10th of an 11-Part Series introducing the HOF Class of 2019
By BILL PLOTT
For nearly an amazing half century, John Irvin Robertson has served as an Alabama high school sports contest official. His important contributions have not gone unnoticed. Robertson was selected to be inducted into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2019. The induction banquet will be held at the Montgomery Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center on March 18 at 6:30 p.m. A press conference to meet all the inductees will be at 5:30 p.m., at the Renaissance. Both events will be live-streamed over the NFHS Network by the Goshen High School NFHS Network School Broadcast Program with Stephanie Snyder as executive producer. A native of Montgomery, Robertson graduated from Sidney Lanier High School in 1965. He earned his bachelor’s degree at Auburn University in 1969.
He began his career as an official in 1971, starting with basketball, which he continued until 1999. Robertson officiated 17 of 18 state tournaments from 1982-99. A year later, he added football and baseball. He also worked both indoor and outdoor state track meets for many years. He was awarded a Lifetime Honorary Membership in the Mid-State Officials Association in 1987 and received an AHSAA Distinguished Service Award in 2008.
Robertson has spent the last 30 years serving the AHSAA in various off-the-court training and mentoring roles. In 1981, he became a state rules clinician and has been a regional tournament officials’ coordinator since the inception of the regional tournament format in 1994. Robertson has also served as South-Central District Director for basketball since 1999. In 2008, he added duties as the State Basketball Rules Interpreter and State Basketball Camp Director.
In a letter of recommendation, former AHSAA Director of Officials Greg Brewer wrote: “Johnny has worked with the AHSAA as a football and basketball official for 30-plus years. He has been assigned to and officiated numerous championship contests. Johnny has also served on the AHSAAA officiating staff for years as a clinician, state rules interpreter, camp instructor and district director. He has helped assign and coordinate the officials at the basketball state tournament for a number of years. Johnny has been an integral part of the AHSAA as a volunteer helping us in the administration of several other events including the all-star events.” Brewer said Robertson’s love of sports and its ability to mold young people has been evident in involvement in officiating – from calling games to training officials. He credits Robertson for making a major difference in the quality of officiating in Alabama.
“Johnny is an outstanding citizen and is cherished for working with the children of this state as well as the adults who work with the children. He has never failed to help the AHSAA when asked, and we hope he will be around for a long time to come.”
Steve Bailey, of the Central Alabama Sports Commission, described Robertson as a man who “truly exhibits a servant’s heart.” He added: “I have known Johnny for over 20 years, having worked with him mainly in my time as Director of the Athletic Directors & Coaches Association of the AHSAA. During those years, He was involved in observing, training and evaluating officials during regional and state tournaments. Johnny has been an official in the sports of football and basketball for over 30 years and appeared in numerous state championship games. Many young and upcoming officials have benefitted from his knowledge and dedication, and he has always acted in a professional, dedicated and caring manner” Bailey also praised Robertson’s community involvement.
“Johnny has also been overly dedicated to the youth of our state and local areas. He is a member of the Montgomery Kiwanis Club and has been instrumental in supporting basketball players during the All-Star Sports Week in Montgomery. During one particular year, he led the way in acquiring a $5,000 grant to provide meals and gifts for the student-athletes to make their all-star experience one to remember.”
Calhoun County Commissioner Don Hudson, who officiated with Robertson for more than 30 years, treasured his time on and off the court with his friend. “I have known Johnny for 35 years as a fellow official, as a rules clinician, district director and personal friend,” he said. “I have the highest respect for him as leader, a listener, an expert and providing a shoulder to lean on in our field of officiating. He is dedicated to the purpose of making every official in the state a better official. He is conscientious and has worked tirelessly in an effort to making officiating in the state the very best. Johnny was also an outstanding official, and he has the ability to bring out the best in us. I am extremely proud to recommend Johnny for the Hall of Fame. It is my opinion there is no one more deserving.”
Former Selma Mayor George P. Evans, who also officiated with Robertson, said, “I have known and worked with Johnny Robertson in many programs and athletics activities over the past 25 years. He is a very dependable and solid man when it comes to successfully getting the job done. Johnny has been involved in just about every level of athletics. His involvement with officiating and evaluating officials for the personal improvement is impeccable.”
