Brooks at Sheffield

Sulligent at Hamilton

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Mars Hill, of course, wasn’t happy with the calls, which both came in rebounding situations off missed Panthers shots. Mars Hill trailed by one when this one was called on Landon Willis.

What do you think? Worthy of an “intentional” or run of the mill?

The Panthers (27-5) dominated the first quarter, led by as a many as 18 points in the first half and overcame an initial Winfield rally to lead by 10 with 6:14 left in the game.

They had led from the game’s first basket. Still, there they were, tied at 56 with 49 seconds to play. Out of a timeout, coach Mike Mitchell put the ball in Swinea’s hands, and here’s what happened.

Though the final buzzer sounded, officials put 1.5 seconds back on the clock, but a Winfield half-court heave drew nothing but air.

Mars Hill advances to the regional final to play tonight’s Madison Academy-Hanceville winner Saturday at 5:20 p.m. at Wallace State-Hanceville.

Check out their Harlem Shake in Hanceville today. They also recorded a version in the school gym previously.

Deshler’ Juakeem Fuqua won a state championship in the Class 1A-4A, 145-pound weight class with a 4-2 decision Saturday against Susan Moore’s Sam Ingram at Huntsville’s Von Braun Center. Fuqua is Deshler’s first state champ since 2001. He finished the season with a 43-8 record.

In Class 5A, 152 pounds, Muscle Shoals’ Chandler Sartain took the state championship, eking out a 1-0 decision in overtime against Scottsboro’s Chase McClure. This comes a week after Sartain lost a 3-0 decision to McClure in the 5A Section 2 final. It’s the second straight state championship for Sartain, who won in 160 pounds last year. He finishes the season with a 46-2 record.

Three other area wrestlers placed in the top four of their respective weight classes. Muscle Shoals’ Raheem Harris took third in 5A, 160 pounds, winning a 6-2 decision Saturday. Deshler’s Taylor Shirley (1A-4A, 126) and Muscle Shoals Joseph Green (5A, 106) each finished fourth, dropping decisions Saturday.

Girls

Tuesday
Class 2A
Red Bay (27-3) vs. Cold Springs (20-9), 3 p.m.

Wednesday
Class 1A
R.A. Hubbard (18-5) vs. Falkville (20-4), 3 p.m.
Shoals Christian (14-14) vs. Lynn (29-1), 6 p.m.

Thursday
Class 4A
Brooks (17-13) vs. Oneonta (28-4), noon
Class 3A
Lauderdale County (29-5) vs. Winfield (24-6), 3 p.m.

Boys

Tuesday
Class 2A
Hatton (18-9) vs. Cold Springs (18-10), 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday
Class 1A
Shoals Christian (15-13) vs. Marion County (24-6), 4:30 p.m.
R.A. Hubbard (16-7) vs. Parrish (27-1), 7:30 p.m.

Thursday
Class 4A
Brooks (26-7) vs. Butler (15-11), 1:30 p.m.
Class 3A
Mars Hill (26-5) vs. Winfield (20-8), 4:30 p.m.

Florence athletics director Byron Graham confirmed Gadsden City has made a “lucrative offer” to DuBose.

That happened sometime just before Christmas, Graham said, but DuBose had yet to make a decision to stay or leave.

“We knew when we hired him that he would be the kind of coach, with the success he’s had, who would received a lot of interest from other schools every year,” Graham said. “He told me he owed it to himself to at least talk to the people about this one, but as of now, he’s still a Falcon.”

DuBose wasn’t immediately available for comment early Monday afternoon.

Florence city schools superintendent Janet Womack said DuBose earns $87,000 annually, which includes his base pay as a physical education teacher and coaching supplement, when he was introduced as the Falcons’ coach on Jan. 27.

DuBose has a 59-28 record in eight years as a head coach, including a 7-4 season at Florence this year, as the Falcons finished second in Class 6A, Region 8 and beat top-four ranked teams in two of their final three regular-season games. Florence returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2009 but lost in the first round to Huntsville.

DuBose came to Florence from Prattville, where he lead the Lions to two state championships and a runner-up finish during his four years as head coach while compiling a 42-13 record.

He was part of two more state-title teams as an assistant coach at Prattville, where he’d been since 2004. He also served as head coach at Class 3A Susan Moore in 2002 and 2003.

Former Gadsden City coach Joe Billingsley resigned Nov. 16. He compiled a 58-26 record and made the playoffs in each of his seven years as the only coach the school had known, since being formed by consolidation in 2006.

The senior defensive lineman is one of four players in the state to be named to the USA TODAY’s All-USA high school football team.

Liner, an Auburn commitment, is a first-team selection on the list that is designed to honor the country’s top seniors. Auburn High School linebacker Reuben Foster, Huntsville offensive lineman Grant Hill and Hoover defensive back Marlon Humphrey also made the first team.

“Ah, that’s a good one,” Liner said after learning Thursday evening of his inclusion on the team. “I didn’t even know about it but those are some good players to be mentioned with.

“It’s all been a dream come true. This makes it even more special.”

Liner already has been selected for the Under Armour All-America Game. The game, along with the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, is one of the two highest profile events designed to showcase the top high school seniors in the country.

Liner will play with his friend Foster, who recently decomitted from Auburn University, in the Under Armour Game. The game will be nationally televised by ESPN on Jan. 4 at 4 p.m. from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.

On Dec. 30, Liner will travel to Orlando, where pre-game preparation is staged. He also traveled there last year for the Under Armour combine, which evaluates some of of the nation’s top projected juniors.

“I’m kind of expecting more competition this time,” Liner said. “It will be the best of the best from all over the United States.”

Liner also has a visit to the University of Miami tentatively scheduled for Jan. 18, but he said he’s not certain whether he will take it.

Rated a five-star prospect by recruiting websites Scout and Rivals, Liner is rated one of the top defensive lineman prospects in the country.

He totaled 72 tackles, 23 sacks and an interception for Muscle Shoals, which allowed 8.6 points a game this season and advanced to the Class 5 A semifinals.

He stands to gain more accolades. The TimesDaily will release its all-area teams this weekend. The Alabama Sports Writers Association’s all-state teams will be released Dec. 26.