Staff Reports
(Dec. 28, 2009)

Holiday basketball tournaments go into high gear beginning today across the River Region.

Two of the larger traditional tournaments open with the annual Capital City Conference tournament at Trinity and the Dwight Madison Classic at Faulkner University.

Both tournaments feature boys and girls action.

The CCC tournament features the majority of teams from the old conference including Alabama Christian, St. James, Montgomery Academy and host Trinity. The Catholic boys are not participating although they won the tournament last year.

The Madison tournament features the majority of Class 6A teams in the area plus Calhoun, Central-Hayneville and Brew Tech.

The annual AISA Huntingdon Christmas Tournament began on Saturday and continues through Wednesday. A total of 18 teams are participating.

Palmer steps down at Autaugaville

Stating he was unhappy with the results of last season, Autaugaville head football coach and athletic director Kevin Palmer announced before Christmas that he was stepping down from his position.

"I was not satisfied with the progress that we were making," Palmer said.  “I didn’t feel like I had done the things to keep the program competing at a high level and we were not making the necessary steps to return the football program to what Autaugaville is accustomed."

The Eagles suffered through consecutive 3-7 seasons and did not make the playoffs in the last four years. Palmer’s overall record was 11-27 in his four seasons at the helm.

Autaugaville school principal James Davis said he does not expect to announce Palmer’s successor anytime soon.

Two players from River Region selected as ASWA Super 12

Prattville senior Nick Perry and Stanhope Elmore standout Demarcus Milliner were both chosen among the state’s top 12 football players by the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Both players have committed to Alabama.

Perry and Milliner join three other players chosen who will attend schools in the Southeastern Conference. The others are Alabama commitment Deion Belue of Deshler, Greenville’s Kenneth Carter (Auburn) and Ryan Smith of Cordova (Kentucky).