Statewide poll
- Updated: February 1, 2017
Oxford — one of four county teams in final poll — and Clay Central break into rankings for first time this season
By East Alabama Sports Today
Better late than never, suppose.
It has taken until the final poll of the season, but Oxford and Clay Central both have broken into the statewide basketball rankings for the first time this year.
Oxford (19-9) pulls in at No. 9 in the Class 6A poll released Wednesday night, while Clay Central (20-3) broke in at No. 10 in Class 5A.
The Yellow Jackets are one of four Calhoun County teams in the final poll, joined by White Plains (20-6, No. 6 Class 4A boys), Sacred Heart (20-8, wire-to-wire No. 1 1A boys) and the Anniston girls (19-4, No. 4 4A).
It’s the first time in coach Joel Van Meter’s seven-year tenure the Yellow Jackets have been ranked.
“I think it’s a great testament to the character and work ethic of our players,” Van Meter said. “We’ve continued to grind and grow as a family to hopefully play our best basketball at the end of the season.”
Clay Central is a 20-game winner for the first time in school history. The Volunteers’ resume includes two wins over Talladega and Saks, both of whom have been ranked during the season, and two over a good Sylacauga team. Their only losses are to Oxford, Smith’s Station (now No. 5 in 7A) and Handley, which had been ranked.
“It’s nice to get recognition,” Vols coach Joby Burns said. “The guys have worked hard, but really we have not talked about ranking with them. We’re just trying to get better each day.”
Here is the complete poll:
BOYS
CLASS 7A
1. Lee-Montgomery (26-2)
2. Hoover (23-5)
3. Mountain Brook (24-4)
4. Huffman (19-8)
5. Smiths Station (19-6)
6. Auburn (19-8)
7. McGill-Toolen (20-8)
8. Grissom (18-10)
9. Jeff Davis (19-9)
10. Murphy (20-9)
Others nominated: Baker (15-11), Central-Phenix City (19-6), Spain Park (11-13), Sparkman (15-11), Vestavia Hills (15-12).
CLASS 6A
1. Pelham (18-8)
2. Daphne (26-2)
3. Helena (22-6)
4. LeFlore (25-3)
5. Carver-Montgomery (16-7)
6. Austin (24-4)
7. Spanish Fort (19-7)
8. Clay-Chalkville (21-4)
9. Oxford (19-9)
10. Pinson Valley (18-10)
Others nominated: Chelsea (18-10), Hazel Green (16-10), Park Crossing (14-8), Sidney Lanier (15-10).
CLASS 5A
1. Jemison-Huntsville (25-4)
2. Wilcox Central (20-5)
3. Sumter Central (17-4)
4. Lee-Huntsville (13-13)
5. Eufaula (23-5)
6. Dallas Co. (16-4)
7. Guntersville (22-4)
8. Corner (18-7)
9. Calera (18-9)
10. Central-Clay Co. (20-3)
Others nominated: Faith-Mobile (16-8), Greenville (17-3), Hayden (16-4), Headland (18-9), Mortimer Jordan (20-7), Sylacauga (20-7), Talladega (20-8).
CLASS 4A
1. Hale Co. (19-4)
2. Madison Academy (18-6)
3. Andalusia (20-2)
4. Cordova (18-8)
5. UMS-Wright (19-4)
6. White Plains (20-6)
7. West Limestone (19-6)
8. Winfield (19-7)
9. Childersburg (19-6)
10. Escambia Co. (15-7)
Others nominated: Ashford (16-8), Catholic-Montgomery (16-9), Cherokee Co. (16-7), Saks (15-8), Trinity (16-6).
CLASS 3A
1. Midfield (21-5)
2. Holly Pond (26-1)
3. Montevallo (19-4)
4. American Christian (21-6)
5. East Lawrence (20-5)
6. Plainview (24-4)
7. Hillcrest-Evergreen (16-4)
8. Pike Co. (16-6)
9. Prattville Christian (21-5)
10. Geraldine (18-8)
Others nominated: Daleville (15-5), New Hope (18-8).
