Brewer 76, Fairview 59 (Boys)
The Aggies fell in their final home game of the season against Brewer. Like Taylor, Bryson Fletcher was recognized for scoring his 1,000th point during the Senior Night recognition. Fairview finishes the regular season at 13-14 overall, and will take on West Point next Tuesday @ Hayden in the area tournament at 5 p.m.

Southeastern 58, St. Bernard 41 (Boys)
The Saints dropped a tough road game against Southeastern and are now 13-5 overall.

Cullman v. Hartselle

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MONTGOMERY - On Jan. 24, Alabama Attorney Gen. Steve Marshall, State Mental Health Commissioner Lynn Beshear, and Acting State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris released the findings of the Alabama Opioid Overdose and Addiction Council, including a list of recommended actions the state can take to confront the opioid epidemic.

According to information from the U.S. Congressional Joint Economic Committee, Alabama saw a more than six-fold increase in opioid overdose deaths between 1999 and 2015 (the most recent year for which complete records are available), rising from fewer than one death per 100,000 population to just over six per 100,000.   According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Alabama leads the nation in opioid prescriptions and opioid over-prescription.  A sobering comparison of numbers:

• Alabama physicians wrote 5.8 million opioid prescriptions in 2015
• Alabama has 4.863 million citizens

That means that every man, woman and child (including the perfectly healthy ones) in Alabama could receive one prescription for opioid pain medication per year, and there would still be almost a million prescriptions left over.  The opioid prescription rate in Alabama is 75 percent higher than the national rate.  These numbers reflect only legal prescriptions, and do not account for the state’s illicit drug trade, including improperly repurposed prescriptions, illegal mail order imports of foreign drugs and heroin use.  

According to Executive Order 708 issued by Gov. Kay Ivey in August 2017, the Alabama Opioid Overdose and Addiction Council was created specifically to “identify a focused set of strategies to reduce the number of deaths and other adverse consequences of the opioid crisis in Alabama.”  Read the executive order at https://ago.state.al.us/legacy/File-Exec%20Order%20708.

The following comes from the official announcement of the issuance of the council’s strategic action plan.

“Families, healthcare professionals and government officials at every level seek real solutions concerning the impact the opioid crisis has on Alabamians,” said Lynn Beshear, commissioner, Alabama Department of Mental Health. “The next step in our effort will convene the Implementation Team of the Alabama Opioid Overdose and Addiction Council, as well as quarterly meetings of the full Council to implement researched opportunities. We believe the work of the Council offers preventive strategies, intervention and treatment options, and a community response that addresses this dire need. Working together, it will require organized sustained engagement of citizens and government with healthcare professionals.”

Acting State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris said, “Opioid addiction and abuse is a tremendous problem that affects Alabama in many different ways. Our hospitals, schools, churches and prisons are all struggling to deal with the problems caused by addiction and by increasing numbers of opioid deaths. The comprehensive action plan the Council has developed includes improvements to the Alabama Prescription Drug Monitoring Program that make it easier for prescribers to identify opioid abuse and to motivate abusers to find help for themselves, their families and communities. We are encouraged that the Council has offered strategies that have the potential to reverse this crisis that affects so many Alabamians, and appreciate the input of so many individuals to find effective solutions.”

“After working with the dedicated people who have given so much of their time and concern to this Council and its subcommittees, I am heartened that we can make progress to fight the terrible blight of opioid abuse in Alabama,” said Attorney General Steve Marshall. “I want to thank Governor Ivey for bringing us together in a commitment to search for solutions and work toward implementing them. I have been proud to serve with Commissioner Beshear and Dr. Harris in this vital endeavor, and I am grateful to all the members of this Council and its subcommittees for their outstanding achievement in bringing forth these valuable recommendations.”

The council’s report presents a four-pronged action plan to address prevention of opioid misuse, intervention within the law enforcement and justice systems, treatment of those with opioid use disorders, and community response that engages the people of Alabama in finding solutions at a local level.   Some of the major findings are summarized below:    

PREVENTION

• Improve and modernize the Alabama Prescription Drug Monitoring Program so that it will be more user-friendly, and more prescribers will participate and be better informed; the governor is requested to support a legislative appropriation of $1.1 million to the Alabama Department of Public Health for this
• Strengthen prescription data and research capabilities and create a unique identifier for each individual patient
• Promote efforts to educate current and future prescribers, better implement current guidelines, adopt guidelines specific to opioid prescribing and impose mandatory opioid prescribing education
• Create a website and messaging campaign to reduce the stigma of opioid addiction; and implement an outreach program to teach young people the dangers and to avoid opioids
• Create a website and social media campaign to motivate opioid abusers to seek help and to effectively connect them and family members with ways to get help
• Create a partnership for the Alabama Department of Mental Health to provide training about addiction to law enforcement agencies and the judiciary

INTERVENTION

• Advocate legislation in the 2018 session to specifically prohibit trafficking in fentanyl and carfentanil, which is particularly important because vastly smaller amounts of these than other opioids can be deadly; for example, a lethal dose of fentanyl is 1000 times less than that of heroin, and the threshold amounts for the crimes of trafficking in fentanyl and carfentanil would better be measured in micrograms;
• As overdoses are 50 times greater for those leaving incarceration or other enforced abstinence, establish a process for the Department of Mental Health to reduce the stigma of medication assisted treatment, and begin a pilot program by the Department of Corrections in partnership with the Board of Pardons and Paroles to use naloxone, counseling and life skills to help released inmates remain drug free.

TREATMENT AND RECOVERY

• Promote adequate funding for treatment services and recovery support
• Establish collaboration between the Department of Mental Health and recovery support providers to increase access
• Support creating two addiction medicine fellowships to train Alabama physicians to recognize and treat substance abuse
• Expand access and target effective treatment and prevention programs to areas where there is greater need
• Improve education of professionals through continuing education for licensing and expand postsecondary and graduate curriculums

COMMUNITY RESPONSE

• Increase access to naloxone and maintain a list of participating pharmacies
• Prioritize naloxone to law enforcement and for distribution in areas of greatest need
• Provide naloxone training for first responders
• Encourage prescribing naloxone for high-risk patients
• Have a Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America program in each judicial circuit and work toward having them at municipal levels
• Engage employers, businesses, higher education and private-sector in a network to get resources into communities
• Encourage having a Stepping Up Initiative in each county to work with the criminal justice system regarding incarceration of those with mental health problems
• Develop ways to provide service to veterans regarding opioid issues

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CHARLESTON - Nicholas Shugarts, of Cullman, was awarded Gold Stars by The Citadel for achieving a 3.7 grade point average or higher for the 2017 fall semester. Cadets and students who achieve Gold Star recognition are also placed on The Citadel's Dean's List.

