The Anniston Star from Anniston, Alabama • Page 17

Saturday, February 15, 2014 Pes ZZ Attorney: AU signee cleared of charges from arrest IP BY RYAN BLACK Columbus Ledger-Enquirer AUBURN Auburn football signee Kalvaraz Bessent has been cleared of all charges stemming from an arrest in Florida last weekend, according to his Bessent was one of four passengers arrested in Nassau County, on Feb. 7 after a traffic stop. After asking the occupants to step out of the vehicle, a sheriff's deputy seized 340 grams of marijuana in four separate bags as well as a set of digital scales and a loaded handgun wrapped in a T-shirt underneath the passenger seat All four occupants were arrested and charged with two felonies (marijuana posses sion of more than 20 grams and marijuana possession with intent to distribute) and a misdemeanor (possession of drug paraphernal lia). Following an Investigation, attorney Travis Reinhold said Bessent was exonerated after it he was found he did nothing wrong. "After meeting with the state yesterday and discussing the facts and circumstances of it with them, they came to the conclusion mat mere was no evidence to support the charges against him," Reinhold said Friday.

"They have agreed to drop all charges." When reached for comment Friday, a spokesman for the Florida State Attorney's Office for the Fourth Judicial District said the case was still ongoing, citing that investigators were "working diligently on it" and would "release something as quickly as we can." Reinhold resolved the discrepancy easily. The paperwork didn't get finished quickly enough for the state to declare the case against Bessent was closed. "The decision was made late this afternoon and it became absolutely official," the attorney said. "The paperwork didn't get to the clerk's office in time, but it should be there and processed by Tuesday because of the (President's Day) holiday on Monday." Reinhold confirmed charges were still pending against the three others Elbert Thornton, Artez Ward and an unnamed juvenile who were arrested along with Bessent. "Because of that, I'm not going to discuss the evidence of the farts and circumstances specifically of the entire case," he said.

The official police report lends further insight into the arrests. After being questioned about the contraband seized from the vehicle, all of the individuals denied ownership of the drugs, the scale or the gun, which resulted in their arrests. However, the police report notes the juvenile changed his story once they arrived for booking. "He freely stated that the firearm belonged to Mt Thornton and that the narcotics belonged to Mr. Thornton and Mr.

Ward," the report states. After being informed that his name had been cleared, Bessent took to his personal Twitter account Friday afternoon. "Thanks to all my AU family that stuck with me through this see you guys at Auburn War he tweeted. His father, Timothy Bessent, was equally relieved. On his personal Facebook page, thanked people "for all of the prayers and concern to those that really mean our family welL" "(I)t's not a perfect blue print for life but a perfect God to help us with life and for that I will forever be grateful to my God, and our family and friends," the post read.

Bessent's father also indicated in the post that his son will enroll at Auburn in May. -j- 1 Photo by Stephen GrossTh Anniston Star Alexandria's Lane Trapp wrestles Furtondale's Dylan Tice in a Class 1 A-4A match. HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL Weaver wins rematch with Ashville to make regionals BY CHRIS BROWN Star Sports Correspondent A second matchup against the Ashville Bulldogs this season was not as friendly for the Weaver Bearcats as the first but it yielded the same result. This time, it came with a bonus a trip to Jacksonville State University for the Northeast Regional. Unlike the lop-sided victory during the Van Deerman Christmas Classic in December, the Bearcats had to earn their 72-68 road victory by overcoming a slow start, trailing 19-13 after the first quarter and 36-34 at halftime.

"We haven't handled success well so far this season," Weaver head coach Dary Hamby said. "When we've beat a team before, we tend to let up the second time around." Even though it did not have a good night, statistically, from the free throw line, Weaver was led by the senior-duo of Chris English and Timothy Hawkins. The guard and forward each finished with 19 points, and the Bearcats also found produce from sophomore Shon'D McKinney, who added 14 points. Delo Forbes also chipped in with 1 1 points. "We missed a lot of free throw opportunities and easy layups, but we fought back," Hamby said.

"Not to make excuses, but I think we were out of sync with the lack of school and practice. We just didn't come ready to play." Hamby and Weaver may have gotten past the Bulldogs on Friday night but they are going to have to come prepared next week. With the victory, the Bearcats set up a rematch with the Holly Pond Broncos, the team who ended Weaver's season last year in the same situation. "This team we are about to play will come prepared. I think they are even better than last year," Hamby said.

