Brown, Woods named first team All-State

Published 6:30 am Saturday, March 18, 2017

A pair of local standouts are among those selected for the Alabama Sports Writers Association All-State Girls Basketball Team, released today.

Tanner junior Kirstin Brown and Athens sophomore Alexis Woods were both first-team All-State selections in their respective classifications for the second straight season.

Woods was a first-team selection in Class 6A after averaging a double-double and leading the Golden Eagles to the Northwest Regional Tournament finals. As the team’s main post player, she averaged 17 points and 12 rebounds as a junior.

“She had a great year, especially since she was double-covered most of the season,” said Athens head coach Eddie Murphree. “Being able to hit a three every once in a while helps with that. She has such a good touch. We’re looking for big things from her next year.”

Woods spent plenty of time at the free-throw line and was among the team’s leading free-throw shooters. After making the All-State team as a sophomore, Woods had another strong season and helped Athens achieve a 31-4 record.

Brown was a first-team selection in Class 2A after leading her team to the state championship game in Birmingham earlier this month. She finished her high school career with more than 2,200 career points and over 1,100 rebounds.

Brown averaged 20.7 points and 12.6 rebounds for Tanner and made the all-tournament teams at the county, area and region tournaments last month. Brown and teammate Jessika Milton were selected for the All-Tournament team at the state tournament.

It’s the latest honor for Brown, who is one of 12 female players selected to represent Alabama in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star game. That game was played Friday in Montgomery.

While Brown’s high school career is over and Woods will be a senior, another local player is just getting started. Caroline Bachus, a West Limestone seventh-grader, was an honorable mention selection in Class 4A.

In her first season playing varsity against older competition, Bachus averaged a double-double and was named to the All-Tournament team at the Limestone County Tournament.

The All-State boys team will be announced Sunday. Visit our website, www.enewscourier.com, for the full list of All-State selections.