CULLMAN SPORTS PAGE

Holly Pond spring sports update.
BASEBALL:
4-14, 0-3 in 3A, A 11 (As of 03/28)
Vs. J.B. Pennington (3A, A 11) April 2 4:00
At J.B. Pennington (3A, A 11) April 3 (DH) 4:00
At Vinemont April 6 6:30

SOFTBALL:
4-6, 1-2 in 3A, A 11 (As of 03/28)
Vs. Danville April 2 4:30
Vs. Locust Fork (3A, A 11) April 3 4:30

TRACK:
At Cold Springs April Fools Invite April 5 4:00

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Cullman County varsity championship
At Tom Drake Coliseum - Hanceville:
#1 Holly Pond  18  18  20  10  -  66 (23-3)
#2 West Point  11  10  14   11  -  46 (14-13)
HOLLY POND: Griffin Morris 20, Jake Harris 11, Ben Jones 5, Gunter Hollis 2, Kyler Chaney 5, McKinley Garrett 6, Garrett Rowell 2, Tyler Boatright 5.
Team totals: 15-28 FGs, 10-20 3s, 7-13 FTs, 28 rebounds, 8 assists.

WEST POINT: Austin Dubberly 10, Kolton Sapp 8, Skylar Bowers 3, Whitt Laney 8, Rylan Jones 2, Colby Sullins 6, Tyler Thompson 3.
Team totals: 17-39 FGs, 3-10 3s, 2-9 FTs, 24 rebounds, 6 assists.

STAR-STUDDED PERFORMER: Griffin Morris of Holly Pond - 20 points, 8-13 FGs, 4-6 treys, 1 rebound, 3 assists.
ALL-TOURNAMENT: Griffin Morris, Zach Shaw - Holly Pond, Luke Yarbrough, Bryson Fletcher - Fairview, Colby Sullins, Kolton Sapp - West Point, Issac McDonald - Good Hope.
JOE SHULTS AWARD WINNER: Griffin Morris of Holly Pond
ELI THOMAS SCHOLARSHIP WINNER: Issac McDonald of Good Hope
ALL-COUNTY: Katch Johnson - Vinemont, Hunter McClendon - Cold Springs, Austin Dubberly - West Point, Issac McDonald - Good Hope, Kolton Sapp - West Point, Griffin Morris- Holly Pond, Bryson Fletcher - Fairview, Luke Yarbrough - Fairview, Cole Maddox - Good Hope, McKinley Garrett - Holly Pond, RJ Evans - Hanceville
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Photo 1: County champion Holly Pond Broncos (Photo by Cullman Co Athletics)
Photo 2: County runner-up West Point Warriors (Photo by Cullman Co Athletics)
Photo 3: All-tournament team (Photo by Cullman County Athletics)
Photo 4: All-County team (Photo by Cullman County Athletics)
Photo 5: Eli-Thomas Scholarship winner Issac McDonald of Good Hope (Photo by Cullman County Athletics)
Photo 6: Joe Shults Award winner Griffin Morris of Holly Pond (Photo by Cullman County Athletics)
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Cullman County varsity semifinal
At Tom Drake Coliseum - Hanceville:
# 1 Holly Pond  32  16  12  18  -  78  (22-3)
#4 Fairview       21  15   9   19  -  64  (11-13)
HOLLY POND: Griffin Morris 21, Zach Shaw 17, Jake Harris 9, Gunter Hollis 4, Kyler Chaney 8, McKinley Garrett 10, Garrett Rowell 3, Tyler Boatright 6.
FAIRVIEW: Bryson Fletcher 28, Luke Yarbrough 15, Cameron Guthrie 12, Sawyer Daniel 1, Truman Boyd 7, Austin Turner 1.

STAR-STUDDED PEFORMER: Griffin Morris of Holly Pond - 21 points, 9-17 FGs, 1-5 treys, 2-2 FTs, 5 rebounds, 4 assists.
 FLASH NOTES: Holly Pond's running game was at an astounding pace with 32 points coming in the opening quarter. The Broncos were 13 of 16 from the field eight minutes into the game and 19 of 28 by halftime, shooting at a blazing 67 percent.
 The pace slowed down during the third with the Broncos scoring a dozen and the Aggies just getting nine. But Holly Pond maintained a double-digit lead to extend its current winning streak to eight, improve to 6-0 in the month of January.
 Mitch Morris' squad entered the county tournament on the rise to No. 5 in the state 3A prep poll. The Broncos have been ranked for the last three weeks, going from ninth to seventh to third, with their sights set on a higher number when the next ranking comes  out on Wednesday.
 The contest was a shootout between Bryson Fletcher of Fairview and Holly Pond's Griffin Morris. Fletcher produced 28 points in his final county tournament game on 11 of 14 shooting, going three for three from long range.
 Morris was a 52 percent shooter for the game on nine of 17, but very effective in short range shots as he knocked down eight of 12. Morris had 17 by the time the game reached halftime.
 Zach Shaw contributed five of eight from the line with Jake Harris four of five in free throw shooting. McKinley Garrett had a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds, going two for two from the stripe. He worked hard on the defensive side pulling down seven Fairview shots.
 Up next for Holly Pond: Vs. West Point in championship Saturday 7:00 p.m.
 (Live on WKUL-FM)

