Birmingham Post-Herald from Birmingham, Alabama • 15

OIRMINGHAM POST-HERALD TkunSay Fbmry 24 1972 PAGE IS Russellville's 26-4 THE STATE SPORTS SCENE BY TOMMY STEVENSON season COMES TO ALABAMA WITH THE WORLD'S DRIEST GIN AND FLEISCHMANN'S VODKA FIFTHS FIFTHS VODKA 80 PROOF DISTILLED DRY GIN In 3A Tarrant was of course champion and Ncai second The rest of the top ten in order: Oxford Saks Jackson Colbert County Lanett Hamilton Andalusia and Comer Gardendale in 15th place was the second Mghnt ranking Jeffco team The 3A top ten: OneOnta Abbeville (in a tie for first since they tied in the championship game 0-0) Washington County Georgiana Fyffe Brooks Vincent Susan Moore Luverne and Glencoe Oak Grove (38th) was the highest Jefferson County representative In 1A the order was: Marion County Addison Ohatchee Carrollton Zion Chapel Catholic Hatton Billingsley Excel and Clio There are no Birmingham-area 1A schools with a football program The worst team in the state? Spring Garden which with an 9-9 record finished 72nd and last in 1A to get the dubious honor by default according to the machines although Oakman with an 0-16 record finished only a few computer-points ahead Spring Garden redeemed Itself somewhat however by getting ail the way to the Region Eight basketball finals last week before losihg to Union Hill GIN 80 PROOF DISTILLED FROM AMERICAN GRAIN FLEISCHMANN'S VODKA GO PROOF DISTILLED FROM AMERICAN GRAIN THE FLEISCHMANN DISTILLING CORPORATION NYC Alabama St top team in tourney MONTGOMERY Alabama Hornets are the tojvseeded team In the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association Tournament which starts here today State win be the host team Today's game include Bethune-Cookman vs Albany State at 3 pm Florida A and vs Fisk at 4 pm Alabama State vs Lane College at 7 pm and Morehouse vs Clark College at 9 pm Alabama State finished the season in first place with a 13-9 league mark The 1971-73 All SIAC conference list was announced Sunday Alabama Gregory Northington a senior headed the list Joining him on the first five are: Caldwell Jones Junior of Albany State Robert Moore senior Fisk University Larry Stroller senior Morehouse College and Albry Currey senior Alabama State Named to the second unit' were: Snyder Washington senior Alabama A Joe Reddick senior Alabama State A Jones senior Tuskegee John Andrews Jun- lor Florida A and Joe Silver senior Morehouse SIAC coach of the year is Ronnie Lawson of Fide The Russellville High School basketball team compiled an outstanding 26-4 record this season and won the prestigious Tennessee Valley Conference tournament against the best 4A schools in north Alabama but for coach Jack Golden Tigers it was the second frustrating campaign in a row For all four of Die losses came at the hands of arch-rival Colbert County of Leighton the last 9945 in the region finals Saturday night so when the 3A state basketball tournament tips off in Tuscaloosa today it will be coach Jerry Dally Leon Douglas and company representing Region Seven instead of the Primus Common-led Russellville Tigers And the second year in a row that been the story Russellville lost four times to Leighton last season (again the final loss coming in the region finals) to end up in the bridesmaid role As a matter of fact in two years Russellville has lost only eleven games and eight of them have been to Leitfiton getting to be sort of a thing1 with us" coach Tucker admits really no way to say how frustrating it is to us Russellville and Leighton have always been big football rivals and now since both come up with pretty good basketball teams the past couple of years the rivalry is spilling over into basketball season" Of Douglas the 6-19 All-Everything center averaging 30 points and 24 rebounds a game Tucker says definitely one of the best basketball players ever seen the main reason they beat Just about everybody of course" But Russellville with the exception of Birmingham's West End which beat Leighton in overtime early in the season has come closer than any team to breaking Douglas and cage domination Closer every beat us by 12 points the first time we played this year eight the second time six the third and then four in the playoffs Maybe