Opelika basketball team lost a thrilling overtime game to Central of Phenix city, 67-65 in the south regional tournament finals held at the Acodome on the Alabama St. campus

O.H.S. and Central was playing for the 5^th time this season. The stakes were much higher than the other 4 games, the winner advanced to the final four in Birmingham next week.

Thes Dawgs started the game hot, building a 7 point lead midway through the 2^nd quarter. Junior forward Jacoby Payne , averaging 15 points a game , played only 9 to 10 minutes of the games 32 minutes due to foul trouble. This was a huge factor, Central out scored Opelika by 15 points the last 3 minutes of the 2^nd quarter to take a 8 point lead at the half.

The Red Devils led the rest of the game until Opelika’s Jacoby Payne hit a layup to tie the game at 58 with only 29 second left in regulation.

In overtime both teams swapped leads back and forth. With 10 seconds left in overtime the bulldogs missed a 3 point shot and Central rushed down court and missed a long shot. The ball slipped out of the Opelika players hand out of bounds. The Red Devils had the ball out of bounds under their own basket with 1.1 seconds left.

Central tried to throw the pass to guard Darren Daniel, he was guarded tight by the bulldog player. Yumon Barnes found himself in front of the 3 point line and caught the inbound pass and hit the shot at the buzzer to win the game for Central.

Opelika was led by senior Devante Calloway who scored 20 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. Jacoby Payne added 11 points and Morris Lockhart added 9 points. Calloway and Payne made the All-Tournament team.

The 2 teams average score of the 5 games, Central 58 and Opelika 57.25. An amazing .75 points separate the 2 teams.

Opelika finished the season at 28-5, tied the school record for wins in one season and reached the elite 8 for the first time in school history.

I want to congradulate coach Jon Wadsworth, his staff and players for having a record season and playing with class every night. When you watch this team play, they would make you feel tired because of the team hustle.

CONGRADULATIONS GUYS ON AN AWSOME SEASON!

TENNIS

The boys varsity tennis team defeated St. James high school 7-2 in the season opener. Single winners for Opelika include Jim Larson, Rivers Plasketes, Gavin Palmer, Micheal Bazilia and Winston Smith T. Doubles winners are Larson/Plasketes, and David Bizilia/Smith.

BASEBALL

The O.H.S. varsity baseball team opened the season splitting 2 games with Dadeville. The Dawgs lost game 1 21-11 and won game 2 10-8.

Dadeville beat Opelika 21-11 in the season opener for the Dogs. Opelika used 4 pitchers while struggling to get outs. Taylor Daniels (starter), Clayton Taylor, Jonathan Turner and Chris Gothard allowed 21 earned runs.

On offense O.H.S. was led by, Dalton Pritchett who was 2 for 2 , 2 doubles, 2 walks, 1 rbi, scored 3 runs and stole a base. Chris Gothard went 2 for 3, doubled, scored a run, 2 rbi and a walk. Talory Daniel slammed a homerun, 3 rbi and walked. Tyler Peppers had a hit, knocked in 2 runs and walked 3 times.

GAME 2

Opelika started Austin Campbell on the mound, pitching 3 innings allowing 4 earned runs. Blake Smith pitched the last 4 innings earning the win. Smith helped his cause by going 3 for 4 with 2 homeruns and scored 3 runs. Dalton Pritchett added 2 hits including a HR and a double.

The bulldogs scored 4 runs in the 7^th to earn the victory.

SOCCER

Opelika held an 8 team round robin tournament this past weekend at the Sportsplex which included the junior varsity.

The J.V. team won both games, 5-0 over Alabama Christian and 5-0 over Calera. The J.V.was led by Tom Vongkhoth, Austin Baker and Marco Reyes, each with 2 goals while Tevin Stinson added 3 goals.

The varsity soccer team improved to 4 and 0 on the young season by beating Charles Henderson 2-0 and Calera 5-2.

For the day, Zach Chanthongphio scored 2 goals, Vixay Mouangchan scored 3 goals and Joshua Heard and Tim Rodgers added a goal apiece. Tim Little was Defensive player of the day.

The varsity has only allowed 2 goals in 4 game.

DIXIE BOYS BASEBALL

The Opelika Dixie Boys baseball league will start registration for the 2010 season on Monday March 1^st. Registration is held at the Sportsplex Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Players must be 13 or 14 years old. The cost of registration is 25.00 dollars, please bring a copy of the players birth certificate when registering. All players will be placed on a team. If you have any question call 334-705-5560.

FOOTBALL NOTE

The 7 coaches in our Region voted to use a neutral Officials Association for all Region games beginning this season (2010). The same association will call all region games while local associations wiil call non region games, J.V. games and Middle school football games.

O.H.S. head coach Brian Blackmon brought up the idea and it was a 7-0 vote to use the neutral association.

The coaches of Auburn, Smith Station, Central, Enterprise, Northview, Dothan and Opelika should be commended for being the first region to use this idea.

GRAET JOB, COACHES!