Robertson has served his community in a number of other worthwhile civic and charitable endeavors. He is past president of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the River Region, past president of the Montgomery Estate Planning Council, past president of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, past president of the Kiwanis Club of Montgomery with 28 years of perfect attendance, and past president of the Mid-State Football Officials Association. He served as Kiwanis lieutenant governor for three years and is active in the First United Methodist Church. He also coached Dixie Youth baseball and YMCA basketball. He has been a Boys and Girls Club board member since 1998 and is currently chairman of the group’s golf tournament. COMING SATURDAY: Installment 11 – Coach R.G. Cook, Bullock County High School
MONTGOMERY – Alabama’s All-Star coaches are banking on hustle and defense when the boys’ and girls’ 12-member teams square off with Mississippi Friday night at Alabama State University’s Dunn-Oliver Acadome in the 29th annual Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Girls’ and Boys’ Basketball Games. The girls’ game will tip off at 5 p.m., and the boys’ game will follow at 7. “We made it pretty simple,” said Mountain Brook Coach Bucky McMillan, who coaches the Alabama Boys with Carver-Montgomery Coach James “J.J.” Jackson. “We told them we knew they could score. The reason all of them got chosen for the team was because they could score. But the team that wins is the team that plays defense the best.” That is the reason, McMillan said Alabama’s All-Stars took the afternoon off from its scheduled practice time. “We wanted to make sure our kids are well rested,” he said. “We are planning a substitution pattern a little different than most all-star games. We are going to substitute five at a time early and let them all show us just how important playing defense to them. The ones who play defense the hardest are the ones that will get the most time on the court.” McMillan praised the talent level of the Alabama boys’ squad. The top player, his own 6-foot-9 two-time Mr. Basketball Trendon Watford has taken a leadership role, he said. “Trendon and I talked about his leadership before we got here,” said McMillan. “He knows what it took for us to win three state championships, and he has been setting a good example for the rest.” He said the players had a good first hour Wednesday but the second hour was just so-so. “Thursday morning’s practice session was much, much better,” he said. “We as coaches pointed out to them that at the next level, the players who play defense get more playing time. This game will be a good test for them.” Both McMillan and Jackson were outstanding guards in high school. And both have noticed the play of Westminster Christian guard Auston Leslie, a 6-4 left-handed guard who helped his team reached the Class 3A state finals earlier this month. “He has been coached really well from Coach (Ronnie) Stapler,” said McMillan. “He does so many of the little things very well.” McMillan also praised the athleticism of LeFlore 6-8 forward DeAntoni Gordon, the guard play of Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa’s Jalon Johnson, Brewbaker Tech’s Desmond Williams, and the Wenonah duo of Justin Minter and Cameron Tucker. He also lauded Lee-Montgomery’s 6-8 forward Demond Johnson. Tucker earned Class 5A state tourney MVP for the state champion Dragons. “Demond is such an outstanding personality on the team … and keeps everyone loose,” said McMillan. Alabama’s All-Star Girls are coached by Hazel Green’s Tim Miller and Cold Springs’ Tammy West. The girls also had solid workouts, and like the boys, took Thursday afternoon off to rest. Among the players on the Alabama girls’ squad is McDonald’s All-America selection River Baldwin of Pleasant Home. The 6-5 center earned South MVP honors at last summer’s North-South All-Star Game. Also anchoring the team are Class 6A state tourney MVP Marisa Snodgrass of Hazel Green, Class 7A state tourney MVP Skyla Knight of Hoover and Auburn signee Annie Hughes of Pisgah, the Class 3A MVP in 2018 and 2019. The games are hosted by AHSAA with the Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches Association (AHSADCA) managing the contests in conjunction with the Mississippi Association of Coaches (MAC). Both games will be live-streamed over the NFHS Network by the AHSAA and MAC and broadcast over the AHSAA Radio Network. Stacy Mills is producing the NFHS Network live-stream, Caleb Brooks is producing the Alabama Radio Network broadcast and Chris Saxton is producing the event for Mississippi. Handling play-by-play and color for all three productions are Luke Robinson and Brooks of the AHSAA Radio Network, and Don Barnes of the Mississippi network. To view the NFHS Network subscriber-based livestream, go to www.nfhsnetwork.com and follow the prompts. The AHSAA Radio Network link can be found at www.ahsaa.com. Tickets are $10 each, are good for both games and may be purchased on-site at the Acadome. The Alabama and Mississippi All-Stars were scheduled to tour the Hyundai Plant Thursday night, followed by dinner at Dreamland BBQ. All four squads will have shoot-arounds at the Acadome Friday morning with Alabama going first from 9 to 10 a.m., and Mississippi following from 10 to 11 a.m. The series is knotted at 14-14 for the girls’ and boys’ all-stars. Alabama’s girls won last year in Mississippi 109-96 and the Mississippi boys won 127-90. The Mississippi boys bring a three-game winning streak into Friday’s contest, and Alabama girls’ snapped a two-game winning streak last year with its win in 2018. ALABAMA-MISSISSIPPI BASKETBALL CLASSIC SERIES