CLASS 2A
1. R.C. Hatch (16-2)
2. Westbrook Christian (22-6)
3. Abbeville (21-7)
4. Lanett (12-7)
5. Chickasaw (16-3)
6. Asbury (19-7)
7. Elba (12-5)
8. Samson (18-7)
9. Tanner (18-8)
10. Cleveland (16-7)
Others nominated: Barbour Co. (14-9), Central-Hayneville (12-6), Collinsville (16-8), Goshen (16-5), LaFayette (14-7), St. Luke’s (19-7), Vincent (19-10).
CLASS 1A
1. Sacred Heart (20-8)
2. Georgiana (21-2)
3. Coosa Christian (18-3)
4. Pleasant Home (18-7)
5. Skyline (21-5)
6. Linden (15-9)
7. Cedar Bluff (15-11)
8. Ellwood (11-8)
9. Spring Garden (13-8)
10. Decatur Heritage (18-8)
Others nominated: Brantley (15-9), Marion Co. (17-5), South Lamar (17-7).
GIRLS
CLASS 7A
1. Sparkman (25-4)
2. Hoover (22-7)
3. McGill-Toolen (23-5)
4. Central-Phenix City (22-3)
5. Gadsden City (22-4)
6. Spain Park (19-9)
7. Tuscaloosa County (21-6)
8. Auburn (17-6)
9. Davidson (15-9)
10. Lee-Montgomery (15-14)
Others nominated: Murphy (15-9), Oak Mountain (14-8), Thompson (16-11).
CLASS 6A
1. Hazel Green (30-1)
2. Homewood (25-2)
3. LeFlore (26-2)
4. Athens (27-2)
5. Ramsay (17-5)
6. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (23-2)
7. Northview (20-3)
8. Southside-Gadsden (21-3)
9. Clay-Chalkville (21-6)
10. Daphne (22-4)
Others nominated: Blount (16-3), Brewer (23-5), Center Point (20-10), Hartselle (15-7), Opelika (19-7), Selma (24-1).
CLASS 5A
1. Faith Academy (24-2)
2. Wenonah (22-3)
3. Charles Henderson (23-5)
4. Eufaula (22-2)
5. Central-Tuscaloosa (19-6)
6. Brewbaker Tech (18-7)
7. Mae Jemison (19-7)
8. Talladega (20-5)
9. Sylacauga (20-4)
10. Fairview (23-6)
Others nominated: Boaz (19-8), Carroll (18-6), Crossville (15-6), Demopolis (14-5), Pleasant Grove (22-7).
CLASS 4A
1. Deshler (26-0)
2. Madison Academy (24-1)
3. Hokes Bluff (24-4)
4. Anniston (19-4)
5. Cherokee County (16-6)
6. Montgomery Catholic (21-3)
7. Madison County (16-9)
8. St. James (18-6)
9. Sipsey Valley (23-5)
10. Danville (20-6)
Others nominated: Greensboro (16-2), Hale County (13-5), Priceville (14-12).
CLASS 3A
1. Lauderdale County (28-3)
2. Locust Fork (26-1)
3. Plainview (28-0)
4. Midfield (19-10)
5. Hillcrest-Evergreen (18-1)
6. Pisgah (21-6)
7. Lexington (21-7)
8. Colbert County (15-6)
9. Montevallo (19-6)
10. Montgomery Academy (22-4)
Others nominated: Bayside Academy (20-4), Carbon Hill (23-4), Susan Moore (17-9).
CLASS 2A
1. Geneva County (25-1)
2. Samson (25-2)
3. Tanner (22-2)
4. Red Bay (21-7)
5. Cold Springs (23-3)
6. Abbeville (19-6)
7. Section (18-5)
8. Collinsville (17-7)
9. Fyffe (17-6)
10. Sand Rock (18-8)
Others nominated: Goshen (12-5), Mars Hill (15-10), Winston County (19-7).
CLASS 1A
1. Loachapoka (20-3)
2. Decatur Heritage (16-5)
3. Spring Garden (17-7)
4. J.F. Shields (13-3)
5. Linden (17-4)
6. Pleasant Home (20-4)
7. Skyline (21-6)
8. Georgiana (17-5)
9. Westminster-OM (16-5)
10. Brantley (20-5)
Others nominated: Addison (21-4), Coosa Christian (13-4), Holy Spirit (17-2), Isabella (20-4), Marion County (13-5), R.A. Hubbard (13-8), Vina (19-8).
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