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The Birmingham News j Saturday, February 28, 2009 j 4C GAME BALL Le’Eric Bledsoe, Parker High School y The Parker senior dazzled in the brightest BJCC spotlight Friday. He dodged foul trouble and sank seven of his FINAL FOUR BOYS 11 shots for 17 points in a huge 52-39 upset of nationally ranked LeFlore. He added nine rebounds, five assists and four steals in only 22 minutes. Ballplayers score with new attitudes after brawl TODAY’S GAMES CLASS 3A FINAL he world knows about the fines to $100 per incident. are four students at Valley for 10 days. There were also of their compliance with an 11 a.m. Carver-Montgomery and The fine — to be paid through awaiting a verdict on that. 15 fans disciplined. There AHSAA-mandated penance, Madison Academy (29-5) TValley High. They’ve athletic gate receipts — now “We have some students were four out of those 29 who the players will perform sev- vs. Leeds (26-9) checked tape, read headlines, totals $3,900. that have some charges,” Val- had previous disciplinary is- eral hours of community serv- ley Principal Larry McQuiston sues at school. Those students ice in the backyard of the seen photo galleries and According to Hall, Carver- CLASS 6A FINAL thought the worst. Montgomery’s initial fine was said. “At this point I can only got 20 days at New Directions. players they fought with. Some used words that trade $2,000. The AHSAA then tell you what they have told There was one of the 29 with a When both teams speak to 3 p.m. in ignorance like “animals” added the $300 for each of the me. They are waiting to hear longer discipline history who’s the middle school kids in Vestavia Hills (26-8) back from authorities as to spending 45 days at New Di- Chambers County, they will and “savages” describing the six players who were in the vs. Bob Jones (29-8) youth who traded blows. brawl. That was initially whether they have a court rections. have the same voice. Those are not the young $3,800, but the same com- date. I don’t even think these Hall said the students he’s “This happened at a basket- men that Carver and Valley pleted character education kids’ parents know what they disciplining have been recom- ball game,” Cooper said. CLASS 5A FINAL know. Those are not the youth courses dropped the fine are facing yet.” mended to attend alternative “Let’s just say that this hap- 7p.m. school. That decision — along pened at a convenience store I’m getting to know. down to $2,600. There will be 29 students Butler (34-3) According to Chambers disciplined by the Chambers with any length of stay — has over a disagreement and “There were seven players vs. Parker (28-5) County Assistant Superinten- who didn’t leave their bench County school system. It yet to be determined by his somebody got shot. Or cut or dent George McCulloh, at could have been 28. superintendent. anything like that. Just learn through it all,” Hall said. “Our Where: All games at the least five of the Valley players community has reached out “One came forth yesterday,” not to do it. Learn to walk “were National Honor Society to those kids who did the right McCulloh said. “He felt guilty Good from the bad away. We all should have Birmingham-Jefferson and Beta Club” types. Carver thing. I can think of five differ- because he was on the floor. walked away.” Convention Complex. There is good starting to Valley will write a letter as a Principal Gary Hall shared ent sources that have offered He saw everyone else being take hold from all the bad. stories there were several punished for their actions and team and send it to the news- Tickets: $10, one session to donate money to take those The healing started on Feb. 19 paper in its community to ex- honor students involved in it, he knew he was out there, today. kids out to eat for doing the at the AHSAA offices in Mont- press its remorse. Carver- too. right thing.” too.” gomery. The kids showed up That was a Valley football Montgomery’s players will ap- Valley player Eric Cooper Hall expects no sanctions of in shirts and ties. Jackets were pear in a television commer- BEST OF THE DAY was on the bench during that his coaching staff. Valley said player who was not caught by optional. Most wore jackets the video evidence. cial aimed at young people Best guard combination: Par- Feb. 17 Alabama High School they are still deliberating as a anyway. with anti-violence messages. “His actions show these ker may have the best point Athletic