YEAR BY YEAR HISTORY
GIRLS
YEAR SCORE SITE
2018 Alabama 109, Mississippi 96 Mississippi College, Clinton, MS
2017 Mississippi 93, Alabama 86 Alabama State, Montgomery, AL
2016 Mississippi 78, Alabama 77 Mississippi College, Clinton, MS
2015 Alabama 93, Mississippi 87 Alabama State, Montgomery, AL
2014 Mississippi 95, Alabama 89 Jackson State, Jackson, MS
2013 Alabama 64, Mississippi 54 Alabama State, Montgomery, AL
2012 Mississippi 94, Alabama 91 Alabama State, Montgomery, AL
2011 Mississippi 73, Alabama 60 Pelham CC, Pelham, AL
2010 Mississippi 78, Alabama 56 Pelham CC, Pelham, AL
2009 Alabama 81, Mississippi 73 Pelham CC, Pelham, AL
2008 Alabama 89, Mississippi 86 (OT) Pelham CC, Pelham, AL
2007 Alabama 90, Mississippi 65 Pelham CC, Pelham, AL
2006 Mississippi 89, Alabama 80 Pelham CC, Pelham, AL
2005 Mississippi 101, Alabama 83 Pelham CC, Pelham, AL
2004 Alabama 114, Mississippi 78 Pelham CC, Pelham, AL
2003 Mississippi 95, Alabama 82 Pelham CC, Pelham, AL
2002 Alabama 76, Mississippi 71 Mississippi College, Clinton, MS
2001 Alabama 87, Mississippi 76 North Alabama, Florence, AL
2000 Mississippi 87, Alabama 82 Holmes CC, Goodman, MS
1999 Alabama 95, Mississippi 85 North Alabama, Florence, AL
1998 Alabama 105, Mississippi 84 Mississippi College, Clinton, MS
1997 Alabama 60, Mississippi 54 North Alabama, Florence, AL
1996 Mississippi 88, Alabama 72 Mississippi College, Clinton, MS
1995 Alabama 80, Mississippi 77 North Alabama, Florence, AL
1994 Mississippi 92, Alabama 84 Mississippi College, Clinton, MS
1993 Alabama 73, Mississippi 66 North Alabama, Florence, AL
1992 Mississippi 74, Alabama 61 Mississippi College, Clinton, MS
1991 Mississippi 82, Alabama 66 North Alabama, Florence, AL
SERIES RECORD: Mississippi 14, Alabama 14
WIN LOSS RECORDS BY SITE:
Jackson State Mississippi 1, Alabama 0
Alabama State Alabama 2, Mississippi 2
Pelham CC Mississippi 5, Alabama 4
UNA Alabama 5, Mississippi 1
Miss College Mississippi 4, Alabama 3
Holmes CC Mississippi 1, Alabama 0
TOTAL POINTS GAME AVERAGE
Alabama 2,374 84.7 ppg
Mississippi 2,258 80.6 ppg
MOST POINTS FEWEST POINTS VICTORY MARGIN
Alabama 2007 (113) 2002 (67) 1991 (41)
Mississippi 1994 (123) 2013 (54) 2002 (31)
GAME MOST POINTS
2018 205 (Alabama 109, Mississippi 96 @ Mississippi College)
GAME FEWEST POINTS
1997 114 (Alabama 60, Mississippi 54 @ North Alabama)
LONGEST WINNING STREAK: Mississippi, 3 games (2010, 2011, 2012) Alabama, 3 games (2007, 2008, 2009) Alabama, 3 games (1997, 1998, 1999)
ALABAMA-MISSISSIPPI BASKETBALL CLASSIC SERIES
BOYS
2018 Mississippi 127, Alabama 90 Mississippi College, Clinton, MS
2017 Mississippi 96, Alabama 91 Alabama State, Montgomery, AL
2016 Mississippi 85, Alabama 83 Mississippi College, Clinton, MS
2015 Alabama 101, Mississippi 88 Alabama State, Montgomery, AL
2014 Alabama 90, Mississippi 83 Jackson State, Jackson, MS
2013 Alabama 87, Mississippi 76 Alabama State, Montgomery, AL
2012 Alabama 109, Mississippi 104 Alabama State, Montgomery, AL
2011 Mississippi 85, Alabama 74 Pelham CC, Pelham, AL
2010 Mississippi 112, Alabama 88 Pelham CC, Pelham, AL
2009 Alabama 78, Mississippi 74 Pelham CC, Pelham, AL
2008 Alabama 101, Mississippi 99 Pelham CC, Pelham, AL
2007 Mississippi 118, Alabama 113 Pelham CC, Pelham, AL
2006 Mississippi 94, Alabama 87 Pelham CC, Pelham, AL
2005 Alabama 84, Mississippi 79 Pelham CC, Pelham, AL
2004 Alabama 87, Mississippi 86 Pelham CC, Pelham, AL
2003 Mississippi 82, Alabama 80 Pelham CC, Pelham, AL
2002 Mississippi 98, Alabama 67 Mississippi College, Clinton, MS
2001 Mississippi 87, Alabama 83 North Alabama, Florence, AL
2000 Alabama 90, Mississippi 82 Holmes CC, Goodman, MS
1999 Alabama 95, Mississippi 68 North Alabama, Florence, AL
1998 Alabama 111, Mississippi 76 Mississippi College, Clinton, MS
1997 Alabama 110, Mississippi 91 North Alabama, Florence, AL
1996 Mississippi 105, Alabama 97 Mississippi College, Clinton, MS
1995 Alabama 85, Mississippi 69 North Alabama, Florence, AL
1994 Mississippi 123, Alabama 111 Mississippi College, Clinton, MS
1993 Mississippi 82, Alabama 75 North Alabama, Florence, AL
1992 Mississippi 73, Alabama 71 Mississippi College, Clinton, MS
1991 Alabama 103, Mississippi 62 North Alabama, Florence, AL
SERIES RECORD: Alabama 14, Mississippi 14
Jackson State Alabama 1, Mississippi 0
Alabama State Alabama 3, Mississippi 1
UNA Alabama 4, Mississippi 2
Mississippi College Mississippi 6, Alabama 1
Holmes CC Alabama 1, Mississippi 0
Alabama 2,545 90.8 ppg
Mississippi 2,504 89.4 ppg
Mississippi 2018 (127) 1991 (62) 2018 (37)
1994 234 (Mississippi 123, Alabama 111 @ Miss. College)
1992 144 (Mississippi 73, Alabama 71 @ Miss. College)
LONGEST WINNING STREAK: Alabama, 4 games (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)
Alabama, 4 games (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 Mississippi, 3 games (2016, 2017, 2018) Mississippi, 3 games (2001, 2002, 2003) Mississippi, 3 games (1992, 193, 1994)
