Sparkman’s Kennedy Langham Preps For State Tournament And All-Star Classic
Langham is among six selected for the 12-player squad to represent Alabama who are participating in the AHSAA State Basketball Championships this week in Birmingham. Sparkman (25-8) is set to face Foley (23-5) in one semi-final game at noon on Thursday, March 2. Hoover (34-1) will meet Prattville (24-4) in the earlier semi-final, which will tip-off at 9:00 a.m. Winners of each semi-final will advance to the State Championship Game scheduled for Saturday with tip-off at 4:00 p.m.
Sparkman advanced to the final four with a 55-44 victory over Hewitt-Trussville in the Regional Tournament.
“I’m really excited about being chosen for the game and considered to be one of the best in state,” said Langham. “Many of the girls on the squad I have played with during AAU games and that should be great.”
Langham has played for the Alabama Southern Stars AAU team and has helped the team to the nationals the last three years.
Langham was a second-team All-State selection last year as a junior. She signed with Samford University where she looks to study exercise science and carries a 3.4 grade point average. Prior to her senior season she played in the North-South All-Star Week basketball game scoring four points in her 12-minutes of playing time coming off the bench in the game the North won 75-52.
In last year’s Classic, Alabama defeated Mississippi 89-81 to extend its series lead to 18-14. The Alabama teams in both girls and boys, were selected by the AHSADCA All-Star Selection Committee.
Jarvis Wilson, head coach of Sparkman, looked to Langham to be a team leader during this year’s campaign as the shooting guard is a four-year starter for the Lady Senators. She averaged 16-points per game and is regarded as one of the favorites to be chosen Ms. Basketball in Class 7A at the completion of the current season.
“Our big win over Hewitt-Trussville gave us lots of confidence and if we can keep our defensive pressure on Foley we should play well,” added Langham. “We’re using the talents on our team we already knew we had and we plan on showing everyone else. We have confidence.”
As for the All-Star Game near the Gulf of Mexico in the Gateway to the Gulf, Langham added, “It will be a great experience as to have my family and friends there to watch will be a great time.”