"We 1 can play with them, if we want, but if we play like we did tonight it's going to be embarrassing." Hamby will give his team today off, but will get right back into the gym Sunday to practice for their rematch. "We've got to get better on our defensive recognition, free throws, and rebound. I think this game was a wake-up call for us," Hamby said. "We have four or five days to get ready for Holly Pond. "Where they killed us last year was on the board.

When we went into overtime last year, they out-rebounded us by more than 22 rebounds, sq we have to do a better job of rebounding as a team. From what I hear, they like it fast and we like it fast so it'll be a very exciting game solation bracket after falling by PIN Continued from Page 1C Mizic will face Tallassee's Josh Epperson in today's final, and he will not be the only Bearcat wrestling today. Nick Souder (106), Jermaine Carmichael (170), Collin Allison (182), Chase Rodg-ers (195) will compete in the consolation semifinals this morning. Macklin Crook (285) was involved in the prelminary matches still were going on at press time. Christian Pettus (120) and Jacob Howard (138) did not advance.

Oxford Two Yellow Jackets will have a chance to win a state championship today, one for the first time and the other for the second. A year after Hunter Lee won the 152-pound Class 6A state championship, he's back in the title match, but this year wrestling at 195. Matt King, who wrestled at 106 last year for Wellborn, advanced to the 126 state final, as well. For King, it took a sudden-death victory over Auburn's Jaitlin Pitts in the semifinals to make a return to the biggest match of the year. Oxford coach Matt Tanner is hoping King will have a different result in the state final this year against Smiths Station's Joshua Jamieson.

"He made it to the state finals last year and couldn't win the big match. He made it this year, so what's he going to do?" Tanner asked. "He actually lost to the kid he beat in the semifinals and he hasn't wresded the kid from Smiths, but that kid's only loss is to a kid that Mart's beat twice. That doesn't mean anything at this point, but he definitely has a shot. I definitely think he can win." Lee entered the semifinals with nerves running high, but handled the match with poise, defeating Auburn's Randy Hooks in a 9-2 decision.

Lee will face Hoover's Alec Shun-narah in today's final. "I think at a stage like this, to do it the first time is one thing, but then having expectations to doing it the following year adds pressure," Tanner said. "The first one is tough to get, but the second one is tougher because all eyes are on you. Some folks are going to want to see you get upset Mason Blakely (120) will compete today in the consolation bracket Jacob Shake (170) was still wrestling at press time. Hayden Carpenter (106), Josh Sewell (152), Trevor Owens (220) and Clay Webb (285) did not advance to today's rounds.

Alexandria None of Alexandria's trio of state qualifiers was able to advance to today's matches, but what a ride it was for the first-year varsity program. Valley Cubs coach Frank decision against St. James Brad Murry in the semifinals. Jackson will face St. Clair County's Robert Armstrong in the final today.

Saks Stephen Snyder was the lone Wildcat to make it to Huntsville this year and things didn't go as well as planned. Snyder was unable to overcome Deshler's Taylor Shirley in the quarterfinals or Madison County's Seth Shelton in the consolation bracket, losing by fall to both. Snyder did not advance to today's rounds. Wellborn Speed Pitts took care of business Friday afternoon, -winning his two matches to clinch a spot in the 1A-4A 145-pound state championship match. Pitts, who is Wellborn's only state participant pinned Madison County's Seth Shelton in the quarterfinals and won a 13-7 decision over Deshler's Taylor Shirley in the semifinals.

He will face Lincoln's Jama-rio Howard in the championship match today. Cleburne County Cleburne County had a trio of wrestlers still competing for survival late Friday night Corey Davis was still wrestling in the 1A-4A 138-pound consolation bracket when press time arrived. Davis won a forfeit over Weaver's Jacob Howard in the first round of the consolations after falling to Dora's Chase Warren in the major decision to Tallassee Josh Epperson. Alex Sandmann (220) fell in the semifinals to St. James Arthur Frawley and was preparing for the second round of the consolation finals when press time arrived.

Lincoln Jamario Howard had plenty to celebrate Friday night, qualifying for the state championship match for the second straight year. Howard defeated Fulton-dale's Gerald Smith in the semifinals in a 9-2 decision to match up with Wellborn's Speed Pitts for the 1A-4A 145-pound state final. Howard won a major decision over Westminster Christian's Ethan Pippin in the quarterfinals. Michah Gaston (220) Was still wrestling at the time of press after defeating Dora's Daylan Brasfield by fall in i the first round of consolation matches. Casey King (126) and Austin Blanton (285) did not advance to today's matches.