The Citadel with its iconic campus located in Charleston, South Carolina, offers a classic military college education for young men and women profoundly focused on leadership excellence and academic distinction. The 2,300 members of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets are not required to serve in the military but about one-third of each class commission as officers in every branch of U.S. military service. Graduates of The Citadel have served the nation, their states and their communities as principled leaders since the college was founded in 1842. The Citadel Graduate College offers 26 graduate degree programs with 42 concentration options, 24 graduate certificate programs, and eight evening undergraduate programs, through an all-evening schedule with many courses now available online. The Citadel was named Best Public College in the South by for seven consecutive years, and #1 Best Public College for Veterans in the South for two consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report as well as Best Value out of all South Carolina colleges and universities by Forbes.

Image credit: The Citadel

Capt. Ed Potter, left, with Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry / Cullman County Sheriff's Office

CULLMAN -  On Thursday night, Cullman County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) Capt. Ed Potter received the VFW Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award. Potter was joined by his family and several members of the CCSO, including Sheriff Matt Gentry.

Potter joined the CCSO in 2004, and during that time he has worked in patrol, been warden of the Cullman County Detention Center and is currently the victim services deputy.

Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Gov. Kay Ivey, Cullman Economic Development Agency’s Jamie Troutman and ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell in Montgomery / Governor's Office, Hal Yeager

MONTGOMERY – Gov. Kay Ivey on Thursday awarded more than $10.5 million in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to 28 Alabama towns and cities. The City of Cullman received $450,000 for sewer and water systems rehabilitation, drainage and street improvements.

According to the Cullman Economic Development Agency’s Jamie Troutman, “This award is for the second phase of the Brunner Street Neighborhood Revitalization Project.  It extends for two blocks along Brunner Street – from Denson Avenue (where Phase I stopped) to St. Joseph Drive. This project will consist of the same improvements as Phase I: Replacing water and sewer lines, storm water drainage, road repaving and sidewalks.  Construction is anticipated to begin sometime this summer. 

Ivey said the CDBG program enables communities to address needed projects that affect the health and welfare of residents.

“Lives will be improved thanks to these projects funded through the Community Development Block Grant program,” Ivey said. “People who have been subject to impure water will get clean water to drink, bathe and wash. People who have been maneuvering unsafe roads will soon be traveling smooth streets, and the list goes on. I am so thankful for this program and the assistance it provides to communities who may be unable to afford these needed improvements on their own.”

Thursday’s was one of two award ceremonies representing almost $17 million in CDBG funds awarded for improvements in municipalities and counties.

Most CDBG funds are awarded annually in several categories through a competitive process based on many factors including the number of low-and moderate-income families affected, community need and cost efficiency of projects.  

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) is administering the grants from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Other CDBG funds awarded Thursday include:

Small City

• Town of Brantley ­- $350,000 for sewer improvements   
• City of Bridgeport - $346,001 for drainage improvements
• Town of Brilliant- $350,000 for sewer improvements
• City of East Brewton - $350,000 for sewer improvements
• Town of Elmore - $350,000 for sewer system extension
• City of Florala - $350,000 for sewer improvements
• City of Hartford- $350,000 for sewer improvements
• City of Jemison - $350,000 for sewer system extension.
• Town of McKenzie - $350,000 for water line rehabilitation
• Town of Mentone- $335,322 for water system improvements
• Town of Napier Field- $238,770 for sewer system improvements
• Town of Notasulga - $250,000 for sewer system extension
• Town of Oakman - $350,000 for sewer system improvement
• Town of Reece City - $256,000 for drainage improvements
• Town of Rockford - $349,911 for demolition and rehabilitation
• City of Vernon - $350,000 for sewer and street improvements
• Town of Yellow Bluff - $350,000 for street improvements

Large City

• City of Albertville -  $450,000 for sewer rehabilitation
• City of Arab -  $450,000 for sewer rehabilitation
• City of Athens - $450,000 for drainage improvements/flooding prevention 
• City of Attalla -  $450,000 for sewer rehabilitation
• City of Brewton - $450,000 for sewer rehabilitation
• City of Daleville - $450,000 for water line rehabilitation and street improvement
• City of Hartselle -  $450,000 for sewer and water system rehabilitation and drainage improvements
• City of Jackson - $450,000 for sewer and water line rehabilitation and street and drainage improvements
• City of Livingston -  $450,000 for sewer rehabilitation
• City of Troy - $450,000 for water system, drainage and street improvements

Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

CULLMAN - Below are the arrests reported for Feb. 1. All persons are innocent until proven guilty.

Cullman County Sheriff’s Office

Baird, Brandon Lee, 27

• third-degree domestic violence- third-degree criminal mischief

Coleman, Kenneth Wesley, 38

• attempting to elude

Gilland, Ciara Danielle, 25

• parole violation/revocation- unlawful possession of a controlled substance

James, Angela Pugh, 40

• nonsupport

Pannell, Tyler Austin, 23

• failure to appear- criminal littering

Sims, Matthew Jonah, 48

• parole violation/revocation- second-degree theft of property

Cullman Police Department

Bevington, Brian A., 50

• failure to appear- carrying brass knuckles
• possession of drug paraphernalia

Pannell, Tyler A., 23

• failure to appear- carrying a pistol without a license
• failure to appear- fourth-degree receiving stolen property
• failure to appear- second-degree unlawful possession of marijuana
• failure to appear- possession of drug paraphernalia

Hanceville Police Department

No arrests reported.

Find arrest reports online Monday-Friday at www.CullmanTribune.com.

The Ark Encounter is one of the stops during the Wallace State Alumni Association's fall trip to the Cincinnati, Ohio area. The largest timber-frame building in the world, it is made up of three decks that include teaching exhibits and displays of incredible craftsmanship.

HANCEVILLE– This fall, the Wallace State Alumni Association will offer its first group excursion to the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum in Kentucky and combine it with experiences featuring the German culture of nearby Cincinnati, Ohio. The four-day, three-night trip is planned for Sept. 13-16, 2018, and includes a brief foray into Indiana.

On tap for the tour are visits to the Genesis Creation Museum and Ark Encounter, dinner and entertainment at Hofbrauhaus German Restaurant, a tour of Cincinnati featuring German Heritage, a riverboat dinner cruise, visits to the Newport on the Levee, Findlay Market, and Schimpff’s Confectionery in Indiana. The cost of the trip includes motorcoach transportation, lodging, five meals (3 breakfasts and two dinners), a tour guide, luggage handling and all gratuities.