MONTGOMERY – Alabama and Mississippi All-Stars reported Wednesday and began workouts in preparation for Friday night’s in the 29th annual Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Girls’ and Boys’ Basketball Games to be played at Dunn-Oliver Acadome on the Alabama State University campus. The girls’ game will tip off at 5 p.m., and the boys’ game will follow at 7. The games are hosted by AHSAA with the Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches Association (AHSADCA) managing the contests in conjunction with the Mississippi Association of Coaches (MAC). Both games will be live-streamed over the NFHS Network by the AHSAA and MAC and broadcast over the AHSAA Radio Network. The Alabama and Mississippi teams, comprised of current high school seniors, had one practice Wednesday, have two practices Thursday and a shoot-around Friday morning prior to the doubleheader at the Acadome. Thursday’s practices will be at Montgomery Academy and the Auburn University-Montgomery Wellness Center. Each team will have one practice at each site. The series is knotted at 14-14 for the girls’ and boys’ all-stars. Alabama’s girls won last year in Mississippi 109-96 and the Mississippi boys won 127-90. The Mississippi boys bring a three-game winning streak into Friday’s contest, and Alabama girls’ snapped a two-game winning streak last year with its win in 2018. Hazel Green Coach Tim Miller is coaching in the girls’ game for Alabama for the second year in a row, and Cold Springs Coach Tammy West is also coaching the Alabama girls. Administrative coach is Pisgah Coach Carey Ellison. All three led their high school teams to state championships in 2019. Coaching the Mississippi girls are Shayne Linzy of Lafayette and Vicky Rutland of Lawrence County. Administrative coach is Donny Fuller. Mountain Brook Coach Bucky McMillan and Carver-Montgomery Coach James “J.J.” Jackson are Alabama’s boys’ coaches. Administrative coach is Mountain Brook’s David Good. McMillan has coached the Spartans to the last three Class 7A state titles, and Jackson, who guided Carver to the 2018 Class 6A state crown, coached the Wolverines to a Class 6A ru9nner-up finish in 2019. Alabama’s squad reported at full strength. Headlining the Alabama boys’ squad is Mountain Brook’s 6-foot-9 senior standout Trendon Watford, who finished his prep career earn in Class 7A state tourney MVP for the last three seasons. He also scored over 3,500 career points and set the AHSAA career rebounding record with 1,909. Considered one of the Top 10 players nationally still unsigned or uncommitted, Watford is also scheduled to play in the McDonald’s All-America Game. A pair of 6-6 power forward, Georgia signee Jaykwon Walton of Carver-Montgomery and Kobe Brown of Lee-Huntsville, are also among the state’s top prospects as are 6-8 bookends Murray State commit Demond Robinson of Lee-Montgomery and Wichita State signee DeAntoni Gordon of LeFlore. Headlining the Alabama girls’ squad is 6-5 senior center River Baldwin, who has also been selected to participate in the McDonald’s All-America Game. She has signed with Florida State. Guard Annie Hughes of Pisgah, the Class 3A state tourney MVP the last years, is an Auburn signee, Wenonah’s 6-1 forward Thaniya Marks is headed to Grambling State, Hoover’s Joiya Maddox is going to Rutgers, Ramsay point guard Jaylyn Sherrod to Colorado and Ramsay forward Aniyah Smith has signed with Alabama State. Mississippi’s team reported minus one player selected – 6-8 D.J. Jeffries of Olive Branch. Jeffries, who is headed to the University of Memphis, is expected to be replaced, said MAC Director Johnny Mims. That leaves John Rawls of East Marion as the only player on the Mississippi roster over 6-6. Jaylen Forbes of Florence (MS), a 6-5 guard, is a University of Alabama signee. Point guard Sania Wells of East Central, an Auburn signee, headlines the Mississippi girls’ roster. The series history: ALABAMA-MISSISSIPPI BASKETBALL CLASSIC SERIES
Teams Report Wednesday, March 13
MONTGOMERY – Twenty-four seniors have been selected to represent Alabama in the 29th annual Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Basketball Games to be played at Alabama State University’s Dunn-Oliver Acadome on the Montgomery school’s campus, Friday, March 15. The Alabama teams, comprised of 12 senior boys and 12 senior girls, were selected by the Basketball Coaches All-Star Selection Committee and announced by Jamie Lee, Director of the Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches Association (AHSADCA). The girls’ game will tip off at 5 p.m. and the boys’ game will follow at 7. Alabama and Mississippi come into the 29th annual game deadlocked with 14 wins apiece in the girls ‘and boys’ games. Alabama’s girls won last year’s game played Mississippi College in Clinton (MS), 109-96. The Mississippi boys’ all-stars won 127-90 – the most points allowed by Alabama in the series since its inception in 1991. Lee also announced the all-stars and coaches for the 2019 North-South All-Star boys’ and girls’ games to be played July 17 during All-Star Sports Week. Both games will also be held at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome. Headlining the Alabama Boys’ All-Star Squad is Mountain Brook 6-foot-9 senior Trendon Watford, who will have one more game with Spartans’ head coach Bucky McMillan. McMillan and Carver-Montgomery Coach James “J.J.” Jackson are the Alabama boys’ coaches. David Good of Mountain Brook will be the Alabama administrative coach. Coaching the Alabama Girls’ All-Star Team are Tim Miller of Class 6A state champion Hazel Green and Tammy West, who guided Cold Springs to the Class 2A title in 2019. Coach Carey Ellison, who coached Pisgah to the 2018 and 2019 Class 3A state titles, is the administrative coach. Watford finished his career at Mountain Brook as AHSAA State Basketball Tourney MVP three straight years. The Spartans (31-3) won the 7A state crown for the third time with Watford in the lineup this season. Watford concluded his prep career as the AHSAA’s all-time career leading rebounder (1,909) and also scored more than 3,500 points in his fabled career. One of the nation’s top senior recruits, He is still uncommitted. Lee-Montgomery center Demond Robinson, 6-8, and LeFlore 6-8 forward DeAntoni Gordon give Alabama a strong inside presence with Watford. Gordon is heading to Wichita State and Robinson to Murray State. Texas A&M signee Kobe Brown of Lee-Huntsville, a 6-6 forward, and Carver-Montgomery 6-6 forward Jaykwon Walton, a Georgia signee, provide scoring and rebounding at the power forward slot. Brewbaker guard Desmond Williams, a Troy University signee, and Class 5A state champion Wenonah guards Cameron Tucker and Justin Minter headline a strong group of guards. Both are uncommitted. Florida State signee River Baldwin, a powerful 6-5 center, tops the Alabama girls’ roster. She was named MVP last summer in the AHSAA North/South All-Star Game played during All-Star Sports Week. Eleven of the 12 Alabama girls’ all-stars are already committed or signed, including Ramsay forward Aniyah Smith (Alabama State) and guard Jaylyn Sherrod (Colorado). Guard Annie Hughes of Pisgah, a two-time Class 3A state tourney MVP, is headed to Auburn; guards Skyla Knight and Joiya Maddox of Class 7A state champion Hoover are set to play collegiately at Arkansas-Little Rock and Rutgers, respectively. Miller (583-95), became the first girls’ basketball coach in AHSAA history to guide three different schools to state titles with Hazel Green’s 2018 championship, has coached six in all (Jeff Davis, 2006; Bob Jones, 2008, 2009, 2011); and Hazel Green (2018, 2019). West’s Cold Spring girls set the AHSAA state record for 3-point goals in a season in 2019. Her teams have now won four state titles (1999, 2008, 2009, and 2019). West has a 617-203 career coaching record. McMillan, 35, is one of the youngest coaches in the NFHS to win 300 games in a career. He has coached Mountain Brook to a 301-71 record and five state titles (2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019) and Jackson (445-102) has guided the Wolverines to three Class 6A state crowns (2012-, 2015, 2018). His team was 6A state runner-up in 2019. Coaches selected for the North-South All-Star Games include: (South Boys) Jeffrey Pope, LeFlore; Jessie Foster, Dadeville; Nigel Card, Saint James (administrative); (North Boys) James Poindexter, McAdory; Anthony Reid, Florence; Brant Llewellyn, Lauderdale County (administrative); (South Girls) Dyneshia Jones, Charles Henderson; John Smith, Southside-Selma; Nigel Card, Saint James (administrative); and (North Girls) Kim Nails, Southside-Gadsden; JeTaime Silas, Lee-Huntsville; Brant Llewellyn, Lauderdale County (administrative). Highlighting the Boys’ players is North guard Tommy Murr of Lindsay Lane Academy, who scored an AHSAA state record 1,442 points this past season and averaged a nation-leading 45.1 ppg. He has 4,210 career points with one year remaining and has scored 50 or more points 15 times in his prep career. Class 5A girls’ state tourney MVP Quintasia Leatherwood of Central-Tuscaloosa, one of the top guard prospects in the Southeast, highlights the girls’ all-stars selected. All players selected for the North-South competition are currently juniors. The Alabama-Mississippi All-Stars report next Wednesday. Complete rosters for the Alabama squads as well as the North-South teams are listed:
2019 ALABAMA GIRLS' ALL-STARS
Player
School
Pos.
Ht
Coach
College
River Baldwin
Pleasant Home
F/C
6'5
Tony Wilson
Florida State
Taylor Henderson
Center Point
PG
5'11
Ulysses Haynes
Georgia State
Jaylyn Sherrod
Ramsay
PG/SG
5'6
Ronnie Jackson
Colorado
Aniyah Smith
PF
5'10
Alabama State
Thaniya Marks
Wenonah
PF/C
6'1
Kenneth Lang
Undecided
Skyla Knight
Hoover
PG/G
5'7
Krystle Johnson
Arkansas-L Rock
Joiya Maddox
G
6'0
Rutgers
Annie Hughes
Pisgah
Carey Ellison
Auburn
Kathleen Wheeler
Priceville
SG
Terrie Nelson
Samford
Moriah Taylor
Hartselle
5'5
Gary Orr
Marisa Snodgrass
Hazel Green
5'3
Tim Miller
Montevallo
Jajuana Lambert
Blount
F
Kimyatta Perry
Shelton State
COACHES
Tammy West
Cold Springs
Pisgah, Adm.
2019 ALABAMA BOYS' ALL-STARS
Kobe Brown
Lee - Huntsville
6'6
Greg Brown
Texas A & M
Kurantiya Garner
Buckhorn
Mark Blevins
DeAntoni Gordon
LeFlore
6'8
Jeffrey Pope
Wichita State
Brandon Nicholas
Mae Jemison
6'3
Howard Pride
JaLon Johnson
Hillcrest-Tusc.
Scott Suttles
Auston Leslie
Westminster Chr.
6'4
Ronnie Stapler
Justin Minter
Audwin Howard
Demond Robinson
Lee - Montgomery
Bryant Johnson
Murray State
Cameron Tucker
6'2
Jaykwon Walton
Carver-Montgomery
James Jackson
Georgia
Trendon Watford
Mountain Brook
6'9
Bucky McMillan
Desmond Williams
Brewbaker Tech
Chauncey Shines
Troy U.
