The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback for Jan. 2, 2015

SEVEN YEARS AGO

JAN. 3, 2008

“Sparta Academy’s varsity boys basketball team captured first place in the South Choctaw Holiday Tournament Saturday night in Toxey.” Members of that team included Myles Wiggins, Justin Webb, Michael Cook, Nicholas Hardin, Matt Johnson, J.R. Williams, Brannon Jordan, Chris Cinereski, Mason Black, Drayton Rodgers, Michael Morris and D.J. Buckhault. Russ Brown was head coach, and John Cinereski was assistant coach.

“Sparta Academy’s varsity girls basketball team captured the first place trophy in this year’s South Choctaw Holiday Tournament Saturday in Toxey.” Members of that team included BreAnna Pate, Erica Palmer, Susan Ann Cook, Mallory Kendrick, Madie Black, Morgan Harden, Christin Booker, Ashton Talbot, Emily Booker, Hayden Armuelles, Rebeckah Coleman, Savannah Brown, Ashton Raines and Camarena Godwin. Russ Brown was head coach.

“Hillcrest downs Wilcox: Hillcrest High School’s varsity boys basketball team improved its record to 7-9 overall during the past week with wins over Wilcox Central High School and Alabama Christian Academy.

“Hillcrest downed Wilcox, ranked No. 4 in Class 5A, 51-47, on Dec. 22 in Evergreen. Hillcrest rolled ACA, 67-59, Saturday during the Capital City Conference Christmas Basketball Tournament at Trinity Presbyterian School in Montgomery.”

22 YEARS AGO

JAN. 7, 1993

From “Wright Angles” by Artie Wright – “New Year’s Day came and brought with it plentiful helpings of black-eyed peas, pork chops, collards and corn bread. The one thing missing was a heaping of ‘crow.’ After years of spilling my heart and soul, the Tide came in… with aces.

“I watched ‘the game’ in the comfort of my home with fingers crossed. Everything else that could be crossed was as well. I even brought out my portrait of ‘the Bear,’ put on my Bama jersey, drank from my ‘1964 National Championship’ commemorative glass, and set my Alabama clock at 11:11. I figure all of those ‘ones’ together couldn’t hurt.

“By the time the game was over, the jersey was dripping wet with sweat, the glass was empty, the clock was still ticking away, and Bear’s smile seemed a little bigger.

“The Crimson Tide beat the odds and forced a lot of the ‘experts’ to change their colors, as well as their shorts. ESPN’s Lee Corso was the first to put on a button that stated ‘Bama No. 1.’ Most others were true believers after the game. Beno Cook simply left the building. Good riddance.

“Bama fans will hold the bragging right for the next year. Perhaps we won’t rub it in too much… perhaps we will. One thing is for sure, we will savor this victory with the hopes that 1993’s season will be just as successful as the ’92 campaign.

“Roll Tide Roll!”

37 YEARS AGO

JAN. 5, 1978

“Mrs. Raymond (Jewel) Mitchell probably put a lot of male deer hunters to shame when she killed this fine nine-point buck near the Sepulga River.”

“SCOTT’S ARCADE: Located behind Car Wash in Evergreen on Highway 31 South. Opening Wed., Jan. 4, 1978 – Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Pinball, Billiards, Air Hockey, Foosball and more.”

52 YEARS AGO

JAN. 3, 1963

“SAWYER MAKES ALL STATE: Bill Sawyer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Parvin Sawyer of Frisco City, has been chosen as an end on the Class B All-State Football team. This team is selected by the Alabama Sportswriters Association.

“Bill, a senior at Frisco City High School, is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Hart of Evergreen.”

From “Sepulga River Swamp” – “Hunting is still the chief activity and the chief topic of conversation for the men here. Enthusiasm ‘picked up considerably’ when B.G. Robinson killed a buck. Then Milton, not to be outdone by some older brothers killed one too. All had to go further away than this section though, for all these had been run out and scared away weeks ago.

“The hunters’ spirits were dampened somewhat, when Russell and Ruth Baggette with son Phil and daughter Gayle, came for the weekend to visit and play awhile along the river and told of their son Bob’s killing five big turkeys this season in Clarke County. One turkey and one deer is something to talk about for days here. Maybe that is the reason the boys here took Russell hunting and let him fall in the creek on such a cold windy day.

“Marcus (Cumbie) and (his daughter) Annell and little dog ‘Tippy’ went squirrel hunting and killed about seven squirrels in all. They brought with them a piece of bear meat that someone gave Marcus at Mt. Vernon. He couldn’t get anybody to cook it, so brought it to Mom Cumbie. It was cooked and tasted and saved for other visitors, who had never tasted bear meat, to try. But ‘Huckleberry,” Hoke Perkins’ dog left at Gandpa Cumbie’s, refused to gnaw the bones or try the meat.

“Happy New Year to all our friends and kin everywhere! May you all have a successful year of finding whatever you are hunting for. But let that hunting be honest, law abiding and sharing with other hunters.”

67 YEARS AGO

JAN. 1, 1948

“Loretto Saints Hand Aggies First Loss: The Loretto Saints handed the Evergreen Aggies their initial defeat of the season with a thrilling last second 26 to 24 win in Montgomery Monday afternoon. The Aggies took the lead early in the first quarter, led 14 to 11 at the half and were never headed until Dowe, Saint guard, sank one in the final seconds for the win. The Aggies had previously defeated Loretto here, 32 to 20.

“Bill Carr led the Saints in scoring with 10 points and played an outstanding game defensively as well. Cannon followed with eight and Dowe had six. This was Loretto’s fourth win against two losses for the season. Besides the loss to Evergreen here, they have been defeated only by Parrish High of Selma.

“Benton Carpenter paced the Aggies, registering 10 points before leaving the game early in the final quarter on five personal fouls. Georgie Brown, Aggie pivot ace, also fouled out in the fourth quarter. Mickey Logue and Jack Cunningham followed in the scoring, five points each.

“The Aggies have won three and lost one thus far in the season. Their only loss was to Loretto, 26 to 24, and they have beaten W.S. Neal (36-19), Georgiana (59-23) and Loretto (32-20).

“In the preliminary contest, the Evergreen ‘B’ team lost their first game of the season, 18-14. Burns, Loretto center, led the scoring with nine points. Moorer and Rabren paced the Evergreen attack with five each. The Aggies ‘Bees’ now have a four won, one lost record.

“The Evergreen Juniors brought back the only win of the day for the locals, defeating a YMCA team, 34-15. This win brought the Juniors up to the .500 mark with two wins and two losses. Billy Mudge Lee led the scorers with 12 points.”

“Bay Minette To Play Aggies Here Friday: The Aggies of Evergreen High will meet an undefeated cage team from Baldwin County High of Bay Minette here Friday night. While little is known about the Baldwin quintet it is understood that they are undefeated to date. Bay Minette is one of the larger schools in the First Athletic District and are rated an ‘A’ team under the new rating system. Evergreen is also an ‘A’ team.

“Coach Hart has been keeping the Aggies busy until dark this week in an effort to break back in to the win column, but it will take a lot of basketball to defeat the Tigers. They are reported to have one of the best teams in the southern portion of the district.”