Addison's Abbie Chambless, left, next to Geraldine's Karlee Hale, in game 2 of the AHSAA all-star volleyball series. / Johnny Thornton
MONTGOMERY – No one could slow down the North’s victory train at the 21st Alabama High School All-Star Sports Week this week in Montgomery.
The competition concluded Thursday with the North volleyball squad completing a sweep of the South 25-22, 25-16, 25-20 at the AUM Arena.
Then, under the lights at the Cramton Bowl, the North football team held off the South 14-13 in the gridiron classic.
Locals made their contributions to the winning sides for the North. In volleyball, Addison's Abbie Chambless converted a game-winning serve in the second set, had three kills in six attacks and a block assist.
The North was led by Libby Gann from Mountain Brook, who earned MVP honors. She had nine service points, 30 assists, seven digs and four kills.
Football:
Cullman's Tristin Skinner spent a good bit of time on the humid Cramton Bowl turf, showing his kicking specialty.
Skinner converted two extra points, had three kickoffs with one entering the end zone for a touchback and averaged 37.1 yards per punt, kicking seven times with his longest being 49 yards.
A 35-yard punt by Skinner pinned the South at its 2-yard line with 1:08 to play in the game. The South was unable to drive into field goal range, getting stopped at midfield as time expired.
Hartselle linebacker Conner Landers returned a fumble 46 yards to the end zone on the first series of the game. Skinner's extra point gave them a 7-0 lead.
Then the North blocked a punt with Haleyville linebacker Will Evans taking it to the South 2.
The North struggled to get the ball in the end zone, but did on a 6-yard pass by Hartselle QB Trevor Oakes to Florence WR Jakobi Byrd with 7:35 left in the second. Skinner tacked on the conversion for a 14-7 lead.
Team South scored on a 31-yard pass by Chase Warren to Tyler Wesley early in the fourth quarter, but they missed a two-point conversion and trailed 14-13.
The South outgained the North in total offense 243 to 110, but never had good field position in the last two series of the game, starting from the 3-yard line after recovering a fumble and at the 2, following Skinner's 35-yard punt.
The North’s wins in volleyball and football capped a week of domination of the 21st annual all-star week; the won 11 of 12 events. The softball team lost 11-1 in the nightcap to create a split and prevent a clean sweep by the North athletes, seven of whom were from the local area.
Wednesday overview: www.cullmantribune.com/articles/2017/07/20/all-star-sports-week-report
Baseball: www.cullmantribune.com/articles/2017/07/18/all-star-baseball-north-sweeps-south
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