OPELIKA —
The Opelika High School Lady Bulldog basketball team has had a tough start to its season, losing each of its first four contests. OHS lost the season opener to Eufaula, 54-37. Tyra Pitts led the team on the offense by scoring 12 points. Naomi Whack finished with eight points and Mae Pearson added seven points.
Opelika played in the St. James Holiday Tournament last weekend. According to Opelika head girls’ basketball coach Blake Smalley, “the three teams [Opelika] played are in the top 10 in Alabama.”
OHS lost three games in the tournament, including a defeat at the hands of class 3A defending champion Prattville Christian (79-18), along with Geneva (41-37) and St. James (69-38).
Individually, Cherdi Daniels scored five points and grabbed five rebounds against Prattville Christian.
Mya Pearson’s nine points led OHS in scoring against Geneva, while her teammate Pitts scored eight points.
Daniels and Whack scored six points apiece against St. James.
The OHS girls’ and boys’ basketball teams travel to Enterprise Friday night, Nov. 18. The Bulldog boys’ team will play the defending 7A state champions at Enterprise High School’s gymnasium. Former Opelika head basketball coach John Wadsworth left OHS two years ago to become one of Enterprise head coach Rhett Harrelson’s top assistants. The Wildcats have advanced to the AHSSA basketball state finals the last two seasons since Wadsworth arrived.
AHSAA ROAD TO SUPER 7 AT JORDAN-HARE STADIUM
The road to the AHSAA Super 7 at Jordan-Hare Stadium continues this Friday night across Alabama. Class 7A will play two semifinal games Friday night as Auburn travels to face Central, and Hoover hosts Thompson. The two winning teams will play in the Super 7, 7A Championship game on Nov. 30.
There is one Thursday night game this week as UMS-Wright plays Charles Henderson at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Troy.
Three other defending champs are still alive: Class 1A Sweet Water, which will host Millry, Class 2A Clarke County, which travels to Highland Home and Class 3A Piedmont, which will host Gordo.
Seven undefeated teams advanced from the last round of games: Fyffe (11-0), Montgomery Catholic (11-0), Anniston (10-0), Deshler (11-0), Leeds (10-0), Theordore (12-0) and Hartselle (11-0).
A few tidbits: 46 of the 52 number No. 1 seeds advanced, along with 86% of No. 1 or No. 2 seeds advancing.
Hoover improved its playoff record to 106 wins, 24 losses and one tie for a .815 winning percentage.
UMS-Wright coach Terry Curtis added another win to his state-leading 348th game.
Congrats to Beauregard and coach Justin Jones for a good football season. The Hornets finished 11-2, losing to UMS-Wright, 48-30, last Friday.
D. Mark Mitchell is the sports director at iHeartMedia, host of “On the Mark” Fox Sports the Game 910-1310, co-chair of the Auburn-Opelika Sports Council, chairman of the Super 7 and Dixie Boys Baseball state director.