Play for Your 68

Who’s Your 68?” 

Dr. Kelvin Elko is a world-renowned sports psychologist who has worked with numerous NFL teams and Fortune 500 companies. I have had the pleasure of listening to him talk on an occasion, and one story always sticks out in my mind. Dr. Elko was talking about playing and working with passion, not just for the glory or for money. In the long run, he said,

having that flame or passion will allow you to succeed and be happy. He gave the example of superstar NHL player Jaromir Jagr, who wears number 68. Why 68? In 1968, the Soviet army invaded the nation of Czechoslovakia. In the chaos, Jagr’s grandfather was jailed. While imprisoned, he fell ill; he died shortly after his release. Jagr had not yet been born, but learned all about his grandfather from family members. He has since dedicated his playing days to his late grandfather and wears 68 to remind him of what he is playing for — what conviction really means.

“So what is your 68?” Dr. Elko asks. It is a fair question. Each of us has a 68 inside, that thing that stirs our passion, that keeps us committed even when we face adversity. It shapes our convictions. Perhaps your 68 is a family member or a time or place or even a burning desire to prove something to someone.

This Friday, I challenge the BHS and LHS basketball teams to play for their 68.  You know who they are.  Play with purpose.  Play with conviction. Play for your teammates. Play for your coaches. Play for your family.  Play for your school. Play for those who cannot.  Play for God...above all else, bring Honor and Glory to Him.

BHS Girls Return to Title Game

Burnett Reaches For Ball

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Her team was up two and hanging on after watching a seven-lead disappear in the last three minutes.

All Payton Burnett wanted to do was play foul-free defense. If she did, Brantley would have a chance to repeat as state champs.

Raven Davis Stretches the Defense

And thanks to a flick of her fingertips, the third-ranked Bulldogs return to Friday's Class 1A championship game after a 56-54 win over Falkville at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex Arena on Tuesday.

"Coach said to get in front of (the Falkville player) and when I got in front, I knew she couldn't score," said Burnett of her defensive effort. "I just tried not to foul. I was nervous and I didn't want to disappoint my coach."

Upshaw with Steal

The inbound play was a lob into Emily Mickelson, but Burnett deflected the pass with her fingertip, sending it down the court and preserving the win for the Bulldogs (26-5).

"If I had to do it again, I would have called something different," said Falkville coach Jeff Andrews, whose team ends its first trip to the semis with a 21-8 record. "We wanted to lob into (Mickelson) and maybe loop a pass to Bailey (Anders) for a quick shot or foul."

The late play offset a solid effort by the Blue Devils, who got back into the game with hot second-half shooting. Falkville shot 21 of 41 for the game and 12 of 18 in the second half alone, and went toe-to-toe with the Bulldogs.

Hill on the Defense

But the difference came at the line, where Brantley shot 17 of 25 to 7 of 10 for the Blue Devils, and on the offensive glass in Falkville's end. The Blue Devils managed just seven offensive rebounds, two less than Brantley's Amahni Upshaw had on the same end of the floor.

"That's the best we've probably shot all year," said Andrews. "We were down six with four to play and they did a good job of flattening our offense out."

Burnett finished with 18 points and seven rebounds, while Raven Davis had 12 points, and Upshaw finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds to go with four assists. Autumn Eddy led Falkville with 13 points, while Mickelson ajnd Makenzie Smith had 11 each.

To view more pics, click on al.com article.

To read more and see video, click on Montgomery Advertiser.

LHS Boys Advance to Title Game

SWAT Team in Action

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – If they don’t score, they can’t win.

Just ask Luverne junior Donta’ Hall.

The 6-foot-8 Hall blocked a Final 48 record 11 shots and altered at least a dozen more, leading the No. 1-ranked Tigers to a 58-43 victory over No. 2-ranked Lanett (22-4) in the Class 2A state semifinals at BJCC Arena.

Hall credited
with 11 blocks.

“It gives us a lot of energy when he’s up there blocking those shots,” Luverne guard TraQuez Watkins said. “We’re ready to attack after he’s blocking shots.”

Once Hall became a one-man swat team in the first quarter, Lanett players became tentative or acutely aware of Hall’s position on every drive to the hoop. The result? Lanett shot just 29 percent and did not attempt a free throw.

Preston Sankey shoots
over 6'8" Lannet Player

On the rare occasion that Lanett got in position to exploit Luverne’s defense, Hall erased nearly every defensive breakdown.

How many shots did Hall block? He complained to teammates after the game that his right hand felt sore.

“I hurt my hand on one of ’em,” he told his teammates. “I’ve got a blister.”