James JJ Jackson
Carver - Montgomery
David Good
Mountain Brook, Adm.
2019 NORTH BOYS' BASKETBALL ROSTER
Ht.
Wt.
Dane Harding
Albertville
180
GianCarlo Valdez
Decatur Heritage
165
Austin Harvell
East Limestone
Reginald Perry, Jr.
Fairfield
6'7
250
Damarcus Beckwith
Florence
210
Tommy Murr
Lindsay Lane
160
Colby Jones
185
Paul Stramaglia
Mark Sears
Muscle Shoals
175
Zondrick Garrett
Oxford
205
Kameron Woods
Pinson Valley
Jayden Stone
Sacred Heart
Shannon Grant
Sylacauga
C
6'10
260
Grant Atchley
Sylvania
155
D'Corian Wilson
Talladega
NORTH BOYS' ALL-STAR COACHES
James Poindexter
McAdory
Anthony Reid
Brant Llewellyn
Lauderdale County - Admin.
2019 SOUTH BOYS' BASKETBALL ROSTER
Willie Screws
Barbour County
G/F
200
Michael Murry
Jhymias Patrick
Dadeville
Tereance Edwards-Fleming
Daphne
Justin Bufford
Ellwood Christian
Dallas Howell
Enterprise
SF
Martavius Payton
Georgiana
195
Arayvion Jones
Keith
Tyler Lang
De'Marquiese Miles
Lee-Montgomery
Antwan Burnett
Sidney Lanier
Rongie Gordon
230
Braydon Whitaker
Slocomb
150
Kedrick Turnipseed
Sumter Central
Robert Bonham
UMS-Wright
SOUTH BOYS' ALL-STAR COACHES
Jessie Foster
Nigel Card
Saint James - Admin.
2019 NORTH GIRLS' BASKETBALL ROSTER
Jemeriah Moore
Midfield
Quintasia Leatherwood
Central-Tuscaloosa
Sakyia White
Keiara Griffin
Hannah Edwards
Oak Mountain
Sarah Barker
Spain Park
Macie Williams
Southside-Gadsden
Alicyn McCollum
Phillips
Laura Keener
Central - Florence
5'4
Elizabeth Hill
Destinee McGhee
Madison Academy
Farrah Pearson
5'9
Emily Bowman
Huntsville
Briana Moore
Grissom
Jaden Langford
NORTH GIRLS' ALL-STAR COACHES
Kim Nails
Southside - Gadsden
JeTaime Silas
2019 SOUTH GIRLS' BASKETBALL ROSTER
Aaliyah Austin
Faith Academy
Elsie Harris
B C. Rain
Elissa Murry
Alma Bryant
Kaitlyn Knight
Foley
Ariel Thompson
Theodore
P
Adrianna Galloway
Headland
5'8
Niaira Jones
Charles Henderson
Samira Moore
Precious Rogers
Linden
Kylan Brown
Southside - Selma
Ananda Hughley
Opelika
Madisen Grimsley
Abbeville
Kristin Brown
G. W. Carver
Claire Worth
Rodreckia Parker
Selma
SOUTH GIRLS' ALL-STAR COACHES
Dyneshia Jones
John Smith
CLASS 7A BOYS’ STATE CHAMPIONSHIP Mountain Brook 61, Baker 42 BIRMINGHAM – Mountain Brook High School made history Saturday night winning its third consecutive AHSAA Class 7A state boys’ basketball championship with a 61-42 victory over Baker to close out the 2019 AHSAA State Basketball Championships at the BJCC Legacy Arena Saturday night. The announced attendance for the week was 64,927 with Saturday’s attendance the biggest of the week with 13,914. Friday’s attendance was 11,896; Thursday (10,163); Wednesday (11,408); Tuesday (9.832); and Monday (7,714). Coach Bucky McMillan’s Spartans (31-3) jumped out to a 30-16 lead by halftime and stretched the margin to 21 before Baker (21-14) clawed back to a 14-point deficit with a strong surge late in the third period. Mountain Brook never let it get any closer. Senior Trendan Watford, one of the top-rated senior players in the nation, closed out his career with 22 points and 11 rebounds. He also had four blocked shots, two stills, two assists and made 12-of-13 at the foul line to earn Class 7A state tourney MVP honors. Lior Berman had 19 points for the Spartans and eight rebounds and Colby Jones scored 10 points. Watford closed his career as the AHSAA’s all-time rebound leader had scored over 3,000 points. Baker, coached by David Armstrong, was paced by Kriston Davis’ 11 points. Jalen Lilly added nine points and Patrick Robinson had eight. Mountain Brook, which ended the season with 17 wins in a row and ranked in the top five nationally, became just the 10th team in AHSAA boys’ basketball history to win three state championships in a row. Francis Marion and Sacred Heart Catholic won four in row while Wenonah, Pickens County, R.C. Hatch, Madison Academy, Brantley, Austinville, Geraldine and Simpson won three. Geraldine (1931-33) and Simpson (1923-25) won three in a row when the tournament had only one division. The Spartans are the first to win three at the state’s largest division since multiple classes were added. Mountain Brook now has five state titles with back-to-back championships in 2013 and 2014. McMillan, who recorded his 301st career win in the finals, has coached all five titles. The Class 7A All-Tourney Team included: Trendon Watford, Mountain Brook (MVP); Alex Washington, Mountain Brook; Lior Berman, Mountain Brook; Kriston Davis, Baker; Ahman Ellington, Hoover; and Demond Robinson, Lee-Montgomery.
