The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback for Feb. 20, 2023

15 YEARS AGO
FEB. 21, 2008

Sparta comes up short in OT: Four points.
That’s all that separated Sparta Academy’s varsity girls basketball team from a shot at the AISA Class AA state title after a heart-wrenching 48-44 overtime loss to Lowndes Academy last Thursday.
The loss to Lowndes came in the Final Four round of the state tournament, which was played at the Catherine Dixon Roland Arena at Huntingdon College in Montgomery.
Mallory Kendrick, a five-foot-nine junior, led Sparta with 15 points, seven rebounds and two blocks. BreAnna Pate followed with 11 points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal. Morgan Harden recorded eight points, four rebounds, an assist and seven steals.
Erica Palmer finished the game with seven points, nine rebounds, an assist and a steal. Christin Booker collected three points and a rebound. Susan Ann Cook posted six rebounds and a steal.
(Other top Sparta players in that game included Hayden Armuelles, Camarena Godwin, Erica Palmer and Ashton Talbot.)

Jags close season against Aggies: Hillcrest High School’s varsity boys basketball team closed out its 2007-2008 season with a 61-59 loss against Jackson High School.
The loss came during the sub-regional round of the Class 4A state playoffs Friday night in Evergreen.
Freshman DeAndre Lyons and Taft Lark, a junior, led Hillcrest with 18 points each. Sophomore Lawrence Bennett followed with 11 points for the Jags.
(Other top Hillcrest players in that game included Aaron Dees, Clarence Jackson, Cleveland Knight and Antonio Lewis.)

41 YEARS AGO
FEB. 18, 1982

Sparta teams eliminated at district meet: The Sparta Academy girls won their opening game, but were defeated in the second round in the Alabama Private Schools District III Basketball Tournament played at Fort Dale Academy in Greenville, Feb. 9-11. The boys varsity was eliminated in the first round by Fort Dale, 90-78.
Lynn Hyde was named to the all-tournament team and she and Cheri Johnson were named all-district. Chris Blatz was on the all-district team and Russ Brown on the all-tournament team, according to Sports Information Director Byron Warren Jr.
Sparta’s girls beat Monroe Academy, 41-28, in the opening round. Cheri Johnson and Lynn Hyde scored 10 points each; Tammy Booker, eight; Angie Stuckey, two; Jerolyn Dean, Sara Cope and Jan Coker, two each; and Tina Bybee, one.
Wilcox Academy, the ultimate district champions, beat Sparta’s girls, 58-21. Lynn Hyde had nine points; Angie Stuckey, four; Lisa Brown and Cheri Johnson, three each; and Tina Bybee, two.
Sparta’s boys varsity lost to Fort Dale in spite of having four players shoot inn double digits: Vance Watts, 20, Russ Brown, 16, Chris Blatz, 14, and Russ Raines, 12. Wes Brown had six, Scotty Grace and Britt McNeill, four each, and Joe McInvale, two.

Homecoming was observed Sat., Jan. 30, at Patrick Henry State Junior College as the Patriots defeated Enterprise State Junior College by a score of 63-57. Maids and the Queen were selected by the student body. The homecoming court are Regenia Henry of Jackson and Arthur Sharp of Peterman, Cheryl England and Linzey Coston of Thomasville, Queen Natholie Bentley of Monroeville and Desak Hicks of Grove Hill, Renee Martin and Dale Jones of Sweet Water, Gwyn Brown of Repton and Rusty Middleton of Monroeville, Deborah Horton of Monroeville and Ron Cumlander of Grove Hill.

65 YEARS AGO
FEB. 20, 1958

Hi-Lites of E.H.S. – Girls Basketball Tournament: After triple overtime, the fourth period girls’ physical education class, the Black Eagles, defeated the White Sox, fifth period class, 24-22.
The high scorer for the Black Eagles was Jean Brooks with 11 points. She was followed up by Nancy Watson with nine and Vivian Anderson with four.
Laurice Adams was high scorer for the White Sox with 11 points. Georgiana White had six, Jane Johnson had three and Carolyn Wilson had two.
At the half, the Black Eagles had 12 points, and the White Sox had nine points. The score was tied at 18 points at the end of the fourth quarter.
The $20.80 received from admission will be used to purchase new equipment for the physical education classes.

China Wins Invitation Tourney: China received the scare of its life Saturday night, Feb. 15, but retained enough composure to eke a 35-30 overtime victory over the Lime Hill Hawks, to climax a wild and wooly day and night of basketball.
The Lime Hill Hawks, coached by Leon Randolph, had been spoilers in the tournament before. They had to eliminate a tough CCTS Jr. High team to meet the China aggregation. Most of the players and coaches were of the opinion that the championship game would be played between CCTS and China. Lime Hill had something positive to say about this and promptly eliminated a favored CCTS team in the second round.

90 YEARS AGO
FEB. 16, 1933

Grove Hill To Play S.S.A.S. Loopers: Grove Hill High School will meet the S.S.A.S. basketball team at the local gym Friday night in a schedule game bearing on the conference standing of the two teams. The visitors have an enviable reputation on the basketball court and the local team is looking for a hard fight from the down-staters.
The Aggies lost an impromptu tussle to Miller High of Brewton last Saturday night, the game having been arranged after Springhill of Mobile had cancelled the game scheduled with that outfit. Springhill’s cancellation was made necessary because of the bad weather prevailing prior to game time, road conditions making the trip impractical for the Gulf City boys.

Local Baseball Team Is Being Organized: Plans for entering a club in one of the baseball leagues operating in contiguous territory are being considered by local enthusiasts, it has been learned. According to present plans, a club will be organized from strictly amateur local talent. An application has been filed for entry of the local club in the South Alabama League, but definite action on this application cannot be taken until it is established whether that league will operate with the same clubs as were members last season.
Local fans have been approached by representatives of other independent teams with a view to organization of a league embracing other towns in the territory adjacent to Evergreen.
While no promises have as yet been made, it is a certainty that the local club will be able to enter one of the leagues, if organization plans go through as proposed.
Loyce Hyde, at the L.D. King Store Co., is in charge of the local club’s affairs. Those interested in baseball for Evergreen this season should see Mr. Hyde.