“This should be a great trip,” said LaDonna Allen, WSCC alumni coordinator. “The Ark Encounter opened in July 2016 and is a sister attraction of the Creation Museum located about 40 miles apart. We’ve heard lots of good things about both.”

The Ark Encounter is a full-size Noah’s Ark built using the dimensions given in the Bible. It’s 510 feet long, 85 feet wide and 51 feet high. It includes three exhibits: the ark itself, the craftsmanship in the woodworking, and teaching exhibits. There is also the Ararat Ridge Petting Zoo and Screaming Eagle Zip Lines on the museum’s campus.

The Creation Museum is a 75,000 square-foot facility that lets visitors “experience earth history as God has revealed it in the Bible.” There are 150 exhibits including animatronic dinosaurs, a world-class Allosaur fossil, talking heroes of the faith, and professional displays that honor God’s word. There is also a planetarium, petting zoo, nature trails, zip lines and more.

The cost for the trip for Alumni Association members is $749 per person for triple occupancy, $839 for double occupancy, and $1,079 for single occupancy. Non-members are charged an additional $100 per person, but can join the Alumni Association for $25 ($15 for students) to take advantage of the member discount. Optional travel insurance is also offered.

For more information, contact Allen at 256-352-8071 or ladonna.allen@wallacestate.edu or visit www.wsccalumni.org/ark18 to see the itinerary and register.

Cullman Regional employees show their support in the fight against heart disease on National Wear Red Day.

CULLMAN – February is National Heart Month, and Cullman Regional employees recently joined together to raise awareness and support the fight against heart disease by wearing red on National Wear Red Day, Feb. 2, 2018.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), heart disease is the number one killer of women, causing 1 in 3 deaths each year. Heart disease causes more deaths than all forms of cancer combined. It is often a “silent killer” with no symptoms.

The American Heart Association and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute began National Wear Red Day in 2003 and encourage everyone to wear red on the first Friday of every February. This is meant to increase awareness and promote healthy lifestyle changes, specifically for women.

They have also been raising awareness of heart disease through their Go Red for Women program since 2004. You can “Go Red” by eating healthy, exercising, knowing the signs of a heart attack, knowing your heart score, wearing red and spreading the word about heart disease.

For more information about National Wear Red Day and Go Red for Women, visit www.goredforwomen.org.

For more information about Cardiovascular Services at Cullman Regional, visit www.cullmanregional.com

CULLMAN - The city of Cullman has been named one of the top 20 safest cities in the state of Alabama by the National Council for Home Safety and Security (NCHSS). Cullman is ranked no. 20.

The council is a national trade association comprised of licensed alarm installers, contractors and other relevant trade groups whose goal is to further knowledge about home safety and security.

According to Robyn Avery, NCHSS media director, "We reviewed the most recent FBI Uniform Crime Report statistics along with our own population data and internal research. We eliminated any cities that failed to submit a complete crime report to the FBI and removed cities with populations under 10,000. The remaining cities were ranked based on the number of reported violent crimes (aggravated assault, murder, rape and robbery) and property crimes (burglary, arson, larceny-theft and motor vehicle theft) per 1,000 people. These variables were then weighted, with violent crimes accounting for 1.5 of the total (due to their severity) than property crimes."

To see more, visit www.alarms.org/safest-cities-in-alabama-2018.

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HANCEVILLE - Current and future students of Wallace State Community College can begin applying for 2018-2019 scholarships through the Wallace State Future Foundation on Thursday, Feb. 15. The online application process will continue through March 23, with dozens of scholarship opportunities available to students.

“The Future Foundation was established to help fill the gaps often found in the financial aid process,” said Suzanne Harbin, director of advancement at Wallace State. “There are a good number of students who may fall between the cracks, where their family may make too much to receive traditional financial aid, but still not enough to pay for college expenses without putting a burden on their finances.”

Future Foundation scholarships run the gamut from small gifts that could help a student pay for books or that last class needed to graduate, up to a full year’s tuition and fees. There are dozens of scholarships available, some geared toward specific programs of study or student demographics.

Students applying for Future Foundation scholarships need to have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and have the FAFSA Confirmation Page with EFC (Expected Family Contribution) to upload to the application. They will also need to thoroughly answer application questions, according to guidelines provided, regarding career choice, future plans and financial need. Students will need to supply current transcripts and any other documents required by the specific scholarship for which the student is applying.

The Future Foundation website, www.wsccfuturefoundation.org, has a list of the scholarships, as well as documents outlining things to know to apply and frequently asked questions. When the student registers, the information they provide will help narrow the scholarships for which they will be qualified to apply.

For more information about the Future Foundation, contact Suzanne Harbin at 256-352-8144, or Suzanne.harbin@wallacestate.edu.

West Point's Kolton Sapp (1) / Bill Piper

Scores from Friday, Feb. 2, 2018

West Point 50, Holly Pond 31 (Girls)
West Point's girls survived a big scare on the road against Holly Pond, overcoming a sluggish first half to pull away in the second to win their regular season finale. They finish the season with a 21-8 record, and went 8-1 in their final nine games. The Lady Warriors will take on Hayden Monday at 6:15 in their area tournament @ Fairview.  Holly Pond will play Susan Moore next Monday @ Locust Fork Monday at 7 p.m. in its area tournament.

Holly Pond 81, West Point 72 (Boys)
In a rematch of last Saturday's championship game, no. 5 Holly Pond got a big test against West Point at home, but pulled away in the fourth quarter to take the win in its final regular season game. The Broncos finish the season with a 25-3 record and will host their area tournament Tuesday, when they take on Susan Moore at 7 p.m. West Point ends the season with a 15-14 record and will take on Fairview in area tournament play, at Hayden,Tuesday at 5 p.m.

Cold Springs 52, Vinemont 9 (Girls)
The Lady Eagles rolled to a Senior Night victory over Vinemont in their final game of the regular season. Cold Springs finishes the season at 17-12 overall and will host its area tournament  Monday; they will take on St. Bernard at 7 p.m. Vinemont will face the host of its area tournament, Hanceville, Monday as well, at 7 p.m.