DeAnthony Rutledge and Quindarius Thagard led Luverne (25-2) with 13 points apiece, and Preston Sankey added 10. Hall contributed eight points, 12 rebounds and 11 blocks. No Lanett player reached double figures, but Justin Jones had nine points.

Luverne moves into Friday’s championship game against No. 6 Elba, a 61-52 winner over defending 2A champ Tanner in the other semifinal. Tip-off for the championship game is set for Friday at 3 p.m.

Que Thagard-
Whatever it Takes

Neither Luverne nor Elba has ever been to the championship round, so the winner will capture its first state basketball championship. Luverne has also beaten Elba twice this season – the only team to defeat Elba (26-2), with both games in the championship round of a holiday tournament.

“The stakes are a little higher,” Luverne coach Richard Dorsey sad. “They’re trying to make history on their side, and we’re trying to make our own history.”

To view pics of the game, click on al.com article.

To read an additional article, click Montgomery Advertiser.

To see the post game interview, click You Tube Post Game.

Spelling B Championship- Showdown At Central Office

Intense would be one way to describe the County Spelling B as BHS 6th Grader Jon Ross Folmar and LHS 8th Grader Hyunseok Ryu battled each other for half of an hour.  The entire B lasted one hour and participants worked through the entire list of spelling words.  Overtime was declared and a special sealed list of never-before seen words were revealed. Here is a sample of the words spelled correctly: ventriloquy, portmanteau, Freudian, bourgeois, velociraptor, hoi polloi, scintillation, fait accompli, dirndl,

sotto voce, and fêng shui.  Farmer Wilkes would have been out at "c-o-w, e-i-e-i-o."  Kudos to ALL!

3rd Place-  Autumn Bullock, Winner- Hyun Ryu, 2nd Place- Jon Ross Folmar

Congratulations to All of the County
Spelling B Participants

Autumn Bullock to Attend "Be Ready Camp"

Autumn Bullock, a sixth grader at Luverne School, has been chosen to represent Crenshaw County at the Be Ready Camp.  The camp is held at the the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama and will be held during March.

Be Ready Camp is an innovative and unique program that promotes citizen preparedness and participation to sixth graders in Alabama using multiple approaches to learning.  It utilizes a modified Community Emergency Response Team training as its foundation, broadened to include additional levels.  Be Ready Camp curriculum includes: emergency preparedness, introduction to survival and first aid, developing an emergency kit, creating a disaster plan, search and rescue, career exploration, and terrorism awareness.  Hands-on learning and demonstrations will take place throughout the week.  Autumn will also participate in a mock disaster in a realistic setting.

Autumn is very active in activities at school and her community.  She will share the things she learns with the other sixth graders at our school.

Lela Mansmann Wins State Gymnastics Comptition

Lela Mansmann, first grader at Highland Home and daughter of Christopher and Amy Mansmann, recently won at the State Gymnastics Championship in Tuscaloosa.  She competed as a Level 1 and received First Place medals in vault, beam, and floor.  She also won First Place in the All-Around competition.  She trains in Montgomery at United Gymstars and Cheer.  She has now moved up to Level 2 and will begin competition again in August.

HOSA Performs Well at State

Twenty Three Luverne High School HOSA members attended the The HOSA State Leadership Conference which was held on Thursday and Friday, February 20 and 21 in Montgomery, AL. LHS HOSA was among the 1200 attendees from throughout the state. LHS competed in a variety of categories including Creative Problem Solving, HOSA Bowl, prepared speaking, photography, health education, career health display, outstanding HOSA chapter scrapbook design, banner design, and medical spelling. Creative Problem Solving team members Luke Boyd, Mallory Jones, Morgan Taylor, & Jon Hayden Sanders placed in the top 5, HOSA Bowl members Shakia Brantley, Taylor Grant, Megan Hudson, & Blake Meadows placed 2nd, Scrapbook designers Ashley Gorey, Jenna Sims, & Ascia Brown won outstanding HOSA chapter. The LHS HOSA club was recognized as having increased membership from last year and Amanda Fang was awarded one of only two HOSA scholarships given at the state level. Kiera Brown, Marcus McLeod, Shakia Brantley, & Amanda Fang were given certificates of recognition for submitting a HOSA pin design.

