MADISON- With the spring season now upon the Tennessee Valley, athletics are in full bloom with the Rocket City Trash Pandas about two months away from its inaugural season, a local softball team currently nationally ranked, the idea of girl’s flag football and a look back at the completion of the high school basketball season are just some of what is happening in this transformation time of the year.

High School Basketball

Although none of the four local schools advanced to the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) State Basketball Tournament, the 2021 event held in Birmingham was a huge success with over 31,000 fans in attendance over the eight-day schedule, which was held in two locations- Bill Harris Arena and Bartow Arena on the campus of UAB.

Here are the results in both boys and girls in each of the seven classification championship games: Boys: Class 7A- Oak Mountain 41 Enterprise 37; Class 6A- Mountain Brook 56 Spanish Fort 43; Class 5A- Lee-Huntsville 47 Ramsay 29; Class 4A- Anniston 54 B.T. Washington 53; Class 3A- Fyffe 49 Montgomery Catholic 43; Class 2A- Midfield 58 Lanett 54; Class 1A- Autaugaville 38 Belgreen 34. Girls: Class 7A- Hoover 61 Hewitt-Trussville 37; Class 6A- Hazel Green 49 Carver-Montgomery 41; Class 5A- Carver-Birmingham 78 Mae Jemison 69; Class 4A- Rogers 48 Anniston 37; Class 3A- Prattville Christian 62 Sylvania 55; Class 2A- Pisgah 64 Hatton 38; Class 1A- Skyline 54 Marion County 41.

For the Lady Trojans of Hazel Green (36-1) the blue trophy was their fourth in-a-row and they became the first in AHSAA history in the organization’s two largest classes of schools to win four consecutive titles. Head coach Tim Miller, who once coached at Bob Jones, earned his eighth state title. Besides his fourth at Hazel Green, Miller also took home championship trophies with one title at Jeff Davis and three at Bob Jones (2008, 2009, 2011).

Bob Jones Softball

The 2021 softball season is beginning in a big way for the Bob Jones Patriots. Besides beginning ranked among the top 10 teams in Alabama alongside Class 7A schools, the Lady Patriots have been listed as the No. 10 team in the country according to a recent USA Today Super 25 poll.

“Rankings are nice because they give some acknowledgement to the players’ hard work, but we aren’t spending too much time focused on that,” said Whitney Deaver head coach of the Bob Jones softball team. “We appreciate the national exposure, but we know we still have a very long way to go in our season.”

The No. 1 team in the U.S. according to the poll is Lakewood Ranch, Fla., which has one loss in the last three years of play with a 45-1 record. Alabama’s Hewitt-Trussville is listed as No. 2 in the USA Today listing.

State Softball Tournament Moved

For the first time since its inception in 1986, the AHSAA State Softball Tournament will not be played at Montgomery’s Lagoon Park. The AHSAA Central Board of Control has announced the annual event will move this year to Oxford’s Choccolocco Park May 18-22.

“We are excited to have the opportunity to play our state softball championships at a complex that is designed solely for fast-pitch softball, has experienced hosting state and national events and has a signature field and stadium just for championship games,” said Kim Vickers, AHSAA Assistant Director in charge of softball of the new location, which will also the state tournament in 2022.

The remainder of the state championships within the AHSAA this spring include tennis set for Mobile’s Tennis Center and Montgomery’s Lagoon Park; State golf championships will be at the Mobile Magnolia Grove RTJ Course; The soccer championships will again be played at Huntsville’s Metro Soccer Complex; The state outdoor track and field meet will be at Gulf Shores Sports Complex for Class 4-7A and Cullman High School for Class 1-3A competition.

Look Good In Stripes

There’s a shortage of high school officials in every sport. If you would like to remain close to sports, earn some extra money and meet some new people, then becoming a high school referee is the way to go. High school referees protect the integrity of the games by demonstrating qualities like honesty, objectivity, consistency, courage and common sense. As veteran officials retire, new officials are needed and have the opportunity to make a huge difference in the lives of thousands of young people.

Contact the AHSAA for more details on how you can become a part of high school athletics by becoming a certified game official.

Flag Football For Girls

The AHSAA staff was approved to conduct an investigation and survey to explore the possibility of implementing the sport of Flag Football for females. Evidently, there has been some discussion to allow the sport for girls in high school.