The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback for Dec. 27, 2021

19 YEARS AGO
DEC. 26, 2002

Members of Jefferson Davis Community College’s Warhawk cheering squad include Escambia County High School graduate Lucretia Johnson; Sparta Academy graduate Jessica Bennett; Hillcrest High School graduate Hyacinth Turks; Jay High School graduate Brooke Sowell; and Escambia County High School graduate Nicole Carlton.

44 YEARS AGO
DEC. 22, 1977

Jackets end 1977 unbeaten: The Lyeffion Yellow Jackets finished 1977 with 11 wins against no defeats. The Jackets picked up a big regular-season game over the Evergreen Aggies 55-52 on Dec. 13. They also were winners in the Castleberry Invitational Tournament with wins over Georgiana 52-48 and Repton 59-53.
In the game against Evergreen, Lyeffion rallied in the fourth quarter to overcome a 45-38 deficit at the end of the third quarter. Eric Finklea led scoring with 14 points followed by Adrian Woods with 13, Ricky Hall with 12, Willie Hunter with 11, Harold Kyser with three and James Riley with two.
Adrian Woods led scoring with 23 points to lead Lyeffion past Georgiana in the first round of the tournament. Eric Finklea followed with 11, Willie Hunter with seven, Harold Kyser with five Rickey Hall with four, and Rickey Johnson with two.
In the final round against Repton, Jackets scoring was led by Adrian Woods with 20 points, followed by Harold Kyser with 15, Willie Hunter with 10, Eric Finklea with six, Ricky Hall and James Riley, both with four.

Warrior boys finish third in Greenville: The Sparta Academy Warriors won the consolation game from host Greenville Academy 51-46 to take third place in the Greenville Christmas Tournament last week. Gray Stevens was named to the All-Tournament Team.
Steve Dubose with 12 points and 18 rebounds and Bobby Padgett with 11 points and 16 rebounds topped the Warriors against Greenville. Stevens also tossed in 11 points; Johnny Ralls, six; Terry Peacock, five; Tony Raines, four; and Cook Morrison, two.
The win left Sparta with a record of 7-2 at the holidays’ break.
Monroe Academy’s Vols edged Sparta 53-52 in the opening round of the meet. The Warriors only other loss this season was to defending state champion, Wilcox Academy.
Peacock meshed 17 points to lead Sparta against Monroe, according to Sports Information Director Byron Warren Jr. Ralls with 11 points and Padgett with 10, plus 13 rebounds, were the only other Warriors in double figures. Stevens had six points; Raines, four; Dubose and John Hall, two each.

Sparta wins consolation in tourney: The Sparta Academy girls dropped their opening round game to Wilcox, but came back to defeat Greenville Academy 44-13 in the consolation game and win third place in the Greenville Christmas Tourney last week at Greenville Academy, according to Sparta Sports Information Director Byron Warren Jr.
Wilcox won the opening game by 31-20 over Sparta’s girls. Sharon Johnson led Sparta with seven points; Mary Claire Robinson had five; and Missy Thacker, three.
The Warrior girls had two players in double figures as they completely outclassed the Tornado girls in the consolation game. Michelle Joyner had 12 points and Angie Driver 10 with Mary Claire Robinson chipping in six.

69 YEARS AGO
DEC. 25, 1952

Letters Awarded 19 Aggies At Annual QB Banquet Thursday: Nineteen members of the 1952 Evergreen Aggie football team were awarded letters at the annual Quarterback Club Banquet last Thursday night.
President Brown Boykin was master of ceremonies at the banquet which was one of the best ever staged by the club. A wonderful speech by guest speaker James (Bubber) Nisbett, Alabama assistant coach, highlighted the program staged in the Evergreen High Cafeteria. Coach Nisbett, an All-SEC fullback at Alabama in the 30s, was introduced by Bob Kendall.
Sportswriter Bob Bozeman of The Courant introduced Sam Hanks, all-state tackle at Evergreen High School in 1948 and letter winner at Auburn for the past three years. Hanks, starting right tackle at Auburn this year, is a senior and was recognized by the Quarterbacks for his fine record at Auburn.
Bozeman also reviewed the 1952 season, paying tribute to Coach Wendell Hart and Assistant Ralph Law for their splendid work not only as coaches but also as builders of character.
Quarterback Billy Lewis was honored by his selection for the annual D.T. Stuart Football Sportsmanship Award. G.L. (Dock) Wilkinson explained briefly the purpose behind the giving of this award each year and the donor, D.T. Stuart, presented the handsome trophy to Lewis.
(Football letters were presented to Pace Bozeman, Shirley Frazier, Billy Lewis, Bill Robinson, Joe Stowers, Cullen Edson, Sammy Robison, James Ansley, Clayton Cobb, Sam Cope, Paul Hanks, Bud Ward, Lamar Sheffield, Ward Alexander, Jimmy Frazier, Wayne Douglas, Richard Taylor, Wayne Bell and Ronnie Edson.)