Ranburne Dalton Wiggins was still scrambling his way into today's matches when press time arrived. Wiggins, Ranburne's long wrestler in the tournament lost by major decision to B.J. Thomas of Tallassee in the semifinals after defeating Alexandria's Christian Knop in a 7-3 decision in the quarterfinals. Brandon Miller covers prep sports for The Star. He can be reached at 256-235-3575 or follow him on Twitter Hartzog preached being mentally and physically tough, and for Lane Trapp, Christian Knop and Antonio Dodd, it paid off and showed all year.

Although none of the three picked up a win Friday, making it to the state tournament after never having wrestled before this season spoke for itself. Trapp (113) and Dodd lost by fall twice, while Knop 160) lost by fall in the consolation bracket and a 7-3 decision in the quarterfinals. Ohatchee Ohatchee has gained experience at the state tournament, after beginning the varsity program last year. The Indians had four wrestlers still competing at press time, all contending for a third-place finish in their respective weight classes. Kevin Griffith (113) advanced to the second round of consolation bracket with a fall over Alexandria's Lane Trapp.

Josh Sexton 120) won a 9-5 decision over Weaver's Christian Pettus to advance to the second round of the consolations, while Payton Entrekin (126) moved to the third round of the consolations after a loss in the semifinals, and Hunter Barclay (285) advanced to the second round of the consolations after a fall against Lincoln's Austin Blanton. Piedmont In his first season as a varsity wrestler, Exavyer Jackson, advanced to the 1 A-4A 285-pound state final. Jackson won by fall against Lincoln's Austin Blanton in the quarterfinals and scored a 7-2 quarterfinals. Tyler Mayfield (132) was also still wrestling in the con Ducre's TD return on interception leads Nationals AssooATtp Press GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) Washington comerback Greg Ducre had a 3 1 -yard interception return for a touchdown and Furman's Ray Early made two field goals to lead the National team to a 12-6 victory over the American squad in the second College All Star Bowl on Friday night The game gives college seniors another chance to make an impression on professional scouts.

It was played at Furman University. A winter storm that hit the region this week canceled some early practices, yet the field was cleared and ready by game Dixie's interception return put the National's up 9-3 in the third quartet He was named the game's MVP. Earhs second field goal was the National's final score. Clemson tailback Roderick McDowell of the National team led all rushers with 53 yards on seven carries. that they were going to bring it to us," Ware said.

"It was a case of who was going to show up, so what we tried to do this time was do a better job preparing for them and be ready for them, because we knew they had a good team." What made the difference from Anniston's last game against Alexandria? More than anything, It was 20 offensive rebounds. Anniston also had 12 steals, with Fra-zier and Thomas getting three apiece. "We couldn't handle their press as well, had a lot of turnovers," Jennings said. "The biggest thing, I think we quickly. The Bulldogs went on a 19-3 run after Alexandria's Tyrelle Gay banked in a 3-pointer to tie the game 10-10 at 1:55 of the first quarter.

Anniston never looked back, leading 34-21 at halftime and by as many as 23 points, 61-38, on Demarcus Thomas' drive with 4:10 left in the fourth quarter. Thomas finished with 15 points, five rebounds and five assists, and Quint Dobbins had 1 1 points and 1 1 rebounds. Alexandria got nine points apiece from Dakota Kelley and CJ-Swink. "We knew froni the county gave up about 25 offensive rebounds. That allowed them to get the press going, because they made the basket after they missed the first one.

"We didn't shoot real well and we shot it well in the county tournament but you have to give Anniston all the credit" Ware says his team has found itselt "They're playing together, talking up," he said. "As a unit, they want it more. "We're trying to keep them hungry." Contact Sports Columnist Joe Medley at jmedleyannis tonstar.com. On Twitter, jmedleyjstar. BOYS Continued from Page 1C Alexandria finished 16-8 a year after not advancing out of area tournament play.

"I'm very proud of these guys," Alexandria coach Jason Jennings said. "These guys accomplished a lot They had kindofatoughyearlastyear, and the way they bounced back, I was just really, really proud of." The Valley Cubs' thrilling game against Annlston in the county tourney promised more of the same Friday, but any chance for drama ended 4. X.i..i..AAAiLtJUA4.41Ai..4u,UAA&&AAOUA4.4AiLi.