BRINGING BACK PRIDE

Class 3A girls coach of year Adams enjoys breakout year

By Mike Cummings The Cullman Times

HOLLY POND — Scott Adams came to the realization slowly — and at various points of the season.

During summer workouts, the Holly Pond High girls basketball coach noticed his players making plays they wouldn’t have made the year before. And during the opening weeks of fall practice, the sharp passing and shooting continued.

But during a Thanksgiving tournament in Morgan County — that’s when Adams knew. Fully, finally and without a doubt.

“I realized what this team was capable of at the Danville Thanksgiving tournament,” said Adams, whose team knocked off Muscle Shoals and Danville while dropping close games to Clements and Lauderdale County at the event. “I knew this team was right there with the elite teams in this part of the state — and that gave me confidence.

“But at the same time, you’ve got to perform to get there.”

That’s exactly what Holly Pond did.

After the Thanksgiving tournament, the Broncos embarked on a wild ride that ended with a record 28 wins and the program’s first appearance in the Final 48 in Birmingham.

It also resulted in Adams being named The Times Prep Girls Basketball Coach of the Year for the first time.

But even though Adams is getting his share of accolades for Holly Pond’s historic run — he was also named the Class 3A Girls Coach of the Year by the Alabama Sports Writers Association — the third-year Broncos coach isn’t taking any of the credit for it.

That goes to his players.

“The truth of the matter is that coaches try to put their kids out there in the best situation possible,” Adams said. “But if you don’t have kids that can shoot and rebound, you can’t do anything.”

Adams had plenty of players that could do both. Some were familiar faces, while others were newcomers.

Experienced scorers like senior Haley Bagwell and juniors Haley Terry and Kelsey Hawkins continued to shine while the emergence of sophomore center Alisha Keller gave the Broncos a legitimate inside presence.

Role players like Nora Kathryn Henderson and Courtney Deese gave them depth and occasional scoring threats.

“The girls did all the hard work,” said Adams. “The girls just did a great job.”

Holly Pond’s run ended with a loss to Sumter County in the Class 3A state semifinals, but that hasn’t stopped well-wishers from congratulating Adams and his players. Nor has it stopped Adams and his players from looking forward to another run at a state title.

“It’s nice any time you end the season and you’ve accomplished all of your goals, because most of the time you don’t accomplish all of your goals,” said Adams. “But you can’t say, ‘We accomplished all of our goals, so now we can relax.’

“You’ve just got to work even harder and maybe you’ll accomplish all of your goals again.”

• Mike Cummings can be reached by email at michaelc@cullmantimes.com or by phone at 734-2131, ext. 258.

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