4 local all-stars named

By EASportsToday.com
- Tweet
Updated: April 26, 2017

Updated prep notes: 2 players, coach named to North-South volleyball team, Wood picked for basketball game; softball rankings; White Plains seeks girls basketball coach

Pleasant Valley setter Anna Bryant (3) shares a laugh on the floor with teammates Alisa St. John (2) an Mikayla Kendrick during Friday’s area tournament title match. Bryant was named to the North-South All-Star Game..

By East Alabama Sports Today

Alexandria outside hitter Taylor Spradley, Pleasant Valley setter Anna Bryant and Alexandria coach Whitney Welch have all been included on the North team that will play in the North-South volleyball games during All-Star Week in Montgomery July 19-22.

Twenty-four juniors were selected to the team — 12 on each side — for the matches at Auburn-Montgomery 2 p.m. July 20.

The soccer, softball and baseball all-stars games are July 18. The North-South football game is July 20 in the Cramton Bowl. The basketball games will be July 19 at Alabama State, with the inaugural cross-country meet earlier that morning.

On Thursday, Sacred Heart’s Diante Wood was among the 60 players announced to the North-South basketball game. Wood is the two-time MVP of the Class 1A Final Four and 1A Player of the Year.

Talladega’s 6-3 post Camille Buckhanon is on the North girls’ roster.

The players have all been selected, but more All-Star week team anouncements will be coming throughout the week.

FINAL SOFTBALL RANKINGS: Oxford and Alexandria will go into their area softball tournaments ranking in the top three of the season’s final state softball rankings of nominated teams.

The Lady Jackets (45-6-1), one of the two winningest teams in the state, will go into the postseason rated No. 2 in Class 6A, while the Lady Cubs (35-12-2) are No. 3 in Class 5A. Other local teams in the rankings — don’t call it a poll when only a few decide it — include Southside-Gadsden (25-14, No. 9 6A); Lincoln (33-13-1, No. 6 5A); White Plains (29-8, No. 7 4A); Handley (20-12, No. 10 4A); Pleasant Valley (22-21-1, No. 7 3A); Spring Garden (22-13, No. 6 1A).

Look for a listing on the upcoming area tournaments elsewhere on the East Alabama Sports Today website.

Here are the rankings in which Calhoun County teams are included:

CLASS 6A: Daphne (33-3), Oxford (45-6-1), Gardendale (32-10), Helena (23-25-1), Saraland (27-13-1), Hazel Green (27-9-1), Chelsea (22-13), Austin (28-13), Southside-Gadsden (25-14), Northview (32-13).

CLASS 5A: Rehoboth (43-8), Springville (33-8-1), Alexandria (35-12-2), Mortimer Jordan (23-12-2), Moody (26-12), Lincoln (33-13-1), Demopolis (31-8), Hayden (29-8), Ardmore (28-9-2), Shelby County (24-6).

CLASS 4A: Westminster Christian (41-2-1), Alabama Christian (45-3), Hale County (30-8), Central Florence (30-9), Northside (29-12-1), Bibb County (26-5), White Plains (29-8), Wilson (26-8), Satsuma (30-5), Handley (20-12).

CLASS 3A: Pisgah (25-12-2), Plainview (32-9), American Christian (28-7), Geneva (32-15), Locust Fork (27-4), Sylvania (17-13), Pleasant Valley (22-21-1), Mobile Christian (16-11), Prattville Christian (28-13), Slocomb (26-12).

WHITE PLAINS OPENING: In an item first reported by East Alabama Sports Today on social media, White Plains is in the market for a girls basketball coach after not renewing Joi Watts for the coming season. Watts will remain the Lady Wildcats’ volleyball coach. It will be the end of May or early June before the slot is filled.

Randolph County quarterback Brody Wortham bursts through the tire gauntlet Thursday during the Tigers’ first day of spring practice in pads. Below, the linemen do battle. On the cover, Tigers assistant coach Jake Moore watches his linemen. (Photos by Jeremy Wortham/Tiger Den Media)