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Red Bay's Madden, Kennedy named All-State again; Vina's Hester also honored

The Alabama Sports Writers Association announced its All-State basketball selections for the 2016-2017 season on Saturday, and three of the top small-school players in the state hail from western Franklin County.

Darby Madden and Allie Kennedy of Red Bay both received All-State honors in Class 2A, and Abby Hester of Vina was recognized in Class 1A. Hester (18.0 points per game), Madden (16.4) and Kennedy (15.9) were the top three scorers in Franklin County this season.

Madden, a 5’11 senior forward, was a first-team All-State selection for the second straight year after earning second-team honors as a sophomore in 2014-15. In her final prep season, she set new career highs for total points scored (526), points per game (16.4) and three-pointers made (26) while also shooting a county-best 80 percent (181-for-225) from the foul line.

Madden, a UNA signee and a first-team All-County selection by the Free Press, was a consistent source of low-post offense for Red Bay, scoring in double-figures in 28 of her 32 games played and topping the 20-point mark nine times. She also led the team in rebounding and blocked shots, helping the Lady Tigers finish 25-8 and earn a seventh straight trip to the Northwest Regional in Hanceville.

Kennedy, a 5’9 senior guard, capped off her stellar high school career with a fourth consecutive All-State nod. After receiving honorable mention as a freshman in 2013-14, she was a first-team selection as a sophomore and a third-team selection in each of her final two seasons.

Kennedy matched Madden with 526 points as a senior, averaging a career-high 15.9 per game. She reached double-figures in all but five of her 33 games played, topping the 20-point mark on nine occasions.

Kennedy, a Southern Miss signee and the Free Press Player of the Year, finished tied for third in Franklin County with 54 threes made (up from 41 as a junior) and also shot a solid 71 percent (65-for-91) from the foul line. She ran the point for Hall of Fame coach Donnie Roberts and also impacted the game on the other end of the floor as Red Bay’s top perimeter defender.

Hester, a 5’1 junior guard, earned second-team All-State honors in Class 1A after leading Vina to 22 wins this season. Her career-high 558 points scored were tops in Franklin County, and she also ranked first in 20-point games (14), three-pointers made (75) and free throws made (185 in 247 attempts, a rate of 75 percent).

Hester accounted for the top two single-game scoring totals in the county this year, dropping 33 on Belgreen on January 10 and then erupting for a career-high 43 just three nights later against Tharptown. She surpassed the 1,000-point mark for her career on February 2 in a rout of Hubbertville and finished the season leading the Lady Devils in assists (8.3 per game) and steals (5.7 per game).

Hester, who has recorded 23 double-doubles and five triple-doubles over the past two seasons, has been nominated to participate in this summer’s North-South All-Star Game in Montgomery. She has scored 1,067 career points heading into her senior season.

Other girls players from the Shoals and the surrounding area to receive All-State honors were:

Class 4A

•Karleigh Sledge, 6’1 junior center, Deshler, first-team

•Nicole Shirley, 5’8 senior guard, Deshler, second-team

•Taylor Aikerson, 5’8 junior guard, Deshler, third-team

Class 3A

•Allie Craig Cruce, 6’1 junior forward, Lauderdale County, first-team

•Chelsea Leach, 5’11 junior center, Colbert County, second-team

•Channing Gafford, 5’9 senior guard, Lauderdale County, third-team

•Kinsley Hanback, 5’10 junior forward, Lexington, third-team

Class 1A

•KeeUndria Bolden, 6’0 sophomore center, R.A. Hubbard, first-team

•A’Nautica Bibbs, 5’6 sophomore guard, R.A. Hubbard, second-team

•Paula Camp, 5’10 senior center, Hackleburg, third-team

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