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Tiber guides North Alabama to season of success in D-I

FLORENCE, ALA. - Missy Tiber just completed her sixth season as head basketball coach at the University of North Alabama. It is one she will not soon forget. The former Bellaire High hoop standout led the Lady Lions to a most memorable campaign. First, it marked North Alabama’s transition from the NCAA D-II ranks into D-I. That is no small jump. But it is also one that Tiber guided her Lions through in much better fashion than anyone could have expected. North Alabama compiled a sparkling a 21-9 mark and advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Basketball Invitational Tournament, ...

OFF THE TEE: Wheeling’s Vail to be inducted to W.Va. Golf HOF

WHEELING — Calling Sue Vail a pioneer of women’s golf in the Ohio Valley wouldn’t be doing her enough justice. Because, she’s more than that. The Wheeling resident is a hall of famer. Vail recently received word that she had been chosen for induction to the West Virginia State Golf Hall of Fame this year. “I had no idea (the honor was coming), but I was ecstatic and very pleased when I got the news,” Vail said. “It’s a great, great honor to be chosen for the West Virginia Golf Hall of Fame.” Vail will become just the fourth female to be ...

Apicella gains A.D. honors in S. Carolina

SHADYSIDE - Matt Apicella is making a positive difference. The Shadyside High grad is cast in the role of athletic director at Lake City High School in South Carolina. It is a job he performs with great expertise. So much so, for the second successive year, Apicella has been selected as the South Carolina Athletic Administrators Association?s 3A Athletic Director of the Year. The award was presented March 12 at the annual SCAAA conference in Charleston. “To be recognized statewide by your peers is very humbling,” Apicella said. “This award enables everyone to realize what ...

Crutchfield taking Sharks to Elite Eight

EVANSVILLE, Ind. - It was no secret that Jim Crutchfield was one of the nation’s premier basketball coaches during his tenure at West Liberty University. What he did with the Hilltoppers was nothing short of amazing. Now his encore performance in the Sunshine State may be even more impressive. Many were shocked when Crutchfield opted to resign from West Liberty, head to Florida and take over Nova Southeastern, a D-II program in shambles. But it has taken just two seasons for the coaching icon to raise his Sharks from the depths of perennial losing to the Elite Eight. The Fort ...

Alexander nets second state title

WHEELING — Coaching state championship teams is often, at most, a once-in-a lifetime opportunity. No so for Nathan Alexander. The Martins Ferry High grad recently pocketed his second state title ring as coach of the Osceola High boys’ basketball team. The Kowboys defeated Wellington last weekend in the Florida Class 9A (largest classification) championship game. Alexander also guided Osceola to the state championship in 2017 to cap a sparkling 30-2 campaign. Just two years prior to his initial state title, he led the Kowboys to a Class 7A state runnnerup finish. That is a ...

Shadyside’s tournament run won’t soon be forgotten

COLUMBUS — If someone had told Shadyside’s girls basketball team that it would win 24 games, a district and regional championship and play on the biggest stage in Ohio at the Schottenstein Center, it’s a safe bet that any of the 12 players and two coaches would have signed up for that ...