Jacksonville AL – Girls and boys can shine in pregame recognitions
Joe Medley
East Alabama Sports Today
It was 43 years ago. The memories of those moments that were infused with emotion are still vivid. Laura Gunnels Gilmour still remembers the first Calhoun County girls’ basketball tournament. The first college court at Pete Mathews Coliseum was a team that had been playing in front of 10 people in afternoon matinee games at Anniston High. This team played in 1979. They saw cheerleaders. They saw more than 10 cheerleaders. Gilmour stated, “It was so much more fun to play in an bigger place with lots people screaming and cheerleading and cheerleaders.” “The cheerleaders were there for us for the very first time and that was what made it so special.”
Gilmour, along with four Anniston colleagues, were among seven county-tournament pioneers who were recognized before Friday’s championship matches. Ceclia Whatley, Katrina Dorsey and Stephanie McBride presented officials the gameball before the girls’ final between No. 1 seed Oxford and No. 2 Anniston. They were among the Anniston girls’ teams that won the first three county tournaments in 1981, 1980, and 1979. Charles Thornburg, Alvin Robertson and Alvin Robertson were members of the 1951-1952 White Plains team, which played Anniston in its first ever county tourney. They presented the game ball to the top seed Jacksonville and No. 2 Oxford. All seven players were involved in organizers’ efforts for recognition of “Legends of the Game.”
Saks hosted the first boys’ tournament. Thornberg, 88, said that it was a great thrill to be able to play in a county tournament. “That was the first tournament I can remember. Robertson, 89 has tried to locate former players from the first boys’ tournament. He said, “I was trying find all the players that are still alive.” Piedmont does not have one, as far as I know. Jacksonville does have one. Anniston and Ohatchee are not available. I have called almost everyone I know. “There are only six to eight people left.”
Eddie Bullock, Anniston’s long-time coach, was pleased to see the names of former players. Bullock coached Anniston’s girls in their first ever state title in 2020. He also coached them to 12 of their 21 county titles. He graduated in the same class as Gilmour, a freshman from 1978-1979. He was a pick-up player with the girls’ team. He said, “They were tough all of them girls.” They could play. They were likely a bit more tougher and bigger than these girls (today’s players). It’s difficult to judge their skill, as these players are quite skilled.” Title IX was seven years ago. The first girls’ country tournament took place in 2007. [ Read more…]
It was worth a try
Jorda Crook, a senior at Ohatchee, was nervous when she took to the court for her $10,000 mid-court shot. She had been voted the top vote-getter by F&M Bank in the Fan Favorite poll of the Calhoun County Tournament. She gave it her all, even though her shot was not strong enough to bank off the backboard or the rim, before she fell away. She said, “I knew it was off but I was nervous so it’s okay.”
Jorda worked on the shot briefly before returning to Pete Mathews Coliseum. He even hit one Tuesday in practice. The shot was not counted Friday and $10,000 was split between the school & the player. She missed the iron square at the back, and briefly rolled on the right side of it before falling to the ground. She said, “I didn’t want an airball.” Kelbe Crook, her cousin, was awarded $500 scholarships for being the top male or female vote-getter in their respective polls. – Al Muskewitz
Tickets
The Calhoun County Tournament saw approximately 1,800 tickets sold for the championship round. This brought the total ticket sales for the week to over 6,500.
