By Kyle Parmley
TRUSSVILLE — The school bell usually means that class is dismissed for the day. On Thursday, it meant more than that.
Beginning shortly after the conclusion of the school day, the Paws and Claws rivalry between Hewitt-Trussville and Clay-Chalkville was renewed. This time, middle school basketball was the platform.
All four middle school teams faced off during the day, with Hewitt-Trussville claiming three out of the four games. Clay-Chalkville wrapped up the matchups with a victory in the eighth grade boys game.
In the first game of the afternoon, the seventh grade Lady Huskies knocked off Clay-Chalkville 41-25, pulling ahead after a big third quarter run. Leah Harrison led the winning team with 18 points, with Erica Jones scoring 12 points. Other scorers for the seventh grade Lady Huskies include Abigail Dorsett and Mycah Moultrie. The Lady Cougars were led with 12 points from Aukeivah Tellis. Kamryn English, Aubriana Morris and Khali Johnson scored as well for Clay-Chalkville.
Hewitt-Trussville followed with a resounding 39-20 win in the seventh grade boys game, after holding the Cougars scoreless in the first quarter. Seth Shelnutt and Brandan Copeland led the charge for the Huskies, scoring 13 and 11 points, respectively. Also joining them on the stat sheet were Cameron Glover, Malachi Moore and Kerrigan Edmondson. Jake McDaniel paced the Cougars with eight points, including a pair of 3-pointers. Damione Ward, Deshazio Williams, La’Darius Kelly, Zavien Bradberry and Judah Walton also contributed to the Clay-Chalkville effort.
“We have competed very well all season,” Hewitt-Trussville head coach Shane Clay said of his seventh grade team. “Finishing games has been our big thing this year.”
The Huskies claimed their final victory of the day in the eighth grade girls game, as they knocked off Clay-Chalkville 40-32, after ripping off 18 points in the final quarter. Hannah Borden poured in 16 points for the Lady Huskies, followed by Hayden Neugent’s 13 points, nine of which came on free throws. Other Lady Husky scorers on the day were Kailey Walters and Natalie Ritchey. Brittani Forman, Courtney Ray, Naomi Henry, Tamia Jones, Tamya Kindred, Trinty Brown and Trinity Goshay led the Lady Cougars, among others.
Clay-Chalkville rallied to secure the final game of the day, beating the Hewitt-Trussville eighth grade boys 40-22, thanks to a 30-point first half. The Cougars spread the ball around all game, with Anthony Lougheed leading the way with 10 points. Eddie Smith, Courtney Braxton, Cameron Ware, Drewnaud Heller, Jaylin Mack, Austin Harper, Chance Armstrong and Parker Charles all scored for Clay-Chalkville. Jaxon Hunter spearheaded the Husky effort, contributing nine points. Graham Bianci, Pierce Dickson, Zach Defnall, Stone Shelnutt, Andrew Easterling, Caden Kirk and Cooper McManic also put the ball in the basket for Hewitt-Trussville.
“These guys have almost tripled their win total from last season,” Clay said of his eightth grade squad. “Everyone has improved from last year.”
The middle school basketball season will conclude for all teams at the Metro-South tournament next week. The seventh grade girls tournament will be at Liberty Park, the eighth grade girls at Berry, the eighth grade boys at Thompson and the seventh grade boys tournament will be hosted by Hewitt-Trussville.