Cold Springs 46, Vinemont 26 (Boys)
Cold Springs rolled to an impressive win in their its home game of the season against Vinemont. The Eagles will take on Falkville in their area tournament, which will be hosted by St. Bernard, Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.  Vinemont will take on the host of its area tournament, Hanceville, Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Hanceville 47, Good Hope 44 (Girls)
The Lady Bulldogs held on to beat a very game Lady Raider squad at home on Senior Night. Hanceville finishes the season with a 18-8 record overall. The Lady Bulldogs are the host of their area tournament Monday and will take on Vinemont at 7 p.m.  The Lady Raiders end the season with a 9-19 record; they are also the host of their area tournament Monday. They will face the winner of Cordova/Dora Thursday at 6 p.m.

Hanceville 72, Good Hope 66 (Boys)
The Bulldogs finish the regular season with a Senior Night victory over Good Hope. Hanceville ends the season with a 15-8 record, and is the host of its area tournament Tuesday; the Bulldogs will face Vinemont at 7 p.m.  The Raiders end the season with a overall record of 15-13; they will face off against Dora Tuesday in their area tournament, which will be held at Cordova, at 6 p.m.

St. Bernard (Girls) Next game: @ Cold Springs Monday at 7 p.m. (area tournament)
St. Bernard (Boys) Next game: vs Winston County Tuesday at 7 p.m. (Host of the area tournament)
Addison (Girls)  Next game: against Meek @ Marion County on Monday at 5:30 p.m. (area tournament) 
Addison (Boys) Next game: against Brilliant @ Meek on Saturday at 11 a.m. (area tournament) 
 

Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

St. Bernard's Andrew Sweeney, left, took bronze in the 3,200 meter. / Josh McBrayer

BIRMINGHAM - Friday was day one of the 2017-18 AHSAA Indoor Track and Field State Championships, and it was a flurry of action from start to finish.

TRACK

Girls 1A-3A 3,200 meter

St. Bernard’s Leahrose Mami looked good in her 3,200-meter run to open the day. She ran the 2-mile course in 12:14.32 good for fifth place, just short of the medal podium.

Boys 1A-3A 3,200 meter

St. Bernard’s Andrew Sweeney made the most of the 1A-3A 3,200-meter and finished the run in third, his first medal in the 3,200. Sweeney clocked in at 9:54.18. Other local runners were (10th) Jonathan Collette, Cold Springs, 11:06.46 and (17th) Seth Walker, Cold Springs, 11:57.72.

Boys 4A-5A 3,200-meter 

Fairview Aggie Quinton Chambers was the lone local runner in the 4A-5A 3200 and he ran an impressive race, placing 14th out of 32 qualified runners with a time of 10:36.43.

Boys 6A 3,200-meter

Eli Wilhite represented the Cullman Bearcats in impressive fashion. He flew around the 2-mile track and took silver, only one second off gold. Wilhite’s time was 9:38.04. Cullman’s Will Thompson placed 10th at 10:27.90.

Girls 1A-3A 60-meter hurdles 

A false start spelled the downfall for St. Bernard's Gracie Loyd. She was the only local runner in the field.

Girls 4A-5A 60-meter hurdles

West Point’s Sadie Junkins ran the 60-meter hurdles well, coming in seventh at 10.42, placing herself in prime contention for a medal come Saturday.

Boys 4A-5A 60-meter hurdles 

West Point’s Hunter Appling (first, at 8.32) and Fairview’s Tyvn Ellis (eighth, at 9.87) both looked impressive in their respective heats Friday. Both runners qualified for the finals Saturday. West Point’s Joshua Couch placed 14th at 10.48.

Girls 1A-3A 60-meter dash 

St. Bernard’s Loyd looked good in the 60-meter dash but fell just short of qualifying for Saturday's final, coming in 10th at 8.71.

Boys 4A-5A 60-meter dash

West Point’s Appling put himself in a good position to medal Saturday as he took seventh in the 4A-5A 60-meter dash, at 7.23. West Point’s Couch came in 11th at 7.34 and Fairview’s Ellis was 42nd at 8.01.

Boys 6A 60-meter dash

Despite running a great race, Will Kress was unable to break the top eight and did not qualify for Saturday's finals, coming in 43rd at 7.65.

Boys 1A-3A 800-meter 

Cold Springs’ Cole Akridge looked good in the 1A-3A 800 meter but could not pull ahead on the final stretch, coming in 13th at 2:16.09.

Boys 4A-5A 800-meter 

Fairview’s Chambers ran well all day but fell just short of his goals in the 4A-5A 800-meter, taking 21st at 2:10.84.

Boys 4A-5A 4x200 meter relay

The West Point relay team was on point for the 4x200 relay but came up three places short on the podium Friday afternoon with a time of 1:38.10.

FIELD

Boys 6A long jump

The field was stacked in the boys 6A long jump, but Cullman’s Cameron Baumgartner held his own with a great showing and a top jump of 19-01.25, earning him 13th place.

Girls 4A-5A shot put

West Point’s Shelby Sellers was full of Lady Warrior pride as she entered the shot-put ring a contender and exited a medal winner. Sellers nabbed third place with 32-01.00. Fairview’s Lorin Zehr came in eighth at 29-03.25.

Girls 4A-5A triple jump

The triple jump field was headed up by local West Point standout Junkins, who placed 17th with a jump of 29-04.25.

Girls 1A-3A pole vault

Being the only athlete to compete from Addison, the pressure was on Emee Baldwin and she delivered. She cleared the bar at 10 feet, good enough for a medal and third place on the podium. St. Bernard’s Anna Faulk came in ninth at 8-00.00. Meek’s Jaycey Bowling came in 10th, also at 8-00.0.

Girls 6A pole vault

Cullman’s Anna Franklin took to the air Friday in the girls 6A pole vault and took home the silver with 9-09.00.

Boys 6A high jump

Cullman’s Colton Smith cleared the bar at 6-02.00, coming in fifth, and missing the podium by just 2 inches.

Boys 6A shot put 

Two Bearcats qualified for the 6A shot put but came up short. Garrett Crider finished 16th with 38-10.25 and Will Reid got 18th at 35-10.00.

Girls 1A-3A long jump

St. Bernard’s Loyd jumped as far as her legs would carry her in the girls 1A-3A long jump, but she fell four places short of the podium, coming in seventh at 14-11.25.

Girls 6A triple jump 

Lexi Dailey represented Cullman in the girls 6A triple jump, finishing with a final of 32-05.25, in 11th place.

The AHSAA 2017-18 Indoor State Championship continues Saturday starting at 8 a.m.

Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

JACKSONVILLE - Thirteen Cullman-area students were awarded degrees at Jacksonville State University's winter commencement on Dec. 15.

