By Gary “Gooch” Thomas

Crenshaw County basketball teams have scooped up wins, tipping off the season in style. All three AHSAA schools saw hardwood action, launching the season on Dec. 3 and tallying wins ever since.

Brantley School Bulldogs

The Bulldogs dominated the Luverne Tigers with a 66-61 win on home court. The Tigers were riding a two-game winning streak coming off victories over New Brockton on Dec. 10 (73-37) and Calhoun on Dec. 6 (69-59.) Down 63-42 at the end of the third period, the Tigers failed to recover and Brantley prevailed over Luverne

Bulldog forward senior Jayen Parks was nothing short of spectacular as he went 9-of-16 from the floor on his way to a game high, 27 points with eight assists and eight rebounds. The game was Parks’ 15th in a row with at least 10 points in the game.

The Bulldogs also got help from big man Daylan Davis, who shot 4-for-6 from downtown and dropped a double-double on 20 points and 10 rebounds. Brantley will host Highland Home on Dec. 19 before facing McKenzie on home court this Friday.

Highland Home Flying Squadron

To start the 2024 basketball season, the Highland Home Flying Squadron grabbed their first win of the year in Goshen, besting the Eagles 38-30. The Flyboys were 0-and-2 with losses to Charles Henderson, 61-36, and the McKenzie Tigers, 45-38.

Senior forward, Austin Chaney, chipped in 16 points and eight rebounds. Coming off a 27-7 2023-24 season and a championship loss to Mars Hill, the Squadron have high expectations for the 2024-25 basketball season.

But as seniors JJ Faulk and CJ May have committed to early enrollment to Augburn and Louisville, respectively, the team will sustain a damaging blow to their roster and are currently at 0-3 in the season.

The Flyboys travel to Luverne to meet the Tigers Dec. 19 before facing Pike Lib in Troy Friday and hosting McKenzie on Saturday. The Squadron will host T.R. Miller right after Christmas, Dec 26 and travel to meet Elba on Dec. 28.

Luverne School Tigers

On Friday the 13th, the Luverne Tigers traveled to Brantley riding high on an eight-game winning streak and looking for number nine. Luverne bested the Lady Bulldogs with a 25-point, 65-40 win.

The Lady Bulldogs have a habit of seeping their opponents off the court, having won six in a row by 22 points or more this season. When it comes to explaining the Bulldogs recent loss, don’t look at Coco Stamps. She shot 4-from-6 on the floor and dropped a double-double with 20 points and 10 beads.

Myia Mount was also another key player for the Lady Bulldogs and put up six points, owning the backboard with 18 rebounds.

Luverne has pushed their season record up to 9-and-3 for their third road-win in a row. Brantley Girls stand at 5-and-3 with the loss that swapped their three-game winning streak. 

The Luverne ladies, now 9-6, enter Christmas break after two losses to Charles Henderson (48-43, 48-43 OT) and one to New Brockton, 61-52. They travel to The Calhoun School in the new year to meet the Tigers on Jan. 3 at 3:30 p.m.