OPELIKA —
Opelika’s girls and boys soccer teams opened the 2023 season Thursday night against American Christian Academy at the W. James Samford Soccer complex. The remaining spring sports start in the coming weeks.
OHS BASKETBALL
The Lady Bulldog basketball team (8-14, A 1-5) lost a pair of rival games last week to Central (70-24) and Auburn (72-42).
The Lady Red Devils completed the two-game sweep of OHS with a 70-24 win over OHS in Phenix City. Naomi Whack and Jordyn Cobb scored seven points apiece to lead Opelika offensively.
The AHS Lady Tigers hosted rival Opelika last Friday in the AHS gymnasium. Auburn jumped out to a 32-8 first half lead before coasting to a 72-42 win. This marked the Lady Tigers’ second win over OHS this season. Despite the loss, Cherdi Daniels led OHS with 14 offensive points while teammate Whack added 12 points.
The girls will play their last regular season game Friday, Feb. 3, in Seale against Russell County.
Opelika’s boys basketball team (8-9) lost to Auburn High, 52-62, last Friday night in Auburn.
The Bulldogs dropped to 8-10 overall and 1-5 in area play.
The Bulldogs’ last regular season game will be Friday, Feb. 3, in Seale against Russell County.
The area bracket for girls and boys was released Thursday. I will update you in next week’s column.
OMS 8TH GRADE BASKETBALL TEAM FINISHES 14-4
The Opelika Middle School (OHS) eighth grade basketball team finished the season with a 14-4 record. OMS defeated the following teams: Smiths Station (twice), Beauregard (twice), Gardner Newman (twice), Lanett (twice), Russell County (twice), Benjamin Russell (twice), South Girard and Valley.
The eighth grade roster includes the following players and their jersey numbers: Qua Lawrence (2), Micah Truitt (3), Cam Bulger (4), Brady McNally (5), Quez Johnson (10), Kairi Johnson (11), Jordan Livingston (12), Reese Beasley (13), CJ Sankey (14), Elijah Oden (15), Omari Smith (20), Mori Thomas (22) and Terez Thomas (23). The head coach is Dustin Ferguson.
DIXIE YOUTH BASEBALL REGISTRATION
Opelika Dixie Youth baseball league is currently holding registration for the 2023 season. Anyone 6 to 12 years old can play by registering online at www.opelikadixieyouth.com; cost is $90 per child.
Deadline to register is Feb. 17. Evaluations will be between Feb. 23 through 26. The exact date and time has not been announced.
OPELIKA DIXIE BOYS HOST 2023 JUNIOR DBB WORLD SERIES (13U)
The city of Opelika, Opelika Dixie Boys and Auburn-Opelika Tourism partnered together to bring the 2023 Junior DBB World Series to Opelika’s West Ridge Park last weekend. Opelika’s 13U Junior DBB All-Star team receives an automatic berth in the World Series as the host team. Eleven state champions and Opelika make up the 12-team World Series, double-elimination bracket.
The Opelika Dixie Boys league will hold registration beginning in March, running through April 15. Registration is held at Opelika Sportsplex. For more info, contact D.Mark Mitchell at foxonthemark@yahoo.com.
FLORAL PARK UPDATE
Crews are working seven days a week at Floral Park in Opelika installing the new turf fields in place of the old softball fields. The complex has a 100-yard-long football field and regulation soccer field, along with two mini soccer fields in the south end zone. The turf is outlined in white lines for football, with red and black lines for soccer.
The turf fields are part of several improvements and renovations at Floral Park.
Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller has not given a date for when the park will be completed.
D. Mark Mitchell is the sports director at iHeartMedia, host of “On the Mark” Fox Sports the Game 910-1319, co-chair of the Auburn-Opelika Sports Council, chairman of the Super 7 and Dixie Boys Baseball state director.