Holly Pond's Griffin Morris (12) watches Fairview's Luke Yarbrough shoot from the foul line in the 1st half. Yarbrough would go eight of nine from the line, scoring 15 points. Morris had a team high 21 points in a 78-64 Holly Pond semifinal victory.
Sportspage photo by Johnny Thornton




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Cullman County JV semifinal
At Tom Drake Coliseum - Hanceville:
# 1 Holly Pond   18  21  14  11   -  64
#4  Hanceville    11  8   15   14   -  48
HOLLY POND: Issac Ludgwig 20, Tucker Gambrill 18, Parker Sellers 12, Jacob Ring 8, Gabe Fortner 5
HANCEVILLE: JR Isbell 12, Caiman Moore 11, Aiden Dye 9, Garrett Turner 5, Izayah Glennon 1, Matthew Cornelius 8

STAR-STUDDED PERFORMER: Issac Ludwig of Holly Pond - 20 points, 7-16 FGs, 1-3 treys, 5-6 FTs, 3 rebounds.
 FLASH NOTES: Holly Pond was on fire for the first half with 39 points, getting a variety of shots to fall from inside and beyond the three-point arch.
 The Broncos built a 20-point cushion by the half, but was challenged in the second half by Hanceville who trimmed the margin to seven early in the fourth period before the Broncos put it away thanks to Ludwig and Gambrill.
 Holly Pond made 11 of 15 free throws, led by Ludwig's five of six and Gambrill's three of four that factored in for the No. 1 seed to get a step closer of claiming the junior varsity crown.
 Up next for Holly Pond: Vs. West Point/Fairview winner in finals Saturday 4:00 p.m.

At Jim Boyd Gymnasium:
Holly Pond  20  11  19  26  -  76  (6-2)
West Point   19  12  26  17  -  74 (4-4)
HOLLY POND: Griffin Morris 25, Jake Harris 10, Kyler Chaney 16, Zach Shaw 8, McKinley Garrett 8, Garrett Rowell 4, Devyn Tankersley 4.
WEST POINT: Kolby Sullins 15, Kolton Sapp 13, Rylan Jones 14, Austin Dubberly 12, Noah Gammon 7, Tyler Thompson, Skylar Bowers 4, Hunter Persall 2, Dalton White 2.
 FLASH NOTES: Holly Pond never panicked when the Broncos began the fourth period trailing 59-50 as West Point's Noah Gammon dropped in a pair from the foul line.
 What would transpire was a fourth quarter with five lead changes in a row in a span of a minute and seven seconds, plus the Broncos trying to protect the lead and the Warriors having their trouble down the stretch making foul shots.
 Rylan Jones ripped a three from the top of the key at 3:35 to send West Point back in front for the final time on the night, 66-64.
 Fifteen seconds later, it was the Broncos' Griffin Morris, who matched Jones in draining a three from the top, using his left hand to lead the way. That propelled Holly Pond ahead 67-66.
 McKinley Garrett scored from close distance with 2:01 to play and the Broncos had gone up by a 72-66 margin.
 The Warriors would answer.
 Kolby Sullins landed from trey land with 25 seconds to go to reduce the deficit to 74-73 as West Point called for a time out.
 Free throws would factor in the rest of the way. Jake Harris was one of two with 0:17 left as Holly Pond led 75-73.
 Sullins made just one of two with 0:04 left and the margin was down to 75-74.
 Harris could not extend the lead for the Broncos as he missed both with three seconds showing.
 But West Point could not gather the rebound cleanly as the ball bounced out of play, giving it back to the Broncos with four-tents of a second to go.
 Shaw got the first to go, then intentionally missed the second as time expired with the Broncos moving their winning streak to four in a row, getting their sixth win in eight games and improving to 2-1 vs. county opponents.
 Mitch Morris' Broncos have been solid in scoring in their last two games in the fourth quarter, producing 22 last Friday to run past Cold Springs 83-53 and the 26 Monday evening against West Point.
 Randy Jones' Warriors were seven of 11 from the line in the fourth with the Broncos shooting three of seven. The Broncos were guided by 10 field goals in the final 8:00, three shots coming from three-point range.
 West Point finished the third with the advantage, but seeing it go from 50-40 at the 2:49 mark to 57-50 when time ran out. 
 The Warriors lost for the first time at Jim Boyd Gym in three game so far on the young season.
 Up next for Holly Pond: Vs. Susan Moore Tuesday.
​ Up next for West Point: At Cold Springs Tuesday

