By D. Mark Mitchell
Sports Columnist
GIRLS BASKETBALL
The Opelika Lady Bulldog basketball team (14-7, 4-0 Area) wrapped up the Area championship by winning three straight Area games in a span of four days.
The girls defeated Valley Tuesday night 68-50 in Fairfax to wrap up the Area title. Four players scored double figures, led by Alexis Sydnor with 23 points. Jaylen Snipes added 12 points and Amber Mathews and Ty Lockhart scored 11 points apiece.
The Lady Dawgs defeated Benjamin Russell 79-67 last Friday.
Jaylen Snipes, Anita Payne, Alexis Sydnor and Ty Lockhart all scored 10 points each.
The girls blew out Russell County Saturday night 63-27. Jaylen Snipes paced the team with 15 points and Alexis Sydnor added 10.
Head Coach Devin Booth continues to produce winning teams year in and year out. Many thought this would be a rebuilding year due to only two returning seniors. Booth has a good group of talented young players including several freshman.
The Lady Bulldogs will travel to Seale to play Russell County tonight.
Both teams travel to Auburn Monday night. The girls tipoff at 6 pm and the boys will follow.
Both OHS teams defeated Auburn at OHS in December.
BOYS BASKETBALL
The OHS varsity boys basketball team followed the girls by winning three straight Area games in four days. Coach John Wadsworth’s team is currently 14-3 and 4-0 in the Area. They can finish no worse than a tie for the Area title.
The Dawgs defeated Benjamin Russell last Friday night 79-67.
Joey Payne poured in 26 points to lead the team. Kingston Frazier and Pernell Vickerstaff added 18 and 16 points, respectively. These three players are all averaging double figures.
The Bulldogs beat Russell County 81-62 last Saturday. Pernell Vickerstaff scored 24 points while Joey Payne added 17. Kingston Frazier and Jacorey Love scored 11 and 10 points, respectively. AJ Butler added nine points.
The Dawgs travelled to Fairfax Tuesday and blew out Valley 75-58.
Kingston Frazier scored 16 points, AJ Butler scored 12 and Pernell Vickerstaff added 11, Jucorey Love and Joey Payne added 10 points each as five Bulldogs scored in double figures.
The Dawgs will play Russell County tonight on the road. A Bulldog win would wrap up the Area title.
WRESTLING
The OHS grapplers are 14-8 overall under Coach Jim Davis. The Bulldogs lost to Ben Russell 48-20 Monday night. Five Bulldog wrestlers won matches: Ethan Knight (145 lbs.), Davis Gafford (132 lbs.), Adam Tickel (160 lbs.), Angelo Farrow (126 lbs.) and Logan Buchanan (120 lbs.).
Opelika defeated Beauregard 50-24. The Bulldogs won 10 out of 13 matches. Ethan Knight, Adam Tickel, Davis Gafford and Desmond Shuman continue to win matches.
The OHS wrestlers are preparing for the Sectional matches where the team and individual wrestlers compete to qualify for the State championship.
JUNIOR VARSITY BASKETBALL
The Opelika JV girls defeated rival Auburn, 31-17, Monday night.
Alexis Browning scored 13 points to lead the Lady Dawgs.
9th GRADE BASKETBALL
The AHS ninth grade team beat OHS 42-26 Monday night. Jaichis Holmes scored eight points and Jordan Heard added six.
OMS BASKETBALL
The 8th grade basketball team lost to Long Cane 47-44 in double overtime Tuesday night. Takeal Demunn scored 16 points to lead the Bulldogs. The team is 6-10 overall but lost several games by five points or less.
D.Mark Mitchell is sports director for iHeart Media, Alabama Dixie Boys State director and vice president of the A-O Sports Council.