By Lee Davis For years, the Homewood boys basketball team came close to winning state championships, only to fall a little short at the end. All of that changed in 2015-16, as the Patriots rolled to a 30-6 record climaxed by an exciting 54-51 win over Muscle Shoals to claim the school’s first boys Class 6A championship. There was plenty of local action in Class 7A as well. … [Read more...]
Irons Men: Oak Mountain off to Strong Start
By Lee DavisWhen Derek Irons came to Oak Mountain as head baseball coach after a highly successful stint at Class 4A’s Charles Henderson of Troy, he realized he was moving from the frying pan to the proverbial fire. “There’s no question that the best high school baseball in Alabama is played in metro Birmingham,” said Irons – who won 221 games and two state … [Read more...]
Glorious End: Rebels Win 7A Title, Sending Gaydosh out a Winner
By Lee DavisRetiring Vestavia Hills wrestling coach Steve Gaydosh ended his career on a perfect note Saturday at the Von Braun Civic Center in Huntsville. Gaydosh led his Rebels to their 13th state championship in his 33-year tenure, and his team did it while knocking off one of wrestling's most impressive dynasties. Vestavia scored 134.5 points to narrowly take the … [Read more...]
Spartan Spike: O’Quinn and Carr Lead All-OTM Volleyball Team
By Lee Davis After winning the state Class 7A championship in 2014, it was hard to imagine how the Mountain Brook volleyball team could do just as well or better in 2015. But that’s exactly what the Lady Spartans did. Mountain Brook posted a 57-6 record and defeated powerful McGill-Toolen in the finals in three sets to win a second consecutive title. “We trusted each other,” … [Read more...]
Turf Battles: Area Schools Battle in Regional Finals
By Lee DavisCount on it. There will be at least two schools competing in the Alabama High School Athletic Association's State Finals next week. It's guaranteed. And there could be a lot more. In Class 7A boys, defending state champion Hoover was to meet Oak Mountain in the Northwest Regional finals on Tuesday, assuring that either the Bucs or Eagles would make it to … [Read more...]