97th AHSAA State Basketball Championships Legacy Arena, BJCC, Birmingham, Feb. 25-March 2
SATURDAY’S CHAMPIONSHIP GAME SCHEDULE Class 5A Girls Finals Central-Tuscaloosa (28-3) 68, Madison Academy (28-8) 65 Class 5A Boys Finals Wenonah (31-5) 51, Center Point (18-15) 34 Class 6A Girls Finals Hazel Green (34-3) 55, Opelika (26-7) 31 Class 6A Boys Finals Pinson Valley (24-9) 58, Carver-Montgomery (23-11) 44 Class 7A Girls Finals Hoover (34-1) 47, Hewitt-Trussville (21-11) 33 Class 7A Boys Finals Mountain Brook (31-3) 61, Baker (21-14) 42
CLASS 7A GIRLS’ STATE CHAMPIONSHIP Hoover 47, Hewitt-Trussville 33 BIRMINGHAM – Hoover High School limited Hewitt-Trussville to only one made basket in the second quarter and only three total in the first half to build a commanding lead en route to the Bucs’ 47-33 victory in the in the 2019 AHSAA Class 7A state girls’ championship game at the BJCC Legacy Arena Saturday night. Hoover (34-1) led 23-11 at the half, stretched the lead to 20 by the end of the third quarter to sew up the Lady Bucs’ sixth state championship. Coach Krystle Johnson played on Hoover’s first state championship team in 2001, served as an assistant coach on another and has now coached the Bucs to two state titles (2017 and 2019). She is the fourth coach in school history to coach a state title. Lori Elgin coached the 2001 champs. Donnie Quinn coached the 2010 and 2012 champs and Tiffany Frederick, the 2013 champs. Quinn serves on Johnson’s current staff. Class 7A state tournament MVP Skyla Knight had nine points in the finals Saturday. She also had two assists and one steal despite playing just 15 minutes. Miya Kimber had 13 points, Joiya Maddox 11 and Aniya Hubbard 10. Maddox also had eight rebounds and three assists, and Hubbard had three steals. The Bucs closed the season winning 32 games in a row. The only loss came to Hazel Green on Nov. 15. The Trojans won the Class 6A girls’ title earlier Saturday at the BJCC Legacy Arena. Hewitt-Trussville (21-11), coached by Tonya Hunter, was led by Morgan Kirk’s 14 points. She was 9-of-12 at the foul line. Amiya Payne added eight points and five rebounds. She also had two assists and two steals. D’yona Jones added five rebounds, three blocked shots, three steals and four points. The Class 7A All-Tourney Team included: Skyla Knight, Hoover (MVP); Joiya Maddox, Hoover; Morgan Kirk, Hewitt-Trussville; Amiya Payne, Hewitt-Trussville; Alexandria Pierre, McGill-Toolen Catholic; and Olivia Porter, Auburn. The Class 7A boys’ championship game will conclude the 2019 State Basketball Championships today at the BJCC Legacy Center. All championship games are being live-streamed over the NFHS Network’s subscriber-based program and broadcast over the AHSAA Radio Network. The finals are also being shown over the Alabama Cable Network.
SATURDAY’S CHAMPIONSHIP GAME SCHEDULE Class 5A Girls Finals Central-Tuscaloosa (28-3) 68, Madison Academy (28-8) 65 Class 5A Boys Finals Wenonah (31-5) 51, Center Point (18-15) 34 Class 6A Girls Finals Hazel Green (34-3) 55, Opelika (26-7) 31 Class 6A Boys Finals Pinson Valley (24-9) 58, Carver-Montgomery (23-11) 44 Class 7A Girls Finals Hoover (34-1) 47, Hewitt-Trussville (21-11) 33 Class 7A Boys Finals Mountain Brook (30-3) vs. Baker (21-13), 5:45 p.m.
CLASS 6A BOYS’ STATE CHAMPIONSHIP Pinson Valley 58, Carver-Montgomery 44 BIRMINGHAM – Pinson Valley’s Indians saved their best for the last eight minutes Saturday afternoon, outscoring defending Class 6A state champion 21-5 in the final quarter to capture a stunning 58-44 come-from-behind victory in the 2019 AHSAA Class 6A state boys’ basketball finals at the BJCC Legacy Arena. Coach Darrell Barber’s Indians (24-9) limited the Wolverines (23-11) to just seven shot attempts and two field goals in the quarter and nailed three 3-pointers to take control down the stretch. Class 6A state tourney MVP Kam Woods, 6-foot junior guard, sank two of the treys, finishing with four on the game and had 25 points to pace Pinson. He also had five steals and was 3-of-4 at the foul line. Ga’Quincy “Koolaid” McKinstry added 15 points and five rebounds and Geordon Pollard scored 11 points and pulled down six rebounds. He also blocked two shots. Carver, coached by J.J. Jackson, was led by Jaykwon Walton’s 14 points and six rebounds. Centarrio Hinson added 10 points on a 5-for-5 shooting performance. Jereme Robinson had nine points and nine rebounds and Juwon Gaston cleared eight boards. The basketball title just three months after Pinson Valley won its second Class 6A football championship in a row. Pinson became the first school to win both championships in the same school year Lanett did it in 2017-18 in Class 2A. Elba, Madison Academy and Hoover each swept both crowns in the 2014-15 school year in Classes 2A, 3A and Class 6A, respectively. Sidney Lanier was the first to sweep both titles, winning the 1966 Class 4A football championship and the state basketball title in 1967. Barber’s championship was his first at Pinson and his third overall. He coached Midfield to two state boys’ titles. The Class 6A All-Tourney Team included: Kam Woods, Pinson Valley (MVP); Ga’Quincy McKinstry, Pinson Valley; Jereme Robinson, Carver-Montgomery; Jaykwon Walton, Carver-Montgomery; Jalon Johnson, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa; Mark Sears, Muscle Shoals. The Class 7A girls’ and boys’ championship games at 4 and 5:45 p.m., respectively, will conclude the 2019 State Basketball Championships today at the BJCC Legacy Center. All championship games are being live-streamed over the NFHS Network’s subscriber-based program and broadcast over the AHSAA Radio Network. The finals are also being shown over the Alabama Cable Network.
