Year in review part II: Looking back at the memorable moments in sports in 2019
Published 10:00 am Saturday, December 28, 2019
Feb. 1
ALLEN CELEBRATED FOR REACHING 1,000 CAREER POINTS
Chambers Academy then-sophomore Peyton Allen was the fastest player to reach 1,000 points in school history. He was honored with a special basketball marking the occasion during Chambers’ win against Springwood.
Feb. 7
LAFAYETTE SENIORS SET EYES ON COLLEGE SUCCESS
Defensive lineman Trevor Vines and athlete Jae’Lin McCurdy signed to play football at their perspective schools. LaFayette head coach James Lucas wanted the pair to remember the importance of the education they will be receiving.
LANETT’S DOBBS, DAVIDSON BECOME LATEST PANTHERS TO SIGN SCHOLARSHIPS
Lanett Receivers Kolby Davidson and Tifton Dobbs signed their letters of intent to play football at Point University and Alabama State University respectively.
Feb. 8
LANETT GIRLS CLAIM AREA TOURNAMENT TITLE
The Panthers stifled Loachapoka’s star player Kaitlin Hill, en route to a 45-36 win.
LAFAYETTE BOYS CLAIM AREA TITLE
The Bulldogs used a 35-16 halftime lead to blowout Ranburne, claiming the area championship with a 69-45 win.
Feb. 9
LANETT BOYS WIN AREA TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP IN 74-54 WIN OVER WADLEY
Senior forward Jayshon Burton scored 21 points in the Panthers’ blowout win against Wadley.
Feb. 12
VALLEY CHEER TEAM PLACES IN NATIONAL COMPETITION
The Rams finished eighth at the National High School Cheerleading Championship in Orlando, Florida for the large varsity non-tumbling division for gamely routines. The fifth-year program was 2.7 points from finishing third overall.
Feb. 14
VALLEY GIRLS SOCCER TEAM KICKS OFF INAUGURAL SEASON
The Valley girls soccer team lost its first-ever game, but it was an important step since the Rams only had a co-ed soccer team in previous years.
Feb. 16
TROUP COUNTY FOOTBALL COACH STARS IN SUPER BOWL COMMERCIAL
During Super Bowl 53, Kia aired a commercial that showed Troup County football coach Tanner Glisson barking orders to his team. The filming took about four hours.
Feb. 21
VALLEY SENIOR RETURNS TO DIAMOND AFTER CAR ACCIDENT
After missing his sophomore season with a broken hand and his junior year because of a car wreck, Valley senior Cody Lumpkin rejoined the Rams for their season opener against Handley.
Feb. 26
VALLEY SOPHOMORE LYONS SCORES FIRST GOAL IN GIRLS’ SOCCER PROGRAM HISTORY
After getting shutout in their first game as a program, sophomore Tiaura Lyons scored the first goal in the program’s history. It was her first shot of the season.
March 5
POINT SETS FIVE SCHOOL RECORDS AT NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
The Point swimming and diving teams competed in the NAIA National Championships. The 800-yard women’s freestyle relay broke the previous record by 4.64 seconds. The 200-yard freestyle women’s freestyle relay cut 2.12 seconds off the previous record, while the men’s 200-yard freestyle team cut 35/100ths off the school’s best time. The women’s 200-yard medley relay team and Bailee Spivey both set school records.
March 7
Opelika baseball to donate ticket sales vs Valley to Lee County victims
After a tornado swept through Lee County, Opelika baseball coach Zach Blatt decided to donate the ticket proceeds toward those affected.
March 9
THREE CHAMBERS ACADEMY SENIORS NAMED AISA ALL-STARS
Tate Reese and Colton Hand were named to the AISA basketball game, while Mary Grayson Henderson was selected as an AISA All-Star cheerleader.
March 12
Four local basketball players named to All-State team
The Alabama Sports Writers Association named four Chambers players to the All-State team. Chambers Academy’s Allen was named to the first team, while Lanett forward Alyse Madden and LaFayette forward Feliah Greer were each named to the second team of their respective divisions. LaFayette guard Corey Boston was named to the 2A third team.
March 13
ALLEN NAMED ALL-VALLEY BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Allen was selected as the best boys basketball player in Chambers County. He averaged 23.9 points and nine rebounds a game. He scored 46 points against Eastwood and reached the 1,000 point milestone.
GREER NAMED ALL-VALLEY GIRLS BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
LaFayette forward Greer was selected as the best female basketball player in Chambers County. She averaged more than 27 points and nearly 20 rebounds a game in a season that saw her break the 1,000 point milestone.
She was also the All-Valley Girls Basketball Player of the year in 2018.
March 16
FOUR VALLEY HIGH SENIORS SIGN ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIPS
Valley seniors Andrue Davis, Devin McGlon and Elijah Rachel all signed athletic scholarships at LaGrange College while Patrik Pigg signed to play at Auburn University at Montgomery. Davis signed to join the Panthers baseball team, while McGlon joined the tennis team. Rachel and Pigg each signed cross-country scholarships.