if we could have had another week or two and a couple of more games with them we could have caught up tell you enough to make me wish we could play in the 4A regionals even though 3A since we beat Just about every big school up here this And as a final irony Russellville demolished Lanett find-round state tournament opponent in a post-Christmas tournament a month or so ago Lanett by virtue of a 67-63 victory over Sylacauga will be representing Region Three when it meets Leighton tonight at 9 in the final game of first round tournament play For next year however things are looking up for Russellville and its seemingly never-ending quest for a victory over Leighton the way Tucker sees it Both teams will lose most of their starters at least we have to try to beat that pine tree standing out in the middle of the court any more!" Tucker says As for Lanett and any other team unfortunate enough to have to go against pine and his cohorts Tucker one who should know has one word of sage advice: AHSAA top teams The Alabama High School Athletic Association has finally released its computer-figured complete and final standings for the 1971 prep football season In each of the four classes the top two teams were decided on the playing field in the playoffs of course but after that the standings are strictly a matter of machine compuations based on a complicated system of points earned and tie-breaking factors In 4A behind Decatur (first) and Butler (second) the machines say the top ten contained in order: Baldwin County Grissom West End Lanier Murphy Huffman Davidson and Enterprise Besides West End and Huffman other Birming-ham-area teams in the top twenty include Berry (11) Enriey (15) Minor (16) and Mountain Brook (17) BIRMINGHAM'S OWN ALL-AMERICAN SdoDIdvodii ises assets Auburn's Heismun Trophy Winner i Altaw ij a MU 7-1 Ml HI JU AfOVIMM ssiaaseiss4iasisee nWSr kMIlH 1 TVMIVM aasasatstaaaaaaaasaa AMflini A A sssesstaee AJI MlTfU InWI aasattsaesaas 111 eaasaaaaaaasassaaaaa Ml JN JN SAITiyiESIslAV 1 2:30 pm to 6:00 pm FEBRUARY 26 AT A ACC tourney begins Friday Montevallo the regular sea-Z son champion will take on Huntingdon (the last place team) at 7 pm Friday night in the first game of the Alabama Collegiate Confer-t ence tournament at the Ath- ens College Gym Second-! seeded Athens will meet St Bernard at 9 1 Two members of the Confer- ence Spring Hill and Troy -'will not partiepate in the tournament Troy is playing in the Mid-South tourney at i Cleveland Miss this week and Spring Hill already had its schedule worked out when it Joined the conference last year and is committed to games this week The finals will be Saturday night become your own rich unde HOMEOWNERS BORROW UP TO 12500 IF YOU ARE BUYING A HOME OR OWN YOUR OWN HOME YOU CAN GET THE MONEY TO PAY ALL OF YOUR BILLS CALL TO-DAYI Bfl FREE AUTOGRAPHED FOOTBALL With Purchase of Car or Track THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC CENTRAL BANK BLDG 251-0285 i Pontiac believes that thousands of football fans would like to meet him personally and get his autograph a privilege to have Pat act as our salesmanager this said Blaine Brownell you buy a new Pontiac Mazda or GMC truck Pat will OK your sale and give you an autographed official football If you just want to visit welcome and bring the children family and friends If you priced a Pontiac Mazda or GMC Truck in 3 or 4 months then get our NEW LOW PRICE now during our STOCK REDUCTION SALE Remember this you have the lowest price on a new Pontiac Mazda or GMC Truck until you get our FREE AUTOGRAPHED FOOTBALL with the purchase of CAR OR TRUCK Now through Saturday! Wo will hold it for Pal's autograph or you may bring it in Saturday aftornoon Jack Benton a new Protective Life general agent Protective Life is happy to announce the appointment of Jack Benton as general agent in Birmingham Call on him His experience and dedication to professional life insurance counseling will serve you welL Jack Benton PO Box 7647-A Suite 100 200 Office Park Drive Birmingham Alabama 35223 Telephone: 879-1391 Protective Life Insurance Company Home Office Birmingham Alabama PilSTBM0 88SnSiiSS 1-59 Exit Ensley Ave and 20th St MPOOOOOQOOOOOOOOOO 9 9 i I I fr I I 1 "15.