By Erik Harris, sports editor
One of the biggest climbers in the latest update to the Alabama Sports Writers Association high school basketball rankings comes from The Tribune coverage area.
The Clay-Chalkville boys ascended five spots to No. 5 in Class 6A this week after picking off then-No. 2 Pinson Valley 59-51 last Thursday followed by a 66-64 overtime win over Gardendale Monday.
With a win on Friday at Mortimer Jordan, the Cougars (14-4, 4-1) would force a two-way tie with Pinson Valley for the top spot in the Area 12 standings. With a loss in Kimberly, head coach Jeremy Monceaux’s team would finish as the area runner-up behind the seventh-ranked Indians (16-3, 5-1).
Per AHSAA rules, this tie would be settled by a coin flip.
The Center Point boys (6-5) hold at No. 7 in Class 5A, and will host 6A No. 10 Shades Valley on Friday night.
In girls action, Hewitt-Trussville remains at No. 3 in Class 7A behind No. 2 Vestavia Hills and No. 1 Hoover. The Huskies (22-3, 3-2) knocked off No. 5 Spain Park 48-44 on Tuesday night in Trussville, securing the 2-seed coming out of Area 6.
See complete rankings below.
Girls
CLASS 7A
- Hoover (24-1)
- Vestavia Hills (25-2)
- Hewitt-Trussville (22-3)
- Foley (17-3)
- Spain Park (19-8)
- Auburn (13-4)
- Theodore (21-4)
- Sparkman (17-9)
- Austin (14-8)
- Baker (14-8)
Others nominated: Davidson (11-11), Fairhope (14-3), Gadsden City (14-7), Thompson (17-6).
CLASS 6A
- Hazel Green (27-1)
- Eufaula (19-3)
- McGill-Toolen (16-5)
- Hartselle (18-2)
- Athens (12-4)
- Buckhorn (17-2)
- Northridge (18-4)
- Mortimer Jordan (21-3)
- Chelsea (18-5)
- Madison Academy (11-10)
Others nominated: Carver-Montgomery (5-3), Clay-Chalkville (10-5), Cullman (13-10), McAdory (14-11), Muscle Shoals (11-7), Oxford (19-6), Park Crossing (10-3), Scottsboro (13-4).
CLASS 5A
- Central-Tuscaloosa (10-3)
- Pleasant Grove (22-4)
- Charles Henderson (9-2)
- Carver-Birmingham (16-4)
- Mae Jemison (8-6)
- Guntersville (17-5)
- LeFlore (15-7)
- Ramsay (15-11)
- Selma (5-2)
- Lee-Huntsville (9-10)
Others nominated: Headland (10-2), Lawrence Co. (15-2).
CLASS 4A
- Anniston (15-3)
- Priceville (19-7)
- Rogers (19-5)
- Deshler (17-8)
- Jackson (18-2)
- Williamson (13-2)
- Handley (16-8)
- St. James (12-5)
- New Hope (12-5)
- Cherokee Co. (17-5)
Others nominated: Dora (15-4), Geneva (12-7), Good Hope (19-7), Hamilton (16-4), Jacksonville (12-5), North Jackson (10-8), Oneonta (16-6).
CLASS 3A
- Montgomery Academy (18-2)
- Susan Moore (24-2)
- Lauderdale Co. (15-4)
- Trinity (14-4)
- Prattville Christian (17-5)
- Winfield (18-3)
- Collinsville (21-4)
- T.R. Miller (10-2)
- Hillcrest-Evergreen (10-2)
- Phil Campbell (20-5)
Others nominated: Elkmont (14-6), Ohatchee (9-4), Plainview (21-6), Southside-Selma (9-3), Sylvania (20-6).
CLASS 2A
- Pisgah (16-5)
- Spring Garden (22-2)
- G.W. Long (12-0)
- Midfield (14-6)
- Geneva Co. (16-5)
- Hatton (16-3)
- Cold Springs (14-6)
- Ider (18-9)
- St. Luke’s (14-4)
- Tanner (12-3)
Others nominated: Falkville (18-8), Sand Rock (14-10).
CLASS 1A
- Skyline (21-7)
- Samson (19-2)
- Winterboro (15-0)
- Loachapoka (10-7)
- Coosa Christian (18-3)
- Marion Co. (19-7)
- Covenant Christian (11-2)
- Florala (8-7)
- Pleasant Home (9-7)
- R.A. Hubbard (8-4)
Others nominated: Lindsay Lane (12-5).