• Logan Allen, of Joppa
• Guy Baker, of Altoona
• Marilyn Cheney, of Oneonta
• Bradley Deaver, of Oneonta
• Casey Payne, of Oneonta
• Jake Thomas, of Oneonta
• Jessica Glover, of Cullman
• William Glover, of Cullman
• Sadie Gregory, of Cullman
• Meghan King, of Arab
• Seth Kurb, both of Arab
• Patricia Kyle-Bailey, of Horton
• Natalie Millar, of Vinemont

Founded in 1883 as a state teachers’ college, Jacksonville State University has grown from humble beginnings into the Alabama regional university with the highest percentage of accredited programs. Located in the Appalachian foothills midway between Birmingham and Atlanta, JSU offers more than 150 courses of study, including over 40 online programs, at the undergraduate and graduate level. To learn more, visit www.jsu.edu, call 1-800-231-JAX1 or email jaxfacts@jsu.edu.

Image credit: Jacksonville State University

TUSCALOOSA - A number of Cullman-area students at The University of Alabama were named to the Dean's List with an academic record of 3.5 or higher or the President's List with an academic record of 4.0 (all A's) for the Fall 2017 semester. The UA Dean's and President's Lists recognize full-time undergraduate students. The lists do not apply to graduate students or undergraduate students who take less than a full course load.

Students include:

• Ryan Harris, of Addison, Dean's List
• Alyssa Price, of Addison, President's List
• Morgan Smothers, of Addison, Dean's List
• Curtis Bockemehl, of Altoona, President's List
• Tyler Hamp, of Altoona, President's List
• Autumn Anderson, of Arab, Dean's List
• Annaleigh Baggett, of Arab, Dean's List
• Kaitlin Cochran, of Arab, President's List
• Shayla Cross, of Arab, Dean's List
• Joseph Crowder, of Arab, Dean's List
• Thomas Gibbs, of Arab, President's List
• Laura Green, of Arab, President's List
• Noah Lueker, of Arab, President's List
• Tabetha Marsh, of Arab, President's List
• Brittany Morgan, of Arab, President's List
• Sarah Onks, of Arab, Dean's List
• Anna Rodgers, of Arab, President's List
• Jeremy West, of Arab, President's List
• Olivia Smith, of Arley, Dean's List
• Charlsie Burden, of Baileyton, President's List
• Summer Walker, of Baileyton, Dean's List
• Darby Hamm, of Blountsville, Dean's List
• Tshenina Brown, of Bremen, Dean's List
• Gregory Foster, of Cleveland, Dean's List
• Caylin Glass, of Cleveland, Dean's List
• Peyton Hazelrig, of Cleveland, Dean's List
• Brooke Edwards, of Crane Hill, Dean's List
• Audrey Valenti, of Crane Hill, Dean's List
• Katherine Wright, of Crane Hill, President's List
• Peyton Blair, of Cullman, President's List
• Isom Carden, of Cullman, Dean's List
• Andrew Cofer, of Cullman, President's List
• Garrett Crider, of Cullman, Dean's List
• Bryeleigh Davis, of Cullman, President's List
• Joshua Ellard, of Cullman, Dean's List
• William Franey, of Cullman, Dean's List
• Spencer Green, of Cullman, Dean's List
• Josey Hardman, of Cullman, Dean's List
• William Hicks, of Cullman, President's List
• Kera Hunter, of Cullman, Dean's List
• Jeffrey Krout, of Cullman, Dean's List
• Judson Krout, of Cullman, Dean's List
• Jalen Lee, of Cullman, Dean's List
• Bryan Leiter, of Cullman, Dean's List
• Samuel McGuire, of Cullman, Dean's List
• Myles McLeroy, of Cullman, President's List
• Katie Noriega, of Cullman, President's List
• Bethany Pappas, of Cullman, President's List
• Sally Ann Pappas, of Cullman, Dean's List
• Jessica Patterson, of Cullman, Dean's List
• Laura Powers, of Cullman, President's List
• Benjamin Pruitt, of Cullman, President's List
• Anit Rama, of Cullman, Dean's List
• Wilson Raney, of Cullman, President's List
• Tatum Robertson, of Cullman, Dean's List
• Andrew Robinson, of Cullman, Dean's List
• Shelbi Shabel, of Cullman, Dean's List
• Logan Shugarts, of Cullman, Dean's List
• Madeline Taylor, of Cullman, President's List
• Cassandra Thomason, of Cullman, Dean's List
• Matthew Thompson, of Cullman, Dean's List
• David Turner, of Cullman, Dean's List
• Eric Voce, of Cullman, Dean's List
• Aaron Estes, of Falkville, Dean's List
• Hunter Brannon, of Hanceville, Dean's List
• Jeremy Hurst, of Hanceville, Dean's List
• Olivia Kontogeorge, of Hanceville, Dean's List
• Hope Mason, of Hanceville, Dean's List
• Jason McAfee, of Hanceville, Dean's List
• Julie Newton, of Hanceville, President's List
• Kayla Scott, of Hanceville, Dean's List
• Amber Skinner, of Hanceville, Dean's List
• Anna Gilchrist, of Hayden, President's List
• Emily Morgan, of Hayden, President's List
• Clint Reid, of Hayden, Dean's List
• Anastasiya Sinyavina, of Hayden, Dean's Lis
• Emily Sloan, of Hayden, Dean's List
• Javier Figueroa, of Holly Pond, Dean's List
• Samuel Pannell, of Horton, Dean's List
• Garrett Peppers, of Horton, President's List
• Emily Amin, of Locust Fork, Dean's List
• Chase Turner, of Locust Fork, Dean's List,
• Jamie Beasley, of Logan, Dean's List
• Bailey Anderton, of Oneonta, Dean's List
• Kristen Cox, of Oneonta, Dean's List
• Tyler Harvey, of Oneonta, Dean's List
• Caitlin Love, of Oneonta, Dean's List
• Hayden Shirley, of Oneonta, President's List
• Clay Smith, of Oneonta, Dean's Lis,
• McRae Smith, of Oneonta, President's List
• Anne Wester, of Oneonta, President's List
• Kyle Hornbuckle, of Remlap, President's List
• McKensi Burks, of Vinemont, Dean's List
• Keaton Dean, of Vinemont, President's List
• Christopher Eastman, of Vinemont, President's List

The University of Alabama, the state's oldest and largest public institution of higher education, is a student-centered research university that draws the best and brightest to an academic community committed to providing a premier undergraduate and graduate education. UA is dedicated to achieving excellence in scholarship, collaboration and intellectual engagement; providing public outreach and service to the state of Alabama and the nation; and nurturing a campus environment that fosters collegiality, respect and inclusivity.