Photo 1: West Point's Austin Dubberly passes over the Holly Pond defense of Griffin Morris (12), Kyler Chaney (22) and Zach Shaw (4).
Photo 2: Holly Pond's Kyler Chaney gets sandwiched between West Point's Kolby Sullins (14) and Rylan Jones (5).
Photo 3: West Point PG Hunter Persall moves the ball upcourt against Griffin Morris.
Sportspage photos by Johnny Thornton.

At Felton Easterwood Gymnasium:
Cold Springs   8   19  10  16  -  53 (1-5)
Holly Pond    17  17   27  22 -   83 (5-2)
HOLLY POND: Griffin Morris 19, Kyler Chaney 17, Jake Harris 12, Mckinley Garrett 12, Zach Shaw 9, Ben Jones 5, Tyler Boatright 4, Gunter Hollis 2.
COLD SPRINGS: Hunter McClendon 22, Adam Hill 7, Dylan Byrd 5, Carson Garmon 4, Logan Rice 3, Micah Calvert 3, Matthew Peed 2, Mason Harris 2, Brian McAnnally 3.
 FLASH NOTES: Seeing a double digit lead get cut in the second quarter to seven at halftime with Cold Springs' McClendon putting in 12 in the second, Holly Pond opened the second half with an 18-0 run in less than 4:00 to get control of the game and win it going away.
 Chaney and Garrett had the hot hand for Mitch Morris' Broncos early in the third, combining for 11 points on five field goals and a free throw. Harris racked up two treys late in the quarter to complete a 27-point outbreak on the basket and a comfortable 61-37 advantage with 8:00 left to get completed.
 Holly Pond scored 20 field goals in the second half, seven coming from three-point range, netting 49 points in the final 16:00, allowing the Eagles 26 points, 10 field goals and two treys.
  The Broncos slowed down McClendon in the second half, holding the Eagles' center to three field goals and zero for two from the line.
  Cold Springs' coach Tim Willoughby was back with his squad after spending Thursday in Atlanta with his wife, Regina. Regina is getting treated for pancreatic cancer and is doing well according to reports from members of the Cold Springs community.
  The Broncos have won their last three games after they were defeated on Thanksgiving night in the Holly Pond Thanksgiving Tournament by the Cullman Bearcats 70-58.
 Up next for Holly Pond: At West Point Monday.
 Up next for Cold Springs: Vs. West Point Tuesday.

Photo 1: Griffin Morris of Holly Pond moves the ball against Cold Springs' defense.
Photo 2: Cold Springs' Matthew Peed (5) dribbles away from Griffin Morris.
Sportspage photos by Johnny Thornton.

At Felton Easterwood Gymnasium:
Hanceville   11  14  11  17   -  53  (3-3)
Holly Pond   15  15  15  14  -  59  (4-2)
HOLLY POND: McKinley Garrett 17, Kyler Chaney 16, Griffin Morris 13, Zach Shaw 6, Jake Harris 3, Tyler Boatright 1.
HANCEVILLE: RJ Evans 13, Brendan Flanigan 11, Raiden Morgan 11, Damien Johnson 6, Josh Stanley 5, Allen Jones 5, Romeal Simmons 2.
 FLASH NOTES: Holly Pond turned a 30-25 halftime lead on Hanceville into a 44-25 advantage with a 14-0 run to open the third period. The Bulldogs went scoreless for over 4:00 before a field goal by Flanigan was their first points of the third.
  Hanceville patiently worked its way back into the game, closing to 45-40 early in the fourth on a field goal by Jones. Then Holly Pond regrouped, getting a three-point play from Morris to lead 48-40.
  The Broncos could not put away Hanceville. Daniel Wakefield's Bulldogs got within four at 50-46 on free throws at the 3:00 mark by Flanigan.
  But they fell behind by a 55-47 margin when Chaney drained a trey with 2:22 to play.
  Free throws from Garrett with 13 seconds left, sealed the victory as Holly Pond was ahead 59-51. Hanceville got its final score from Evans as time ran out with Mitch Morris' Broncos going 3-1 in home games this season and snapping a three-game winning streak by Daniel Wakefield's Bulldogs.
 Up next for Holly Pond: Vs. Cold Springs Friday (WKUL-FM)
 Up next for Hanceville: Vs. Oakman Friday