Senior HOSA Members

Banner designers Taye Walker & Myesha Foster

HOSA Bowl team members who placed second
(Taylor Grant not pictured)

All Members Who Received Recognition

All HOSA Competitors

BHS Girls Birmingham Bound

Congratulations to the BHS Girls!  They won the Southern Regional Basketball Championship this past Friday night in the Dothan Civic Center.  Sunshine and BHS hit 21 of 50 3-points shots, as the BHS Girls cruised to a 68-55 win.  Click the links below to read more:

WTVY

al.com
Dothan Eagle

All Tournament Selections- Amahni Upshaw, Peyton Hill, and
MVP Raven Davis

Coaches and Team Celebrate Win

Birmingham's Final Four

Best of luck to the BHS Girls and LHS Boys as they travel to Birmingham this week.  Both teams play on Tuesday (Girls at 9 AM and Boys at 7:30 PM).

Below are links to important Final Four Information:
1A Girls Bracket
2A Boys Bracket
Ticket Purchase

Person Turns In Career-High

Person is Tripled Teamed

DOTHAN, Alabama (al.com) - Wesley Person saved his best for last Friday night.

The question now is what is next?

The Brantley senior - and son of former NBA and Auburn star Wesley Person Sr. - scored a career-high 55 points in the Class 1A South Regional final, almost single-handedly willing his Bulldogs to next week's Final 48.

"It was one of the best performances I've ever witnessed," Brantley coach Andrew Kilcrease said. "I told him before the game that he had to play the best he could in order to carry this team to Birmingham. I can't put into words how good he was today."

Person's final high school performance wasn't quite enough. Lucky

Person Elevates to New Heights

Travis scored with two seconds on the clock to lift Sunshine to a dramatic 82-80 win over the Bulldogs.

It was still hard to dampen Person's heroics. 

He was 15-of-26 from the field, including 3-of-7 from three-point range, and 22 of 28 from the foul line. He also led his team in rebounds with nine.

"I'm not one to brag on my performance," said Person, who had a 45-point game earlier this season. "But, if our team needs a score and the coach wants to put the ball in my hands, then I'm going to try to get that score."

Kilcrease said Person's father once scored 59 in a regular-season game against Luverne, but this - while four points shy of that total - was different.

"In a high-profile game like this? To do what he did? Amazing," Kilcrease said.

Person's performance also wasn't lost on Sunshine coach Walter Jones, who sent defender after defender against him in an effort to finally tire him out.

"Here is what I told our guys," Jones said. "'You want to see a basketball player? That's a basketball player right there.'"

Person's college future is somewhat surprisingly still up in the air. He said Friday he has offers from UAB, Mercer, Western Carolina and Troy. Kilcrease said Auburn showed interest in him last summer but his father's alma mater seemingly has backed off a bit at this point.

His grades aren't a concern, Kilcrease said.

"They are wonderful," he said. "He made a 23 on the ACT in ninth grade."

That likely leaves only one thing - his size. Person is listed as 6-foot-3. Kilcrease said Wesley Sr. was 6-4 in high school and grew into a 6-foot-6 frame at Auburn.

"I think that will happen with Wesley as well," Kilcrease said. 

Kilcrease said Person, who took Brantley to the 1A championship game last year, grew about two inches in the last 12 months.

"I think his best basketball is yet to come," he said of his star. "I think he will be an awesome player and, if someone couldn't see that today, I don't know what it will take. Maybe he opened some eyes.

"I'll say this: Whoever gets him will be getting a good one because he has some kind of determination."

BHS Boys Give It Their All

Congratulations to the BHS Boys Basketball Team on an outstanding season.  The team lost by two with two seconds remaining to Sunshine this past Friday night in the Regional Championship in Dothan.  Here are articles regarding the play:

Dothan Eagle
al.com
Montgomery Advertiser

All Tournament Selections-  Stefan King, Ken'yada Teague and Wesley Person

Class 1A Southern Regional Runner-Up

Dunkta' Hall Interview

Crimson Tide the frontrunner for 4-star forward Donta' Hall of Luverne (video, photos)

By Wesley Sinor

Luverne's Donta' Hall hasn't quite made it onto the radars of the major recruiting services yet, but the 6-foot-8, 180-pound standout has been a dominant force in Class 2A basketball for the past two seasons.

As his junior season winds down, his hard work is beginning to pay off. 

According to Luverne Coach Richard Dorsey, Hall is nearly averaging a triple-double in points, rebounds and blocks for the Tigers this year and plenty of schools are taking notice. The athletic forward says Alabama, Mississippi State, Georgia, Troy and West Virginia have all sent scholarship offers his way.

Hall took the time to talk about his recruitment after his team's 77-59 win over Aliceville in Class 2A Central Regional semifinals on Monday. He said his current favorite is Alabama and he talks to the Tide's coaching staff nearly every day. 

"It's going pretty good right now," he told AL.com when asked about his recruitment. "Everything's going good so far. [The Alabama coaches] are telling me they want me bad. They see what I'm doing, and to myself, I have to work a little harder than what I'm doing."