Image credit: University of Alabama

The 2017-2018 Leadership Wallace State group recently visited Montgomery, where they met with Chancellor Jimmy Baker and attended a board meeting. They also toured the state Capitol.

HANCEVILLE – Wallace State’s 2017-2018 Leadership Wallace State group recently toured the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) office in Montgomery, where they met with Chancellor Jimmy Baker and were recognized at a board meeting. They also toured the ACCS System Office, attended a budget hearing and toured the state Capitol building.

The 2017-2018 Leadership Wallace State group consists of employees Brian Allen, Jamie Blackmon, Susan Brewer, Stephanie Eisner, Tina Jones, Erika Lee, Amy Moore, Mark Neal, Anna Parrish, John Richey, Steven Smith, Amanda Tillman, Susan Wadkins and Daniel Young.

Wallace State began the Leadership WSCC initiative 12 years ago with the goal of cultivating leaders in programs and departments all across campus. Beginning with the fall semester each year, the group meets monthly.

Since last September, the 2017-2018 group has participated in the following activities: touring Wallace State’s campus and learning more about the college’s initiatives and each individual in the group; attending a “Professional Etiquette” session and attending the John Maxwell Live event at the Highlands Church in Birmingham. Maxwell’s “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You,” is a common read among the annual Leadership groups at Wallace State.

An Economic Development trip is planned for the group in February, when they’ll attend the Cullman Chamber of Commerce luncheon, and a number of teams among the group will present ways to better enhance the student experience to the Wallace State Cabinet in April.

For more information about Wallace State, visit www.wallacestate.edu.

CULLMAN - On Friday evening, the Cullman High School Jazz Band played on at the 22nd annual Big Band Dance.  Plenty of CHS students packed the Cullman Civic Center for the event, but dancers and music fans of all ages and from all over the community turned out, in a crowd that numbered in the hundreds.  

The Tribune caught up with CHS Band Boosters President Mary Hovater early in the evening, and she shared, “It’s our 22nd Big Band Dance; we’ve been doing it 22 years.  Looks like we’ve got a big crowd; looks like probably almost 200 already and maybe just a little bit more than that, from the eyeball count.  A lot of young people, and a lot of older people are here, so a good mix from the community is here again this year, so that’s great!  

“It’s really nice.  The kids want to make sure this is a community event, not a school event, even though there’s a lot of school kids here.  This is their opportunity also to give back to the community, so it’s kind of nice that they open it up.

“And the band sounds great! . . . This is their only fundraiser, and it’s grown every year.  That sound! I guess the kids are starting to like it more and more, so they all come.  It’s nice to have something that the young ones and the older ones all enjoy the same kind of music, which is kind of unusual.”

Hovater explained that the proceeds from this year’s Big Band Dance will go toward the purchase of new jazz band music and equipment, and the maintenance of instruments.  

The band was led by CHS Director of Bands Christopher Smith, who spoke to The Tribune about what his students are doing:

“I’m really excited about the Cullman band program!  It’s more than just marching band.  That’s the one that everybody in the public sees the most, but we have lots of other ensembles that we have throughout the year.  

“This is one of them.  The Cullman Jazz Band plays at community events, of course this--the Big Band Dance, Christmas and spring concert.  We’re even going to Atlanta in May to play at Six Flags.  We also have a symphonic band and a concert band.  They’re going to a state contest just four weeks from now.

“So we really have a vibrant and diverse program that we hope a lot of kids get involved with- not just at the high school level, but our beginning band in the sixth grade, all the way through our middle school, all the way to senior year in high school!”

CHS 2017-18 Jazz Band

Trombone

• Avery Barnett
• Bailey Gray
• Jaisa Letson
• Jennifer Jester

Piano

• Connor Gurley
• Cannon Trimble

Guitar

• Zane Emerson
• Riley Chrisman

Bass

• Cameron Cottingham

Drums

• Conner Burnham
• Connor Gurley
• Gabe Sosa

Alto Saxophone

• Emma Mansour
• Brianna Phenicie

Tenor Saxophone

• Ashley Clowers
• Sara Reeves

Baritone Saxophone

• Sawyer Martin

Trumpet

• Rachel Carden
• Jessika Franks
• A.J. Woods
• Heath Cordes
• Spencer Smith

Vocalist

• Eryn Rainwater

Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

West Point’s Hunter Appling took the gold medal in the 60 meter hurdles. / Josh McBrayer

BIRMINGHAM - The 2017-18 Indoor Track and Field State Championships concluded at the Birmingham CrossPlex Saturday.

Here are the results from Saturday.

TRACK

Boys 1A-3A 400 meter dash

Cold Springs’ Cole Akridge came in 24th with a time of 58.33.

Boys 6A 400 meter dash 
Cullman’s Cameron Baumgartner gave it his all in the Boys 6A 400 meter dash. He ran the course in 53.62, good for 20th.

Girls 1A-3A 1600 meter 
St. Bernard’s Leahrose Mami looked solid in her race in the Girls 1A-3A 1600. She stayed near the front of the pack for most of the race and came in with a time of 5:41.82, good for seventh.

Boys 1A-3A 1600 meter 
Just as he did in the 3200-meter Friday, Andrew Sweeney from St. Bernard led most of the 1A-3A 1600-meter. Although he was overtaken on the home stretch, he posted a time of 4:34.81 for second place and a silver medal. Cold Springs’ Jonathan Collette came in 15th with a time of 5:08.33.

Boys 4A-5A 1600 meter 
Quinton Chambers of Fairview finished his race in 4:56.4, showing why he was one of the best runners in Cullman County this year. He finished 21st.

Boys 6A 1600 meter 
Cullman’s Eli Wilhite showed stamina and the ability to kick at the right time, taking silver in the Boys 6A 1600 meter. Another Bearcat, Jackson Tucker, came in 10th at 4:46.14.

Girls 4A-5A 60 meter hurdles 
West Point’s Sadie Junkins took eighth place in the Girls 4A-5A 60 meter hurdles, with a time of 10:42.

Boys 4A-5A 60 meter hurdles 
Snagging the state title and taking the gold, Hunter Appling of West Point posted an impressive time of 8.32 in the Boys 4A-5A 60 meter hurdles. Fairview’s Tyvn Ellis came in fifth at 9.87.