SATURDAY’S CHAMPIONSHIP GAME SCHEDULE Class 5A Girls Finals Central-Tuscaloosa (28-3) 68, Madison Academy (28-8) 65 Class 5A Boys Finals Wenonah (31-5) 51, Center Point (18-15) 34 Class 6A Girls Finals Hazel Green (34-3) 55, Opelika (26-7) 31 Class 6A Boys Finals Pinson Valley (24-9) 58, Carver-Montgomery (23-11) 44 Class 7A Girls Finals Hewitt-Trussville (21-10) vs. Hoover (33-1), 4 p.m. Class 7A Boys Finals Mountain Brook (30-3) vs. Baker (21-13), 5:45 p.m.
THURSDAY’S CHAMPIONSHIP GAME RESULTS Class 1A Girls Finals Phillips (26-10) 71, Skyline (29-6) 63 Class 1A Boys Finals Decatur Heritage (32-4) 63, St. Luke’s Episcopal (18-10) 42 FRIDAY’S CHAMPIONSHIP GAME SCHEDULE Class 2A Girls Finals Cold Springs (28-6) 57, Fyffe (30-6) 53 (OT) Class 2A Boys Finals Central-Coosa (23-4) 54,Sacred Heart Catholic (23-11) 52 Class 3A Girls Finals Pisgah (34-1) 46, Montgomery Academy (31-3) 41 Class 3A Boys Finals Plainview (33-4) 54, Westminster Christian (27-5) 52 Class 4A Girls Finals Rogers (32-3) 46, Anniston (29-5) 38 Class 4A Boys Finals Talladega (26-8) 60, West Limestone (21-14) 48
CLASS 6A GIRLS’ STATE CHAMPIONSHIP Hazel Green 55, Opelika 31 BIRMINGHAM – Hazel Green High School’s girls’ basketball program was expected to be in a rebuilding mode after winning the AHSAA Class 6A state championship in 2018. Instead of rebuilding, Coach Tim Miller’s Lady Trojans just reloaded and set their sights on a repeat. That completed that goal Saturday afternoon with a 55-31 win over Opelika in the finals at the 97th AHSAA State Basketball Championships being held at the BJCC Legacy Arena. The Trojans (34-3) jumped on the Bulldogs quickly with senior guard Marisa Snodgrass sinking three 3-pointers in the first period to take a 14-2 lead. Hazel Green had another fast start in the third quarter as the defense-minded Trojans held Coach Devin Booth’s team to just four points. Snodgrass finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, two steals and two assists to earn Class 6A state tournament MVP. She also sank 5-of-7 free throws. Jaelyn Johnson added 13 points, canning both 3-point attempts she tried. Farrah Pearson and McKenzie Hill each had nine points. Opelika (26-7) was led in the scoring column by Shaquala Walton and Ananda Huguley, with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Walton also had six rebounds and four steals. The state championship was the third overall for Hazel Green (1995, 2018), 2019). It was the sixth coached by Miller, who has a 583-95 overall record in 19 seasons as a high school head coach. He won a state title at Jeff Davis (2006), three at Bob Jones (2008, 2009, 2011) and now has two at Hazel Green. His winning percentage (86%) is among the tops in the nation for high school girls‘ basketball. The Class 6A All-Tourney Team included: Marisa Snodgrass, Hazel Green MVP); Jaelyn Johnson, Hazel Green; Shaquala Walton, Hazel Green; Ananda Huguley, Opelika; Farrah Pearson, Opelika; and Kobi Warner, Carver-Birmingham. The Class 6A boys’ finals and the Class 7A girls’ and boys’ championship games will conclude the 2019 State Basketball Championships today at the BJCC Legacy Center. All championship games are being live-streamed over the NFHS Network’s subscriber-based program and broadcast over the AHSAA Radio Network. The finals are also being shown over the Alabama Cable Network.
SATURDAY’S CHAMPIONSHIP GAME SCHEDULE Class 5A Girls Finals Central-Tuscaloosa (28-3) 68, Madison Academy (28-8) 65 Class 5A Boys Finals Wenonah (31-5) 51, Center Point (18-15) 34 Class 6A Girls Finals Hazel Green (34-3) 55, Opelika (26-7) 31 Class 6A Boys Finals Carver-Montgomery (23-10) vs. Pinson Valley (23-9), 2:15 p.m. Class 7A Girls Finals Hewitt-Trussville (21-10) vs. Hoover (33-1), 4 p.m. Class 7A Boys Finals Mountain Brook (30-3) vs. Baker (21-13), 5:45 p.m.
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