MONTGOMERY- The recent 2018 All-Star Week competition was as equal in competiveness as any in the event’s official 22-year history. After the completion of the seven sports held in Montgomery, both the North and South squads won two events each while three sports were split.

Leading the way for the North teams were two local prep athletes who were awarded Most Valuable Player honors for their squads during their respective competitions. Malik Tyson of Sparkman was named MVP in the boys’ basketball game, while Emery Mills of Madison Academy was awarded the same honor in the girls’ soccer match.

The All-Star Week competitions were part of the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s annual Summer Conference.

BOYS BASKETBALL:

The South outscored the North 36-24 in the second half to gather a 61-57 come-from-behind victory. Starter Malik Tyson (6-2, 190) had seven defensive rebounds, two steals and scored 10 points in just 19 minutes to earn the MVP award for the North. “I did well and was a good leader for our squad as this game gives me a lot of confidence going into my senior season at Sparkman,” said Tyson. “I feel good knowing I can run with any of the good players across the state. I loved the experience as I had the chance to play with different players from different programs and coaches with different styles.”

The North still holds a 48-28 edge in the series which began in 1953. This year’s contest was held at Alabama State University.

GIRLS BASKETBALL:

Madison Academy’s Jasmine Gracie (6-1) scored two points in 12 minutes of playing time as one of the five starters for the North and Sparkman’s Deyana Dodd (5-5) added four points and three rebounds in eight minutes of time of the floor to help lead the North to a 66-57 win over the South.

The series is led by the North 19-3 after 22 years as the game was held at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome on the campus of Alabama State University.

GIRLS SOCCER:

Coming off the bench, Emery Mills (5-5) of Madison Academy was named the MVP for the North squad as it defeated the South 2-0. Mills had five shots including one goal and one assist. After a scoreless first half, Chelsea High’s Lexie Duca scored the first goal of the match five minutes into the second stanza as Mills supplied the assist. Mills, who has played soccer since age four, got an unassisted goal at 70:31 in the match.

“In the goal I scored, the defending goalie came out of the net area onto me and I tapped the ball by her and then kicked the ball into the net with my left foot for the score,” said Mills, who missed her entire sophomore season of play due to a torn right ACL. “Winning the MVP was a huge honor as I had fun at the event as I had several teammates were on club teams I play on.

The victory increased the North’s domination in the series to 14-2-1.

BOYS SOCCER:

The North swept the soccer competition as it won the boy’s match 2-1 over the South. Goalkeepers Jude Vachon (6-4) of Madison Academy and Johnathan Williams of Vestavia Hills recorded seven saves in goal for the squad that was coached by Jake Siefert, head coach of Sparkman. Also in the game for the victors was Maurice Kenon (5-11) also of Sparkman.

VOLLEYBALL:

The South came out the victor in volleyball with a 3-1 win over the North with game scores of 19-25, 25-22, 25-22, 25-21. Two players representing Bob Jones and one from James Clemens made the contest sort of home feel. Kiara Hill and Emma Jarrett, both from the Patriots’ program at Bob Jones, played well. Hill led the North with nine kills. She also had 20 attacks. Meanwhile, Jarrett, a 2017 All-State selection who helped the Patriots to the 7A state championship match, posted five kills in 25 total attacks. Catherine Klop of James Clemens recorded 17 digs to lead the North squad.

The North now has a 15-7 lead the series first played in 1997.

SOFTBALL:

The North All-Stars scored the winning run in its last at bat with a solo homerun to salvage a 5-4 win over the South and a split with the South in the softball competition held at Lagoon Park. The South took the game one opener 3-0, but still trail 26-21-3 in the series which started in 1997.

Lila Young of James Clemens was a pinch hitter and played catcher in game one where she 0-1 at the plate in the contest as the North could only muster two hits for the entire game. Heather Phillips of Bob Jones batted twice in the game and was 0-2 while playing second base and entered the game as a pinch hitter.

In the second game, the North scored four runs in the fifth inning to tie the game before the winning homer came in the bottom of the seventh. Young took turns at catcher and shortstop in the field while going 1-2 at the plate while Phillips played second base and was 0-2 on offense.

BASEBALL:

The South won game one 3-2 before the North bounced back to take the nightcap 6-2 in the doubleheader played at Riverwalk Stadium. The North holds a 23-12-1 in the series dating back in 1997.

CROSS COUNTRY:

The South did a sweep job on the North in the cross country competition. The sweep evens the series at 1-1.

FOOTBALL:

The North scored 21 second-half points, including a touchdown on the last play of the game, to beat the South 27-14 at the game held at Cramton Bowl. The annual contest of football players dates back to 1948 and with the North’s fourth consecutive victory the South’s edge in the contest has been cut to 30-27-2.