By D. Mark Mitchell
The Opelika High Boys basketball team won three straight including two Area games last week. OHS defeated Beauregard 75-67 and two area rivals – Benjamin Russell 64-59 and Russell County 63-58.
The Bulldogs avenged an early season loss at Beauregard, with a 75-67 win in Mainstreet Gym inside OHS. Brandon Howard led the Bulldogs with 18 points, Grady Bynum scored 12 and Ja Carr added 11.
The Bulldogs needed wins over Benjamin Russell and Russell County in order to force a tie for the area Title. OHS pulled it off, beating Benjamin Russell 64-59 and Russell County 63-58.
Three OHS players scored double digits in the win over the Wildcats, with Carr leading the way with 15 points and Howard and Tae Hardnett scoring 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Howard scored 16 points, while Marien Warner and Carr scored 12 points each in a 63-58 win over Russell County.
The two wins caused a tie for the area regular season title, between Russell County and Opelika.
The basketball team tied for the area regular season championship with Russell County.
Opelika Coach John Wadsworth called heads – unfortunately, the coin landed on tails costing the Bulldogs from hosting the area tournament and trip to the state-sub regional round.
Opelika will travel to Seale next Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. to play Benjamin Russell in the area tournament. The winner plays Russell County Thursday for the area tournament championship.
LADY BULLDOGS BASKETBALL
The OHS Lady Bulldog Basketball team (23-5) swept the four area regular season games to capture another title and will host the area tournament.
The girls thumped Benjamin Russell 56-27 and Russell County 66-29 last week in the Mainstreet Gym. Ladajah Hughley scored 13 points and Kaitlyn Bryant added 10 points in the win over the Wildcats. Claire Worth scored a game-high 21points in the win over Russell County. Ananda Hughley and Haley Sanders added 16 and 15 points, respectively.
WRESTLING
Opelika High Wrestling team battled Russell County and Shaw in Seale last Thursday afternoon. The Bulldogs received wins from (Joey Baker 120 pounds), (Keon Brazier 138 pounds), Ari Brogdon and Tre’mir Rogers.
Heavyweight Julian Favors favors pinned his opponent to wrap up the win over Shaw 46-17.
OHS beat Russell County 40-36. Winning matches for the Bulldogs were Jackson Shoemaker (120 pounds), T’harra Brunson, Cameron Willett, Brazier, Christopher Willet, Landon Willis and James Dawson.
OMS ATHLETIC SUPPLEMENTS
During the last two weeks, I wrote about the cost of salaries and supplements to operate Opelika City Schools Athletics. This week we will look at the cost for athletics at Opelika Middle school.
*The Athletic Director receives $8,000
*Football Head of Operations receives $6,000
*Head Football Coach receives $4,600
- Six Assistant Football Coaches receive $3,745 each
*Two Football Assistants receive $2,800 each
*Five Football Volunteer Coaches receive $2,800 each
*Football Strength and Conditioning Coordinator receives $450
*Dance Pom Head Coach $3745.00 / One Assistant at $2675.00
*Head Cheerleader Coach receives $3,745 while one Assistant receives $2,675
*Head Girls Basketball Coach receives $2,675 while one Girls Assistant receives $1,200
*Two Head Boys Basketball coaches receive $2,675 each while one Assistant receives $1,200
*Boys Head Soccer Coach receives $2,675 while one Volunteer Assistant receives $900
*Head Boys and Girls Cross Country Coach receives $2,675
*Baseball Head Coach receives $2675.00, one Assistant receives $1,200/ and one Volunteer receives $900
*Wrestling Head Coach receives $2,675, one Assistant receives $1,200 and one volunteer receives $900 - Boys Head Track Coach receives $2,675
*Girls Head Track Coach $2,675
*Assistant Track Coach receives $1,200, two Assistants receive $900 and three Volunteer Assistants receive $900
*Head Softball Coach receives $2,675, one assistant receives $1,200 and one assistant receives $900
*Head Volleyball Coach receives $2,675 and one Assistant receives $1,200
*Field Supervisor receives $2,000
*Videographer receives $1,400.00, Concession Coordinator $1400.00/ Concession Assistant $900.00/
*Fundraising Coordinator $650.00/TWO Building Manager at $450.00 each/ Equipment Manager
$450.00 / Technical $450.00
The total amount of these salaries and supplements equal $125,190.00.
OHS FOOTBALL BANQUET
The OHS football team held their banquet earlier this month. The 2019 Team Captains voted by players were: James Dawson, Jaylen Sinson, Omar Holloway and Miles Magee.
GPA AWARDS-3.6 or above – Marshall Meyers, Kory McCoy, Marien Warner, Nate Evans, Steven Harvey, Brody Davis, Ethan Cone, Marcus Tyson and James Dawson.
The Mike Spain Character Award went to Tyson.
D. Mark Mitchell is sports director for iHeart Media, Alabama Dixie Boys State Director and vice president of the A-O Sports Council.