PREP ROUNDUP: Montgomery Academy among top finishers in state cross country; Ponder signs with Troy

COMBINED REPORTS

OAKVILLE -- Montgomery Academy placed third among the boys and fourth in the girls’ division at the 68th Alabama High School Athletic Association Cross Country Championships at Oakville Indian Mounds Park on Saturday. 

Bayshore Christian won the 3A boys’ title, defeating Altamont. Montgomery Academy was third, followed by Trinity and J.B. Pennington. 

Frank Williford was the top performer for the Eagles, placing eighth with a time of 17:09.87. Teammate Matt Cone was 21st with a time of 17:37.10, Price McLemore was 24th at 17:50.53, Ian Farley was 33rd at 18:16.60 and Bo Johnston was 42nd at 18:38.45.

Trinity’s Matthew Blake was the top local finisher, placing fifth with a time of 16:38.58, just ahead of teammate John Thomas Mathison (16:41.15). Trinity’s Wilson Albrecht was 11th with a time of 17:20.74.

Among the top 50 finishers, Hampton Johnson of St. James was 38th at 18:29.56 and Prattville Christian’s Kasen Stuart was 48th at 18:53.77.

Other champions in the boys’ division included 7A Vestavia Hills, 6A Mountain Brook, 5A Scottsboro, 4A Providence Christian and Cold Springs in 1A-2A.

In 4A, LAMP was seventh as Samuel Holmes was 21st (17:31.83), Riley Godwin was 36th (18:10.56) and Arnav Aggarwal was 47th (18:32.46). In 5A, Catholic placed 13th, led by Henry Skala’s 32nd-place finish with a time of 17:25.76, followed by Holtville in 14th, led by Brenen Miscisin’s 38th-place finish with a time of 17:33.26.

In 6A, Stanhope Elmore’s Tristen Jones was 50th with a time of 17:18.53 to help the Mustangs place 16th. Wetumpka was 18th and Pike Road was 22nd.  

In the girls’ division, Whitesburg Christian was first in 3A, followed by Altamont, Bayshore Christian, Montgomery Academy, Plainview, St. James and Prattville Christian. 

Other champions included 7A Auburn, 6A Mountain Brook, 5A Lawrence County, 4A Providence Christian and Cold Springs in 1A-2A.  

Montgomery Academy placed four participants in the top 40, including Elle Ingram in seventh (19:43.98), Susannah Miller in 27th (21:32.40), Bea Farley in 32nd place (21:46.89) and Isabella Arnett in 38th (21:55.25).

Whitesburg Christian’s Anna Pierce won 3A with a time of 18:46.61, followed closely by Elley Goff of St. James with a time of 18:58.30. Prattville Christian’s Avery Rogers was third with a time of 19:28.63.

Alabama Christian’s Kate Finch was 16th with a time of 20:19.30.

Other local performers among the top 50 were St. James’ Molly Phillips in 18th with a time of 20:37.70, PCA’s Isabella Carothers in 26th place with a time of 21:26.29, St. James’ Aileen Mulligan in 41st with a time of 21:57.91, PCA’s Sarah Birchmeier in 43rd (22:01.93) and PCA’s Ally Blankinchip in 49th (22:14.03).

In 4A, LAMP’s Ava Cain was 19th with a time of 21:23.21 and teammate Grace Melton was 37th with a time of 22:28.02.

Pike Road’s Markham signs baseball scholarship with Troy

PIKE ROAD -- As Pike Road baseball coach Allen Ponder talked about Cody Markham’s talent, he pointed out that today’s college baseball recruiters often grab proven talent out of the transfer portal, given the limited number of scholarships available in the sport.

Markham, a three-sport star for the Patriots, signed a letter of intent to play college baseball for Troy University and Ponder wanted to drive home the point to the teammates and friends gathered for the signing ceremony how special a moment Thursday’s celebration was.  

The moment was not lost on Markham. 

“I’m truly blessed,” he said. “All my teammates, all my coaches, they always pushed me and made me work harder. I just love my teammates so much.”

In his remarks to the players and friends gathered in the school library for the signing, Ponder noted that Markham was “a very special talent,” adding that “there is nothing on the baseball field that he does not do at a very high level.”

While Markham has been a mainstay in the outfield the last three years, he has continued to improve as a hitter and as a pitcher for the Patriots. 

“He can hit,” Ponder said. “He plays center field for us but he can play any outfield position. He’s one of our main pitchers on the mound and he bats in the middle of our lineup. He’s a generational kid who has all the tools. Last year, he stole 25 bases and didn’t get thrown out one time. When you look at him, you look at the skill set but you can’t really see the IQ.” 

Markham said he decided on the Trojans because of the relationship he built with Troy head coach Skylar Meade and assistant coach Adam Godwin. 

“Coach Meade, Coach Godwin, the first day they reached out to me, they really wanted me,” Markham said. “Coach Godwin also made it a point to come to some of my travel ball games. That meant the world to me. I was like, that would really be someone I would want to play for.”

Markham said he was committed to improving in all facets of the game to be the impact player Ponder predicted he would become. 

“I want to work on my arm strength,” he said. “I definitely want to get faster and work on my speed, work on my power. Make sure I get 1 percent better at everything I do every day.”

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Stanhope Elmore 100, BTW Magnet 14

The Mustangs opened the 2023-24 season with a convincing win over BTA Magnet on Saturday.

Ariel Gilchrist had 19 points, eight steals and six assists and Kurja Crosby added 17 points. 

Glenwood School 47, Lakeside School 37

The Lakeside girls dropped their second game in the Evangel Christian tournament on Saturday to Glenwood, losing 47-37. 

Chloe Helms led the Chiefs (1-1) with 14 points, followed by Sophie Seaborn with 12, Dylan White with six and Addysen Erickson with five.

Lakeside School 40, Hooper Academy 38

The Lakeside Lady Chiefs kicked off the basketball season in Montgomery at the Evangel Christian tournament, edging Hooper on Friday in a rematch of last year’s Final Four matchup.

Chloe Helms led the Chiefs with 22 points, followed by Sophie Seaborn with eight, Addysen Erickson with four and Addy Helms and Dylan White with three points each. 

BOYS BASKETBALL

Chilton County 64, Prattville 47 

CLANTON -- Prattville jumped out to a nine-point lead at the half, but a strong second-half performance by the Tigers kept the Lions winless on Friday night in the Chilton County gym.

Evan Chandler led the Lions with 18 points, helping Prattville to a 35-26 halftime lead, but Chilton County rallied with a 19-5 run in the third quarter and pulled away with a 19-7 run in the fourth quarter.

Eli Dale led Chilton County with 17 points.