Boys 6A 60-meter hurdles 
Cullman’s Will Kress has an impressive run in the 6A 60 meter hurdles, falling just short of the podium in fourth place at 8.90.

Boys 4A-5A 60 meter dash
West Point’s Appling was quick in the Boys 4A-5A 60 meter dash with a time of 7.23, good for 7th place.

Boys 6A  4x800 meter relay
Cullman ran a great relay, finishing in 8:37.50, just shy of the podium in fourth place.

FIELD
Girls 6A high jump
The Cullman Bearcats started their day off right, with a ‘Cat on the podium. Caroline Hollingsworth cleared 5 feet 2 inches in the 6A Girls High Jump, taking home the bronze.

Boys 4A-5A shot put 
Dylan Garner has had a solid season throwing for the Fairview Aggies this year and he finished his season strong. Garner threw 38-04.75 for 12th place out of 26 throwers.

Girls 4A-5A long jump
West Point Lady Warrior Junkins jumped her way to 10th place in the Girls 4A-5A long jump. She jumped 14-00.25, 14-04.50 and 15-00.25, representing the maroon and white well.

Girls 6A shot put 
Cullman’s Ragan Canter was the only Cullman County thrower in the Girls 6A shot put, but she made the most of it, throwing 28 feet 11 inches for 12th place.

Girls 1A-3A high jump
With a jump of 4 feet, 6 inches, Cold Springs’ Lilly McSpadden took fourth place in the Girls 1A-3A high jump.

Click here to see Friday's results.

Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Paige and Brian Greer set up The Fun Company tent every year at Cullman’s Bloomin’ Festival.

FALKVILLE - Cullman natives Brian and Paige Greer enjoy life on the road from their current home in Falkville, spending months at a time traveling to shows around the country to sell their line of custom jewelry made from recycled coins, silverware and other materials.  Now, thanks to the Friends of NRA (National Rifle Association), “The Fun Company” can enjoy a little more national recognition without having to hit the highway- not that they have any plans to stay home and take it easy.

Early last year, The Fun Company had a booth at the National Wild Turkey Convention in Nashville.  The Greers were hard at work when representatives from the Friends of NRA stopped by and took an interest in their arrowhead-shaped “Freedom Flyer” earrings, made from vintage quarters and featuring an eagle image.  

Paige Greer related, “They walked into our booth at the Wild Turkey Convention, which is a huge hunting expo in Nashville, at the Opryland Convention Center.  And they walked up to our booth and walked in, and said, ‘Hey, can you make 1,130 pairs of those earrings?’”

As one might imagine, it took a little time to check numbers and schedules, but the Greers determined that they could handle the order, and called the number on the card the representative had given them.  Now, they’re in the Friends of NRA catalog.  Their earrings, along with other items, will be given to members and donors as promotions, and will be auctioned at fundraising events.  

The entry in the catalog for the Greers’ earrings reads:

Don your patriotism by wearing a piece of American history. Silver Standing Liberty quarters were only minted from 1916 to 1930 but became very popular in the early 20th Century. These silver coins have been cut in the shape of an arrowhead to highlight the eagle in the design and handcrafted into southwestern-style earrings with hypoallergenic surgical steel ear wire. Ten karat gold wire and a turquoise-colored bead accent the shape and style. Made exclusively for Friends of NRA by The Fun Company and limited to 1,130 units. Made in the USA.

The Greers have deep roots in Cullman County.  Brian Greer is a 1984 graduate of Vinemont High School, and Paige Greer graduated from Cullman High School in 1988.  Her parents Ed and Barbara Burrow owned the well-known Globe Restaurant and Barbara Burrow Realty, and the Performing and Fine Arts Center at Wallace State is named for Paige Greer’s aunt, Evelyn Burrow.

According to Paige Greer, “The Fun Company Jewelry was started 37 years ago by Brian’s father Jack Greer, a.k.a. Happy Jack.  As a true artisan, Happy Jack was a full-time jewelry maker and creator.  He traveled the US doing many art shows and making many friends who still remember his fun way to make people laugh either by a joke or a trick.  Jack Greer also worked for the City of Cullman for 18 years reading meters before his dream of The Fun Company.

“He chose the name The Fun Company as his motto was love, laughter, fun and play.  Happy Jack had a young apprentice, his son Brian Greer, who worked under him creating one of a kind jewelry designs.”

After Happy Jack passed away in 2002, Brian and Paige Greer decided to keep the tradition going as full-time artisans.  

Today, The Fun Company attends around 30 shows and festivals per year, spends summers doing 10 of those shows in Maine, and maintains an online Etsy shop.  Its shop description reads:

“The Fun Company is a full time home based business owned by Brian and Paige Greer specializing in unique hand-crafted coin jewelry and gift items.  From a long held tradition of fine custom-handcrafted coin jewelry we use our collection of old American silver and copper coins.  Hand crafted quality and customer satisfaction are the foundations of our business.”

Even with a growing online presence and merchandise in other people’s catalogs, The Fun Company has no intention of giving up the craft show circuit.  The Greers plan to be back at the Bloomin’ Festival at St. Bernard Abbey, an event they’ve enjoyed for years.  Things like a little national attention won’t change that, but they do make life more interesting.

“It’s a big honor for us,” said Paige Greer, “‘cause we’re just small-town folks trying to make a living from day to day.”

Visit The Fun Company on Etsy at https://www.etsy.com/Shop/TheFunCompany.

Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

The fourth-grade girls' team from Cold Springs shows off its trophy. / Nick Griffin

HANCEVILLE - Championship Saturday kicked off bright and early at Tom Drake Coliseum on the campus of Wallace State for the Cullman County Youth Basketball Association. After fighting their way through the opening rounds last weekend, 16 teams made it to the finals, starting with the third-grade boys.

Third-Grade Boys – St. Paul’s 13, Fairview 12

The first matchup Saturday morning between St. Paul’s and the Aggies was a thriller that went down to the final seconds. Fairview led 6-0 at the half, but St. Paul’s went on a 10-2 run that gave them a two-point lead going into the fourth quarter.

The Aggies got four points in the final frame from Levi Hunt, tying the game at 12 with less than two minutes to play. Everyone in the building was expecting overtime, but then St. Paul’s Brandon Hopper knocked down the game-winning free throw with two seconds remaining in regulation. Hopper’s shot secured a 13-12 victory and a championship trophy for St. Paul’s.

Third-Grade Girls – Hanceville 10, Cold Springs 6 – Overtime

Game two was just as tight as Saturday’s first matchup, as the Lady Bulldogs and the Lady Eagles couldn’t settle things in just four quarters. Neither team led by more than two points at any point in the game until the overtime period began.

