From Staff Reports

Isabella’s girls basketball team defeated Thorsby on Monday, 53-46, in the Class 2A, Area 7 tournament at Francis Marion High School.

The Mustangs will play host Francis Marion at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Billingsley plays R.C. Hatch at 6 p.m. Friday in another semifinal game.

On Monday, Isabella was led by Khadijah Craig’s 15 points.

Teammate Savannah Higgins had 14 points, and Kinslee Mims had 11 points.

Thorsby’s Sharonda Cooper led all scorers with 21 points.

By Stephen Dawkins | Assistant Managing Editor

Jemison’s girls basketball team shook off an early funk and came back for a 30-27 win over Holtville on Monday in a game that was a tune-up for the area tournament.

Host JHS could manage only two points in the first period and trailed, 4-2, going into the second period.

Things weren’t much better in the second and third periods as the Panthers trailed 11-8 and 20-14, respectively.

But in the fourth quarter on Senior Night—the last home game for the team’s seniors—the Panthers came alive.

Shelby Lopez tied the game at 20 on a long jump shot with 6:25 remaining on the clock, and she gave the hosts the lead with 4:45 left when she dribbled into the lane, was fouled in the act of shooting and made one of the ensuing free throws.

Lopez made seven free throws in 10 attempts in the fourth quarter alone, and the Panthers made 12 out of 18 as a team.

Lopez finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Teammate Shayna Robinson had seven points and four steals.

The boys game ended too late to be included in this edition.

The Jemison girls play host Southside-Selma at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the Class 4A, Area 6 tournament. If they win, they would play again at 3 p.m. Saturday in the area championship game.

The Jemison boys play host Dallas County at 6 p.m. Friday in the Class 4A, Area 6 tournament. If they win, the Panthers would play again at 6 p.m. on Feb. 13 for the area championship.

By Stephen Dawkins | Assistant Managing Editor

Jemison won at Chilton County on Friday in a game that might have been more hard fought than usual.

Bragging rights are always at stake between the two girls basketball teams, but Friday was the last home game for several CCHS seniors.

The visiting Panthers won, 43-36.

JHS led throughout the first half, but a Chynna Davis free throw with 4:23 remaining in the third period gave Chilton a 23-22 lead.

Jemison responded with a bucket inside by Shelby Griffin that sparked a 6-0 run and a 28-23 lead going into the fourth period.

But the hosts wouldn’t go quietly.

Keondra Looney drained a three-pointer with 6:58 left on the clock for a 31-30 CCHS edge.

The advantage was short-lived, though, as Jemison retook the lead, and two clutch free throws by Shelby Lopez with 52 seconds left sealed the win.

Lopez led Jemison with 13 points, eight of which came in the final quarter.

Teammate Shelby Griffin had 12 points.

Keona DeJarnett had a game-high 17 points for CCHS.

From Staff Reports

The University of West Alabama football team will have a Chilton County flavor this fall.

Three county players signed National Letters of Intent on Wednesday to take their talents to Livingston.

Jemison receiver Eddie Hubbard and running back Javae Swindle held a joint ceremony Wednesday morning, and then Chilton County High School defensive end Dyquan Floyd signed with the Tigers later in the afternoon on what is known as National Signing Day, the first day high school football players can sign letters to play at the college of their choice.

By Stephen Dawkins | Assistant Managing Editor

Jemison running back Javae Swindle and receiver Eddie Hubbard spent years terrorizing opposing high school defense.

Next fall, they’ll be doing the same thing to Gulf South Conference opponents.

The duo announced they will both play next fall for the University of West Alabama, Jemison coach Merritt Bowden said.

Players can sign binding National Letters of Intent beginning Wednesday.

Hubbard this past season caught 42 passes for 738 yards and six touchdowns—and was among leaders in the Chilton County area in each statistical category.

He was also named to The Clanton Advertiser’s All-Area Football Team.

Bowden said Hubbard was impressed with the UWA coaching staff and their relationship with the players.

“It seemed a lot like a family atmosphere,” Bowden said.

Swindle was named The Clanton Advertiser’s Player of the Year following a senior season in which he rushed for 1,443 yards and 19 touchdowns.

“He’s the same every day in practice and the games. He’s consistent,” Bowden said.

Thorsby’s girls defeated Maplesville on Senior Night, 36-27.

Sharonda Cooper, playing in her last home game as a Rebel, scored 24 points on Jan. 27 to go along with 10 rebounds and two assists.

Haley Barnett chipped in six points; and Keela Lucas, Jennifer Spivey and Desiree Evans all contributed two points in the basketball win.

From Staff Reports

Jemison’s boys basketball team won on Jan. 27, 74-54, over Montevallo.

Eddie Hubbard led the effort with 17 points but had plenty of help. Trey Bryant added 15 points, and Jeremiah Gates scored 14.

From Staff Reports

The Panthers girls hung around on Jan. 27 but could never make a run to threaten visiting Montevallo.

Jemison’s girls basketball team fell to Montevallo, 43-32, in a non-region game.

Shelby Griffin finished strong in the lane to make the score 33-22 at the end of the third quarter, but JHS couldn’t cut into the deficit in the second half even with Morgan Lucas scoring six of her eight points in the fourth period.

Shelby Lopez also had eight points, to go along with three assists and eight rebounds.

Shayna Robinson had 10 rebounds, and Griffin pulled down eight boards.

From Staff Reports

Chilton Christian Academy’s girls basketball team won at Victory Baptist-Millbrook on Jan. 24, 40-33.

Destiny Richards led the Patriots with a double-double, 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Teammate Rebekah Kirkland just missed a double-double of her own, recording 10 points and nine rebounds.

The CCA boys lost, 64-54, on the same day despite 20 points from Chris Lassinger.

From Staff Reports

Chilton Christian Academy’s girls basketball team lost a big lead but held on to win in overtime, 41-39, thanks to free throws from Alissa Harris and Mary’l Smitherman.

The Patriots led 15-6 at halftime and 22-14 at the end of the third period, but Cahawba Christian tied it in the fourth.

Harris made a free throw to put CCA ahead in the fourth but then missed a second attempt. The miss was rebounded by Smitherman, who was fouled and then made one free throw of her own.

Rebekah Kirkland led the Patriots with 10 points, while Destiny Richards posted nine points and 17 rebounds.