Red Bay had successful 2010-11
Members of the Red Bay vasrsity girls basketball team congratulate head coach Donnie Roberts after the Lady Tigers defeated Phil Campbell to give Roberts his 700th career win. | Scot Beard/FCT
Winning is nothing new to the Red Bay varsity girls basketball team. The program has a couple of state championships, numerous appearances at the regional tournament and dozens of area and county titles.
But of all the victories the Lady Tigers have produced throughout the years, the win against Phil Campbell on Dec. 11, 2010 will stand out for the players on the court that day and their head coach, Donnie Roberts.
With a 64-47 victory against their county rivals, the Lady Tigers handed Roberts his 700th career victory, which is a record in the state of Alabama.
Red Bay would go on to pad that record as the Lady Tigers cruised to a county title, an area title and reached the finals of the Northwest Regional Tournament. The season came to an end with a 59-48 loss to eventual state champion Tanner.
Roberts, who retired from teaching this year, will add to his win total next season when he returns to coach the Lady Tigers for at least one more season.
So close once again
The past two seasons came to a disappointing end for the Red Bay varsity girls softball team as it finished one win shy of reaching the Class 2A State Tournament.
2001 looked like the year Red Bay would break through and reach Montgomery. The Lady Tigers featured a pair of pitchers who signed college scholarships, a potent batting order and, thanks to realignment by the Alabama High School Athletic Association, an easier path to Montgomery.
Red Bay cruised to an area title and picked up victories in the first two games of the regional tournament to set up a showdown with top-ranked Sumiton Christian with a berth at the state tournament on the line. Red Bay faltered early and Sumiton Christian pulled out a 8-2 win to send the Lady Tigers to the Losers’ Bracket.
Red Bay then faced Ranburne with another chance to clinch a spot in the state tournament, but could not get the offense rolling in time and fell 8-4, ending the season one victory shy of Montgomery for the third consecutive season.
Déjà vu
Franklin County has seen its share of streaks when it comes to area sports teams.
Phil Campbell won 15 consecutive county titles in baseball. Red Bay won 12 consecutive county titles in girls basketball. Perhaps the most impressive streak is the one held by the Red Bay football team — 12 consecutive years with a playoff berth.
The streak appeared to be in jeopardy after starting region play with losses to Lexington and Colbert Heights, wins against Lamar County and Hatton got the Tigers back into the playoff hunt.
Red Bay lost to Sulligent, but closed out the region schedule with dominating wins against Phil Campbell and Cherokee to earn a playoff spot. The Tigers lost in the first round against former region foe Tanner.
