BY DANIEL SCHMIDT
THE OBSERVER
LEE COUNTY — Three area basketball players tested themselves against top-tier competition at the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s North-South All-Star Games on July 21 at the Cramton Bowl Multiplex.
In games held for the state’s top upcoming seniors, Auburn High School guards Kayden Carr and Kayden Dooley suited up for the South team, and Opelika High School guard Brady McNally did the same in the boys game after.
Carr led the local contingent with 12 points, tied for the second-most on the South girls roster, and pulled down five rebounds. Dooley added three points and a rebound in the 71-63 loss to the North team.
“It felt great to even have the opportunity to play in that game. It’s a once in a lifetime kind of thing,” Carr said. “But also, I just wanted to go out there and prove myself and show that I can do this. It was a great opportunity, and I’m truly thankful for it.”
For Dooley, the night carried a family echo. Her brother played in an All-Star game of his own, and last Tuesday night etched her name into the household lore alongside his.
“It felt good being picked out of all the juniors around,” Dooley said. “It felt very good playing with such a good player [Carr], and we both just fed off each other and got warmed up so we can play good in the regular season.”
It also amounted to an unusual kind of preseason work. Dooley transferred to AHS from Valley High School earlier this summer, and last Tuesday was one of the first times she and Carr shared a floor in a real game.
“It felt really good to have someone comfortable out there, but also getting to play together right now before the season,” Carr said. “Since she’s new coming in, building that bond now especially will help during the season.”
AHS is coming off a 24-4 season in which the Lady Tigers won the girls Class 7A, Area 4 tournament and then the 7A central regional before falling 65-63 to eventual state runner-up Bob Jones in the state semifinals.
AHS head girls basketball coach Courtney Pritchett said he was proud of his players for their participation in the game and displaying their character throughout the entire process.
“We’re just blessed to have two kids who are not only really good basketball players, but also great kids,” Pritchett said. “When you can put that kind of face and image out there from your school, it’s always amazing. We have kids who have really high character, and they’re gelling together so soon. That’s always a pleasure as a coach, to be able to coach good kids.”
In the boys game, McNally finished with seven points, two rebounds and an assist for the South team in a 74-67 loss.
With his appearance, he became the first Bulldog selected to the game since Jalen Cummins in 2018.
“It’s awesome getting to go out there and meet all these guys and people from across the state,” McNally said. “And it’s awesome getting to play against the best competition and really prove myself. We’re [Opelika], a good basketball team, and we’re going to prove it this year.”
McNally, who described himself as one of Opelika’s leaders this upcoming season, said several teammates watched in-person while the rest sent good luck beforehand.
He added he plans to bring the experience back with him.
“It gives me so much confidence, and all my teammates get to see it,” McNally said. “These are all top 30 guys in the state, not just Opelika but everyone out here.”
OHS went 23-7 last season and won the boys Class 7A Area 4 tournament, earning a berth in the 7A central regional. The Bulldogs’ magical season then ended there with a 48-33 loss to Dothan High School.
OHS head boys basketball coach Wesley Button called McNally’s selection a payoff rather than a surprise.
“Brady’s our first All-Star since Jalen Cummins back in 2018, so to me, this is a tribute to him and how hard he works,” Button said. “He’s a gym rat, and I love it when you see guys put in some work, and they get the recognition they deserve. I couldn’t be more proud of him.”
Button said the summer schedule had already pointed his team toward this level of competition, with trips to Huntsville, Tuscaloosa and Auburn.
“We saw a lot of these guys that were on the floor [tonight] as a team this summer, and the guys responded well,” Button said. “Brady and my other three seniors — Kyrie Johnson, “Swag” Holloway and Makai Truitt — are a fantastic group of guys, and I think they’re going to do a great job leading us this coming season.”
Both teams open play roughly four months from now. Until then, Pritchett said, last Tuesday night gets filed away for what it was.
“With the culture we’ve built this summer, especially individually, is about playing and seeing where you can get better,” Pritchett said. “It’s a good measuring tool, so we’ll [come] back and get back to work.”