Photo 1: Hanceville's Brendan Flanigan (2), Holly Pond's Kyler Chaney (22) at tipoff.
Photo 2: Hanceville PG Brendan Flanigan attacks the pressure of McKinley Garrett (23).
Sportspage photos by Johnny Thornton.

  HOLLY POND - After falling to Cullman on Thanksgiving night, the Holly Pond Broncos rebounded to claim the second best record in their 61st Thanksgiving Tournament on Friday.
  Holly Pond edged Good Hope 68-62, compiling two wins in three assignments at the oldest high school invitational tournament in Alabama history.
   Good Hope put the Broncos down 21-10 after the first period, then Mitch Morris' squad shook off the slow start and pulled it out by going on a 7-1 run in the final two minutes, thanks to a field goal from Kyler Chaney and free throws in crunch time from McKinley Garrett.
  Griffin Morris ripped the cords for 20 to lead the Broncos with Garrett supporting the victory by scoring 17. The Broncos are 3-2 on the young season.
  Leading Good Hope in this encounter was Cole Maddox with 21 points, Kallen Sharpton 13 and Issac McDonald 12.
  Under the direction of second-year coach Drew Adams, a Holly Pond graduate, the Raiders are 2-2 one week into the new season.
   Holly Pond welcomes Hanceville to Felton Easterwood Gym Tuesday while Good Hope has its home opener Tuesday vs. West Point.
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AHSAA 3A state playoff  game
Thursday, November 9
Rebels Stadium - Trinity
7:00 p.m.
HOLLY POND: 7-3, #4 in 3A, R 6
WEST MORGAN: 9-1, #1 in 3A, R 8
SERIES: West Morgan 2-0
LAST TIME: 1971, West Morgan 17-6
LAST WEEK: Holly Pond defeated Fairview 18-6
                        West Morgan was idle
 FLASH NOTES: After one win in 30 games between 2013 to 2015, the Broncos have become the turnaround story for Cullman County football, claiming 13 of 20 regular season victories in the last two seasons and consecutive trips to the 3A playoffs as a qualifier from Region 6.
 Now Mike Bates has another challenge waiting his young crew, a trip to West Morgan who is on a seven-game winning streak. The Rebels started the season August 25 and went 10 straight weeks before they had their bye week.
 A 31-21 win against Lexington enabled them to go 6-1 in Region 8 and get help in the tiebreaking procedure that put them on top of the standings.
 Holly Pond is coming off a victory over Fairview for the first time in a decade. In the last two years, the Broncos have gone with back to back seasons of defeating Brindlee Mountain, Susan Moore, Hanceville and Vinemont, plus adding a quality win last Friday under adverse conditions.
  The Broncos completed the regular schedule with 292 points in 10 games and allowed 208, only 15 in the last eight quarters in victories over Vinemont and Fairview.
  This is the first time that Holly Pond has been to the playoffs in back to back years since 2004 and 2005.
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Friday, November 3
Dafford Smith Stadium - Fairview
7:00 p.m.
HOLLY POND: 6-3
FAIRVIEW: 2-6
SERIES: Fairview 35-19-2
2016: Fairview 62-35
LAST WEEK: Holly Pond defeated Vinemont 40-9
                        Fairview lost to Springville 24-0

 FLASH NOTES: A chance for the Broncos to claim seven wins in a regular season before going to the AHSAA 3A playoffs is what is laid out in front of them.
 The Broncos have turned things around under Mike Bates, going from 1-29 between 2013 to 2015 to 12-7 in regular season play the last two years with a 6-6 record in regional play and back to back six-win campaigns.
 Holly Pond is seeking its best finish in a regular schedule since 2004 when they were 9-1. The Broncos are out to end 10 consecutive losses to their rival from the East side of Cullman County.
 The Broncos have never had success against a George Redding led Fairview squad. The last time the Broncos were winners vs. the Aggies came in 2006 when it was a 37-26 score. Redding was not coaching the Aggies at the time, Scott Adams (the current DC) handled duties for the Broncos.
 PLAYOFF GAME: November 10 at 3A, Region 8 champion (TBA)




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