By D. Mark Mitchell
The Opelika wrestling team hosted two events last week inside the Mainstreet Gym at OHS. The Bulldog grapplers hosted two tri-matches, one for the varsity and one for the Middle School, last Tuesday against Stanhope Elmore and Smiths Station followed by tri-matches against Beauregard and Sidney Lanier of Montgomery on Thursday.
The varsity lost to Stanhope Elmore, 36-48. Despite the loss, several wrestlers won their matches, including Roberto Martinez, Quintrell Williams, Cameron Williams, Dez Shuman, Timmy Tolbert and Bevin Williams.
Smiths Station dominated the inexperienced Opelika varsity team, 60-23. However Dez Shuman, Requan Hooks, Trinity Vaughns and Bevin Williams won their matches against the Panthers.
OMS defeated Smiths Station 58-6 in their contest. Tremir Rodgers, Erin Bentley, JB Stinson, Davion Snipes, Cameron Reese, Jailen Edwards and Brayden Bell all won their matches.
In the second contest, Smiths Station Junior High defeated OMS, 42-21. Cameron Reese, Makel Patrick, Jacob Blackmon, Malik Lakes, Brayden Bell, and Montae Hutchinson won matches for the young Bulldogs.
The Opelika varsity swept the tri-match, beating Beauregard 48-30 and Sidney Lanier 41-30.
Coach Jim Davis watched the following wrestlers earn wins for OHS: Dez Shuman, Kris Davis, Requan Hooks, El Toro Martinez, Ryan Nixon, Quintrell Williams, Cameron Reese and Tim Daughtry.
The OMS wrestling team defeated Long Cane, 47-30, last week. The following wrestlers won matches, Jacob Blackmon, JB Stinson, Quay Bentley, Montae Hutchinson, Cameron Reese, Tre Lockhart, Javeon Ligon, and T’Harra Brunson.
Opelika High sent 11 wrestlers to the KING of THE COUNTY Individual Tournament at Harris County High School in Hamilton, Ga.. OMS traveled to Alexander City to take part in the Dwight Buzbee. Memorial Duals at Benjamin Russell High School.
BASKETBALL
GIRLS
The OHS Lady Bulldog basketball team defeated Russell County and Smiths Station to win the SSHS Holiday Classic at Smiths Station High School last Friday and Saturday. Coach Devin Booth’s team is on a four-game win streak, while improving to 8-3 on the season.
Opelika opened the four team tournament with a 63-33 dominating win over Russell County. Anita Payne and Sierra McCullough continued to lead the team in scoring with 13 points apiece. McCullough grabbed 12 rebounds and Abre Green added 10 points.
OHS beat Smiths Station in the championship game, 67-61. Anita Payne scored a game high 21 points, and was voted Tournament MVP. Quala Walton added 19 points and was named to the All-Tournament Team.
The Girls will play in the Ball ‘N Prep Tournament at the Cross-Plex in Birmingham, Dec. 28-29.
BOYS
The Opelika boys split a pair of games in the Smiths Station Holiday Tournament, losing to Russell County 65-47 and beating Valley 65-56.
Russell County hit 68 percent from the field opening a double-digit lead after hitting four three-pointers in the first quarter. The Dawgs could not close the gap. Jordan Heard scored 11 points to lead Opelika. Bruce King added eight points and TeKael Demunn scored seven.
OHS defeated Valley, 65-56, in the consolation game of the tournament. Jordan Heard scored a season high 18 points to lead the Bulldogs. Teammates Jaylin Cummings and Austin Pitts scored 12 and nine points respectively.
Opelika will play in the LaGrange Holiday Tourney Dec. 28-29. The Bulldogs’ next home game will be Jan. 3 against Russell County. Auburn makes a trip to the Sports Arena on the OHS campus on Jan. 6.
OMS
BASKETBALL
The OMS seventh grade basketball team beat South Girard, 40-32. Jerrell Stinson scored 18 points, and KyDylan Ligon and Tre Roberts scored seven and six points, respectively. The young Bulldogs improved to 4-2 for the season.
The OMS eighth grade basketball team beat South Girard, 41-27 in Phenix City. Trevon Moore scored 14 points, Brandon Howard added 10 points and Jah’Mose Story added eight. The eighth graders are 8-1 heading to the Christmas break.
BIZILIA SIGNS WITH WALLACE STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Opelika senior tennis star, Andrew Bizilia, signed a scholarship with Wallace State Community College last week in the Sports Arena. Bizilia is youngest of four brothers who played tennis at OHS. Andrew is expected to have a chance to win a state tennis championship this season.
Congratulations,
Andrew!
MERRY
CHRISTMAS
I want to take this time to wish my family (Mallory, Madison-Robert and John-Mark), a Merry Christmas!
I also wish you, the readers, my entire family and all my friends, a very Merry Christmas!
D.Mark Mitchell is sports director for iHeart Media, Alabama Dixie Boys State director and vice president of the A-O Sports Council.