With the game tied at six, Hanceville’s Mattie Keith put up four points in overtime to pull away from Cold Springs. Keith scored six for the Lady Bulldogs, leading all scorers, and Kinsley Garmon led the way for the Lady Eagles with four.

Hanceville’s defense tightened up in the overtime period, shutting out Cold Springs and securing the third-grade girls title.

Fourth-Grade Boys – West Point 24, Good Hope 21

In yet another tight game Saturday morning, the West Point Warriors pulled away from the Good Hope Raiders late in the fourth quarter to secure the championship.

The Raiders were in control for most of the first half, getting out to a fast start in the first quarter and taking a 14-10 lead into the half. Good Hope’s Cabrey Valdez put up five points in the first half and finished the game with a team-high eight points. The second half belonged to the Warriors, however, who outscored Good Hope 14-7 to finish the game and claim the title.

Bryant Moon and Jaxon Shelton led the way offensively for the Warriors with eight and 12 points, respectively. They scored 12 of West Point’s 14 points in the second half to put away the Raiders.

Fourth-Grade Girls – Cold Springs 12, Vinemont 11

This was a matchup dictated by momentum swings and scoring runs. The Lady Eagles of Vinemont started the game strong, outscoring Cold Springs 6-0 in the first quarter, and led 7-1 at halftime. The second half was a different story. The Lady Eagles of Cold Springs went on an 8-0 scoring run in the third quarter, including a shot at the buzzer to take a 9-7 lead into the final frame.

The two teams traded baskets in the fourth quarter, but Cold Springs’ Macie Huffstutler hit a free throw with 2:13 left to play to take a 12-11 lead and Cold Springs held onto the lead through the finish. Madelyn Davis led Cold Springs in scoring with five points while Vinemont’s Caroline Miller led all scorers with six.

Vinemont had a couple of opportunities to score late in the game, but turnovers forced by the Cold Springs’ defense made it difficult for Vinemont to get a good shot up. The second half defense combined with the momentum shift on offense carried Cold Springs through the second half on its way to the championship.

Fifth-Grade Boys – Good Hope 37, Fairview 35

It was a tale of two halves in Saturday’s fifth-grade boys’ matchup between the Raiders and the Aggies. Like most of Saturday’s games, this one came down to the final shot.

Fairview got off to a fast start on both ends of the floor and led Good Hope 15-11 at the half, thanks in large part to Rhett Boyd’s seven first-half points. Boyd led the Aggies with 14 points.

The second half favored the Raiders however, as Good Hope put up 16 points in the third to take a 27-23 lead into the fourth quarter. The fourth quarter was back and forth until the buzzer sounded and featured several big baskets in the final minute that shifted the momentum of the game.

Good Hope’s Jacob Haynes did a lot of the heavy lifting for the Raiders offensively, particularly in the final quarter of play, starting with his free throw that tied the game at 33 with less than two minutes to play. Haynes led all scorers in the game with 23 points, 18 of which came in the second half. Boyd answered with a free throw of his own that put Fairview back up with less than a minute left, but Haynes quickly responded with a layup that gave Good Hope a 35-34 lead with 25 seconds left. Fairview refused to go away, and it looked like we’d be headed to overtime after the Aggies’ Nicolas Gregory knocked down a game-tying free throw with 18 seconds to go in regulation. However, the Raiders were determined to finish it, and Haynes put in the game-winning shot with nine seconds to play to secure the win and a title for Good Hope.

Fifth-Grade Girls – Good Hope 30, Parkside 19

Saturday’s fifth-grade girls’ matchup between Parkside and Good Hope was a little more one-sided than some of Saturday’s other games. The Lady Raiders built a lead early and carried a 14-6 advantage into the half due in part to six quick points in the first quarter from Chloe Eisner. Good Hope added to its lead in the third quarter by holding the Lady Panthers to just four points in the entire frame while adding eight of its own to start the fourth with a 22-10 lead.

The Lady Raiders were able to keep Parkside’s offense contained enough in the final frame as well to secure a 30-19 victory and a title for Good Hope. The Lady Panthers were able to put together a small scoring run midway through the fourth and got the game back within two possessions on a basket from Jaila Eckleberry, but they couldn’t cut into the lead any deeper after that. Eckleberry led the game offensively with 12 points, followed closely by Good Hope’s Lexi Collins, who finished with 10. Good Hope also got a big lift on the offensive end late in the game from Mattie Wix. All eight of Wix’s points came in the second half and played a big part in putting away the Lady Panthers.

Sixth-Grade Boys – Fairview 43, Hanceville 39

In a matchup that saw the floor and stands covered in purple, the Fairview Aggies and the Hanceville Bulldogs put together the highest scoring game of the day. After leading 23-17 at the half, Fairview was able to hold on well enough on the defensive end to pull away from Hanceville in the final frame. The Bulldogs put together a scoring run in the third quarter that cut the Aggies’ lead to 35-32 and they kept pace in the fourth quarter, but some late baskets from Fairview secured the title for the Aggies.

There was plenty of scoring to go around for both teams, but there were certainly standouts for the two squads. Pressley Burtis led the way for the Bulldogs with nine points, while Fairview’s Jameson Goble and Kobe Payne put up 13 and 11 points, respectively.

He may not have finished with the most points, but Fairview’s Bryceson Turner undoubtedly had the most important ones. Turner scored the last four points for Fairview and finished with a total of six, all of them coming in the fourth quarter. Turner took the lead for Fairview twice on two baskets in the final two minutes of the game and sealed the championship for the Aggies with two free throws in the final 30 seconds.

Sixth-Grade Girls – Parkside 31, Holly Pond 20

The Parkside Lady Panthers took home the title in Saturday’s nightcap behind a smothering performance on defense and a consistent offensive output for four quarters.

Jayla Gorham led the way for the Lady Panthers offensively with 12 points and was a big part of the rebounding differential that Parkside put together. The Lady Panthers were able to extend possessions and get second chances on the board while also limiting the possessions for the Lady Broncos. Parkside had a 22-13 lead at the start of the final frame and was able to score enough in the fourth to hold of the offense of Holly Pond.

Lauryn Hoffman led the Lady Broncos offensively with six points, four of them coming in the final quarter. Parkside’s Somer Harris scored all four of her points in the fourth quarter and played a big role in pulling away from the Lady Broncos. The Lady Panthers won it 31-20 to take home their fourth consecutive county tournament championship.

Find a full photo gallery for each game here.

Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.