AISA (final)
- Glenwood (18-1)
- Clarke Prep (21-3)
- Southern Academy (14-1)
- Tuscaloosa Academy (16-2)
- Lee-Scott (9-7)
- Chambers Academy (10-5)
- Lakeside (8-5)
- Lowndes Academy (10-1)
- Fort Dale Academy (8-3)
- Sparta Academy (5-7)
Others nominated: Patrician Academy (5-12), Pike Liberal Arts (7-4).
Boys
CLASS 7A
- Fairhope (22-0)
- Spain Park (21-4)
- Oak Mountain (16-8)
- Huntsville (17-6)
- Vestavia Hills (22-3)
- Hoover (16-7)
- Albertville (17-5)
- James Clemens (14-7)
- Thompson (12-9)
- Baker (14-7)
Others nominated: Enterprise (16-5), Gadsden City (17-10), Mary Montgomery (14-4), Sparkman (11-8).
CLASS 6A
- Hartselle (21-2)
- Mountain Brook (19-6)
- Huffman (14-3)
- Oxford (22-2)
- Clay-Chalkville (14-4)
- Calera (14-6)
- Pinson Valley (16-3)
- Spanish Fort (18-3)
- Eufaula (20-4)
- Shades Valley (10-6)
Others nominated: Buckhorn (18-7), Cullman (11-7), Hueytown (16-3), Robertsdale (20-9), Scottsboro (17-3), Woodlawn (12-10).
CLASS 5A
- Ramsay (17-6)
- Lee-Huntsville (7-1)
- Pleasant Grove (16-6)
- Guntersville (18-3)
- Parker (10-6)
- Talladega (14-3)
- Center Point (6-5)
- Sylacauga (14-3)
- Selma (7-2)
- Russellville (15-5)
Others nominated: B.C. Rain (11-8), Carroll-Ozark (17-9), Charles Henderson (16-7), Faith-Mobile (11-7), Greenville (13-8), Lawrence Co. (13-6), LeFlore (12-7), West Point (13-8).
CLASS 4A
- Williamson (22-2)
- Anniston (16-4)
- White Plains (15-5)
- Brooks (15-6)
- Westminster-Huntsville (15-5)
- St. Michael (12-10)
- Good Hope (16-6)
- Dallas Co. (10-4)
- West Morgan (9-8)
- Hamilton (16-8)
Others nominated: Central-Florence (16-6), Deshler (16-9), Haleyville (19-6), Jacksonville (11-6), West Limestone (9-9).
CLASS 3A
- Hillcrest-Evergreen (11-3)
- Fyffe (17-4)
- Cottage Hill (18-1)
- Plainview (23-4)
- Geraldine (17-4)
- Lauderdale Co. (17-4)
- Piedmont (10-6)
- Chickasaw (13-4)
- Mobile Christian (15-7)
- Opp (15-1)
Others nominated: Carbon Hill (13-11), Clements (11-9), Danville (12-8), Elkmont (13-6), Pike Co. (4-3), Providence Christian (13-6), Wicksburg (16-6), Winfield (18-8).
CLASS 2A
- Midfield (18-6)
- Calhoun (12-6)
- North Sand Mountain (18-5)
- Clarke Co. (17-3)
- Sand Rock (19-4)
- Lanett (11-3)
- Section (15-9)
- Spring Garden (15-7)
- Geneva Co. (15-3)
- Cold Springs (15-5)
Others nominated: Addison (16-10), Hatton (11-5), Westbrook Christian (14-5).
CLASS 1A
- Decatur Heritage (10-7)
- Florala (21-3)
- Ragland (17-4)
- Autaugaville (14-0)
- Brantley (13-1)
- Covenant Christian (16-3)
- Belgreen (17-2)
- Skyline (17-7)
- Pickens Co. (8-2)
- Jacksonville Christian (13-6)
Others nominated: Meek (13-5), Woodville (11-7).
AISA (final)
- Tuscaloosa Academy (22-0)
- Pike Liberal Arts (15-2)
- Chambers Academy (13-1)
- Glenwood (17-3)
- Springwood (12-5)
- Evangel Christian (5-4)
- Heritage Christian (16-3)
- Macon-East (8-7)
- Jackson Academy (12-3)
- Clarke Prep (13-9)
Others nominated: Morgan Academy (7-7), Sparta (8-7).