CSNbbs

2 tournaments showcase some of state's top players
Monday, January 16, 2006
RON INGRAM
News staff writer

Some of the top boys high school basketball teams in the state will be showcased today at UAB's Bartow Arena and Carver High School.

At UAB, the Birmingham Tip-Off Club has arranged three intriguing boys games for the annual Piggly Wiggly Classic starting at 4 p.m.

Class 2A top-ranked Altamont (19-2) will meet Class 6A Hewitt-Trussville (11-10) in the first contest. The second game pits Mountain Brook (15-5) against eighth-ranked Class 5A Ramsay (15-4) at 5:30. In the final contest at 7, top-ranked Class 6A John Carroll Catholic (20-0) takes on improving Hayes (8-12).

Coach Barry Bearden's Knights lost for the first time since Thanksgiving last Monday when Ramsay defeated Altamont. The senior-laden team, anchored by Division I prospects Larry Williams and Louis Dale in the backcourt, is still unbeaten versus 2A competition.

Hewitt-Trussville comes in trying to shake off a brutal schedule that has accounted for many of its 10 losses this season. Coach Bo Coln's Huskies are led by Alabama early signee Justin Tubbs.

Coach Mark Cornelius' Spartans lost a Class 5A, Area 6 contest to Hoover on Friday night, 71-63. Mountain Brook is led by Hunter Houston, Jordan Lusk and Reid Hamilton. Ramsay is led by UAB signee Tauras Dortch.

Center Alphonso Ford is a strong force inside for Hayes, which catches Marty Smith's top-ranked Cavaliers after they nipped Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa 87-80 in overtime Friday in a key 6A, Area 6 contest. The Cavs come in with guard leadership from DelRico Lane and inside power from Jonathan Lessa.

In today's Martin Luther King Classic at Carver, two games are on tap. The host Rams (14-5) and Woodlawn (10-8) meet at 5:30 p.m. in the first game. The second contest pits fourth-ranked Class 6A Huffman (16-5) against top-ranked Class 5A Butler (18-3) at 7.

Homewood is also in action today at the Aggies for Cancer Classic at Albertville. The Patriots of coach Tim Shepler, who take on Huntsville at 3:30, are one of the most improved teams in the area since the players who played on the 5A state championship football team have joined the squad.

E-mail: ringram@bhamnews.com

I plan on making it to the Ramsay game to see Taurus play.

Any word on how Taurus did?

Blazer85 Wrote:Any word on how Taurus did?

The paper said that he was frustrated with the changing defense of Mountain Broolk
He was 1-7

UABFRENCHY Wrote:

Blazer85 Wrote:Any word on how Taurus did?

The paper said that he was frustrated with the changing defense of Mountain Broolk
He was 1-7

He was barely noticable out there on the court. I had great hopes after watching him warm up.. Hitting practice shots with great elevation from 12 ft range. During the game,, well, he might as well have just stayed on the bench.. Absolutely nothing to distinguish himself as a possible D-1 Prospect-- average Defense, no dribble penetration, no rebounding, and through the last 2 minutes of the game ( when I gave up and left) he had missed 7 shots and hit none. The Alabama recruit from Trussville was outstanding, although out of control many times.. Our recruit left me and other UAB fans who were there just scratching our heads.. I hope he was just having a bad day.

CMA was there... I wonder what he thought.