Hall, who is rated as a four-star prospect by ESPN, said a commitment will likely come during his senior season.

Check out his full interview in the video above and his highlights at Hudl.com.

To see the interview, click on: Dunktalicious Interview.

Ticket Punched to B'ham

Congratulations to the LHS Boys Basketball Team and Head Coach Richard Dorsey!  They are the Central Region 2A Champions and will move on to the Final Four in Birmingham next week.  To read more about last nights win, click LHS over RC Hatch and LHS 75 Hatch 60. LHS is set to play Tuesday night at 7:30 PM.  Kudos to those who supported and are at school today :).

Que Thagard Receives Tourney's MVP Award

All Tournament Selections:  Que Thagard and Donta' Hall

Head Coach Richard Dorsey Acknowledges Fan Base

2014 Central Region 2A Champs

LHS Basketball Team and Cheerleaders Celebrate

HHS Dresses For Success

Last Thursday, many Highland Home School students donned their Sunday-best and participated in the school's first "Dressed for Success." The special guest speaker was WAKA's news anchor and Ms. Alabama 2007, Ms. Jamie Langley.  Ms. Langley has toured the state as a motivational speaker, spokeswoman, advocate and performer. She participated in Miss America in January 2008. Jamie Langley co-anchors Alabama News Network This Morning from5 a.m. until 7 a.m. as well as Alabama News Network at Noon. She also presents the Golden Apple Award to deserving teachers each week. She joined CBS 8 in January 2009. Jamie is a native of Wadley, located in Randolph County in east central Alabama. After graduating from Southern Union State Community College, she graduated fromJacksonville State University with a degree in Communications and a minor in Music. She was also Miss Southern Union and, later, Miss JSU.  

FBLA students then modeled interview and work attire. Audience members were asked to give two thumbs up for appropriate attire and thumbs down for inappropriate attire. The event was emceed by FBLA sponsor Ms. Catheleen McCoy.

Kudos to the students who presented, Ms. McCoy and Career Coach Polly DuBose!

BHS Farm Day

Brantley School held their annual "Farm Day" on Tuesday, February 18.  Future Farmers of America (FFA) members are allowed to "teach" students on this day as they visit Mr. Andrews' class.  Students receive information regarding agriculture.  Students are then allowed to interact with all the visiting animals in the Ag shop.  Among this year's animals were miniature horses, a BOA snake, a rabbit, a pygmy goat, quail, baby chicks, dogs and a full size horse.  Thank you FFA members and Mr. Andrews for sponsoring this event!

Miniature Horses

Justin Eiland and Smartee

Lillian Paige and LuLu with Child

FFA Officers, Students and Farm Animals

LHS Spelling Winners

Luverne Spelling Bee Winner--Hyun Ryu

Runner up--Autumn Bullock

Runner up--Emma Taylor

Runner up--Lille Higgins

These 4 Students will participate in the Crenshaw County Spelling Bee

on Friday, Feb 21st.

Ms Sandy Owens was the caller and judges were Ms. Suzette West and Ms.

Traci Sanders.

There are 4 levels of competition for grades 4-8 and the rules are the

same at all levels. First students compete in the classroom.  The top

three students from each homeroom then compete for the grade level

winners. The top three from each grade level then compete for the

title of Luverne School Spelling Bee Champion. The top 4 from the

Luverne School Bee compete for the title of Crenshaw County Spelling

Bee Champion.

BHS Land Judging Places 4th

Congratulation to BHS Land Judging Team.  They recently finished 4th and are headed to state on March 3.

Kudos to OUR COUNTY as we had 100% REPRESENTATION!

Mrs. Jenny Holladay Honored

Congratulations to Mrs. Jenny Holladay.  She was named WAKA's Gold Apple Award Winner!  Please click the link to view: Golden Apple Award Winner.

Team Tiger Announced

Congratulations to Team Tiger! They are as follows:

K - Tyra Jones, Chridarrius Crenshaw

1st - Kamya Bedgood, Kent Barganier

2nd - Zyan Peterson, Mason Miller

3rd - Gracie Money, Zoe McManigle

4th - Emma Taylor, Maddox Adair-Oberer

5th - Anna Morgan, Michael Lebow

6th - Kayonnie Smith, Wade Wesley

HHS Spelling B Winners

Congratulation to HHS Spelling B winners.  They are Kendall Ward, Audrey Gilbert, Mason Stephenson, and Marissa Gipson.

Father Daughter Outing At HHS

Highland Home School hosted its first Daddy Daughter Dance in the school's gymnasium this past Saturday from 4-6 p.m.  All proceeds will be used in restoring the library.  Good job Ms. Campbell.