By DREW GRANTHUM/Sports Editor

Where did fall go?

It feels like just yesterday I was writing about football and volleyball kicking off, and how much I was looking forward to covering both sports as the fall progressed.

Here we are, with volleyball having wrapped up on Oct. 30, and our football teams whittled down to just those that made the postseason.

It feels odd, honestly. I don’t know where the fall sports season went, but I know there were high points that were worth talking about.

I know that Helena High put out two solid teams this fall, with football becoming only the second program in AHSAA history to clinch a playoff berth in its first season, and the volleyball squad hosted its area tournament in its first season as well. The folks in Helena have to be proud of what looks to be a solid foundation for the future.

Also worth noting is the success of the Oak Mountain football team. The Eagles have quietly put together the best regular season in school history at 9-1, and head coach Cris Bell has his team in strong shape headed into the postseason.

All that said, the air’s getting colder, the leaves are falling and Shelby County Sports are about to head indoors.

We’re on the verge of our winter sports season, which includes girls basketball, boys basketball and wrestling, just to name a few.

I always enjoy the winter sports, because for the most part, they make a journalist earn their pay. Basketball is as fast-paced a sport as there is, and if you lose focuse for even a second, you’ve missed something big — especially with some of the playmakers we have here.

In addition to basketball, Shelby County is a hotbed for wrestling talent. Each of the programs in the county pose a threat to make a run for a championship, and we will be there to chronicle their seasons as they go.

In addition to those mentioned, the Shelby County Rodeo takes place during the winter months, and we’ll be there for that as well.

While the temperature may be dropping, the action’s heating up.
And we’ll be there to bring it to you.