Association Central system whether any discipli- There were tears. But a lot “These children are sorry kids are ready and willing to regional semifinal at Alabama nary measures are needed to- more hugs and understand- for this,” Hall said. “If they guard in the AHSAA Final Four State University. He has a 3.6 ward its coaches. take responsibility for their ac- ing. When the teams reported were perfect we wouldn’t in Eric Bledsoe, but no team grade point average. He tions,” McCulloh said. to the state office, the room need teachers and principals. can match the backcourt from scored a 20 on his ACT. Charges pending Carver’s got its own tale. was divided by team. These kids would just soar Butler. Point guard Justin Pride “Our team is the total oppo- Hall met with his staff soon The players were soon in- Both schools said there are through life. But they are not. and shooting guard Trevor La- site of what the perception is,” after the incident and checked structed to move. Carver play- still legal charges pending in It’s our job to educate them to cey combined for 17 assists in said Cooper, who will go to the video. They found name ers sat next to Valley players the civil courts system. Ala- get them to the next level as the Rebels’ 90-75 win over Tal- Auburn to major in computer after name to punish for their one-by-one. Those who an adult.” programming. “We feel we’ve bama State pressed charges actions. traded blows sat next to one ladega in the Class 5A semifi- against those involved. There Hall’s doing what any credi- got great guys and real intelli- “Must have stayed up until another. They were told to ble educator would out of nals Friday. Butler recorded 28 gent young men. But in the JEFF 11 that night,” Hall said. “We shake hands. They wound up this. He’s teaching. assists, many of them on no- heat of the moment we really went to school the next day hugging. “This can be the best learn- look passes from Pride and La- made some bad decisions. I SENTELL ready to seek out those who Questions were asked. Why? ing lesson for the state of Ala- cey, on 35 made field goals in made the worst decision of had went out on the floor. How? The answers were hon- bama,” he said. “We’re weak- the win. Pride and Lacey are my life.” Turns out we didn’t have to. est. ened through this. The public cousins and both are nephews Valley was initially fined Those kids came to us.” “Most shared stories from image of our schools has been of former Butler and Vander- $2,500 by the AHSAA and then The entire 14-person Valley home,” McCulloh said. “About hurt, but this terrible thing bilt University star Howard $300 each for each player that team was disciplined. Those how their parents told them can and will be a tool to teach came out on the floor. That that did not have a previous what they did was wrong. people in our state so this Pride. Today’s Class 5A boys fi- ran up to $6,700. Those play- office referral for disciplinary Their parents did not teach never happens again.” nal will feature a great guard ers completed a character ed- action have been sent to New them to act that way.” matchup as Bledsoe goes ucation course that dropped Directions Alternative School That’s the first step. As part E-MAIL: [email protected] against the duo. Best shooting performance in a loss: Talladega shooters hit CLASS 5A SEMIFINAL BUTLER 90, TALLADEGA 75 14 3-pointers, the most by a team this week in the AHSAA Final Four, against Butler in the Class 5A boys semifinals. It’s too bad the Tigers’ shooting went unnoticed due to the Re- bels’ dominant performance, which included 72 percent shooting from the floor. Talla- dega hit 14 of 31 3-pointers in the loss, including five by Dar- nell Tuck. Best move in blue: During the fourth quarter, an animated discussion developed between fans of Parker and LeFlore in one end of the BJCC Arena. Bir- mingham police quickly moved in, ran the instigator out of the building and prevented others from following him up the aisle. No arrests were made and things quickly went back to normal. Best dunks: Well, maybe not the best, but they were good enough for Huffman’s Devarez Williams and Ed Daniel of Woodlawn to advance to to- day’s Slam Dunk Contest finals. NEWS STAFF/LINDA STELTER They beat Justin Williams of Talladega’s Justin Fuller stretches to regain control of the ball as Butler’s Justin Pride tries for a steal during Friday’s boys Class 5A semifinal.

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