7 in area named 1st team all-state

Mar 17, 2013 (The Decatur Daily - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Brandon Roberts' final high school basketball season keeps getting better.

Two days removed from a strong performance in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic, he collected his first postseason award today with a first-team selection on the Alabama Sports Writers Association's Class 3A boys all-state basketball team.

Roberts is one of seven area players who were first-team selections.

On the boys all-state teams, Tanner guard Greg Maclin was a first-team selection in Class 2A.

For the girls, Austin guard Takisha Jordan (6A), Brewer center Riley Northway (5A), Clements senior DaNeshia Malone (3A), Tanner guard Sydney Houston (2A) and R.A. Hubbard point guard Alex Gholston (1A) were first-team selections.

Athens guard Nathanial Potts was a second-team selection on the Class 5A boys all-state team.

Roberts finished his senior season at West Morgan as one of the state's most-prolific scorers, averaging 34 points per game.

"It was a great way to finish my high school career," said Roberts, a Samford commitment. "I went out every night and played like I had something to prove. If there's one thing I've learned, it's that hard work pays off." "It was a lot of fun, but now I'm ready to step up for the next challenge." Jordan is the first Austin girls basketball player to be selected for the ASWA's first or second team since 2001, when former Black Bears star Nneka Egbe was a first-team selection.

Jordan averaged 14 points and eight rebounds per game. The point guard plans to sign with Northwest Florida State College in Niceville, Fla., next month.

"We had a good season," Jordan said following the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic. "I wish it hadn't ended with a loss, but getting to play (in the Northwest Regional) at Wallace State was a good experience." For Clements' Malone, the first-team selection comes with an additional honor. The 6-foot-1 center has been a first-team selection for four straight years, matching a feat accomplished by former Decatur star Yolanda Watkins and former West Morgan star Hayden Hamby -- two of the best to come out of the area.

Like Hamby and Watkins, Malone's name is the Alabama High School Athletic Association's record book.

In the AHSAA, Malone ranks ninth all-time in scoring with 3,446 career points. She is second all-time in rebounds with 2,000, and her 771 career blocked shots are an AHSAA record.

Three area players were selected as all-state honorable mention. On the girls all-state teams, Lawrence County's Rachel Childress, a freshman, was a Class 5A honorable mention. For the boys, Tanner Jace Haggermaker (2A) and East Limestone's Jordon Gandy (5A) were honorable mentions.

Contact Justin Graves at 256-340-2460 or by email at jgraves@decaturdaily.com.

First-teamers Boys Class 3A: Brandon Roberts, West Morgan Class 2A: Greg Maclin, Tanner Girls Class 6A: Takisha Jordan, Austin Class 5A: Riley Northway, Brewer Class 3A: DaNeshia Malone, Clements Class 2A: Sydney Houston, Tanner Class 1A: Alex Gholston, R.A. Hubbard ___ (c)2013 The Decatur Daily (Decatur, Ala.) Visit The Decatur Daily (Decatur, Ala.) at www.decaturdaily.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

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