HANCEVILLE, Ala. – Wallace State’s Christine O’Leary shared the results of the 2019 Cullman County high school and middle school scholars’ bowl tournaments, both of which were dominated by West Point.
High school tournament
West Point continued its long-standing trend of powerful performances with a perfect run through the tournament. Hanceville and Good Hope also made strong showings.
Team Won-Lost Total Points
- West Point 6-0 1,680
- Hanceville 5-1 770
- Good Hope 4-2 990
- Vinemont 3-3 370
- Cold Springs 2-4 300
- Holly Pond 1-5 90
- Fairview 0-6 120
West Point’s Garrett Willingham was the top individual performer with 480 points, an 80 point per game average.
Middle school tournament
Team Won-Lost Total Points
- West Point 8-0 1,660
- Hanceville 7-1 880
- Vinemont 6-2 930
- Holly Pond 5-3 600
- Cold Springs 4-4 540
- Fairview 3-5 540
- Parkside 2-6 200
- Harmony 1-7 330
- Good Hope 0-8 340
West Point’s Brodie Henry was the top individual performer with 540 points, a 67.5 point per game average. Henry was also allowed to compete in the high school division and placed fifth there.
West Point High School teacher Lee Henry, who coaches both West Point teams, talked about the season his students have had.
“So far this year, the middle school team has an incredible 34-1 record. Their only loss was in the semi-finals of an invitational at Wallace State. It was a 50-point loss to Liberty Middle School in Madison, who is the defending state champion and who placed fourth in the nation last year at the National Championship in Chicago. It was a very close game: 50 points is within the swing of a single question.
“They went 10-0 in league matches during the months of October and November. On Dec. 6, they also went undefeated in the County Championship Tournament, where two of our players made the All-County Team. Brodie Henry was County MVP and Eli Taylor was third overall. We were the only team with two All-County players. Other members who competed at county were John Davis Yovino and Aaiden Jones.
“The next day, Dec. 7, they traveled to East Lawrence Middle School for a huge invitational that included 28 teams from around the state. They went undefeated in their pool and then blazed through the playoffs, eventually defeating Russellville Middle School for the Tournament Championship. Brodie Henry was named to the All-Tournament Team there, as well.
“All four of my middle school starters are in seventh grade, meaning that they all have another full year of middle school eligibility after this year!
“The high school team has filmed several episodes of The Alabama Scholars’ Bowl TV show that airs on APT/PBS on Saturday mornings. I can’t reveal the results of the episodes until they air, but I can say that they have done well.
“They also went undefeated in League Matches and had a perfect 6-0 record at the County Championship Tournament on Dec. 13. This makes eight County Championships in a row. I started coaching the team in 2012. Since then, we have been perfect- 48-0- at County. That’s a huge legacy and a lot of pressure on the kids each year! I know my seniors were very relieved when the tournament was over, and they could breathe easier knowing that it was no longer their burden to carry.
“In the County Tournament, senior Garrett Willingham was MVP. In a surprise move, I let Brodie Henry- seventh grade–go in a few times at County and play at the Varsity level, just to get some experience. During the matches he was in, he managed to score enough points to earn a spot on the All-County Team! So, he was All-County in both Middle School and Varsity County Tournaments! Other members of the Varsity team were Declan Cornett–team captain, Carson Partain and Carter Duke.
More to come
According to Henry, “After Christmas is when things really get interesting. Middle school, JV and varsity District Tournaments are all in January/February.
“The Top 10 ‘Small School’ teams in the nation have been invited to a ‘Pre-Nationals Showcase’ at Glasgow High School in Kentucky on the first weekend in February. We have been honored with an invitation to compete in that event.
“Then, of course, there are the State and National Championships. Both the middle and high school teams have already been invited to compete at Nationals in Chicago. We plan to go to both. With those major events, along with several other invitationals, the spring semester will be very busy!”
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