Helena’s year in review: Sports

Published 1:58 pm Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Helena players celebrate after recording the last out to defeat St. Paul’s to advance to the state championship game in Montgomery last year. (File)

Helena players celebrate after recording the last out to defeat St. Paul’s to advance to the state championship game in Montgomery last year. (File)

FROM STAFF REPORTS

As the new year begins, we take a look back at Helena’s biggest sports headlines in 2015

January

HMS basketball team wins first conference championship

The Helena Middle School girls basketball team won the Southern Conference Tournament Championship.

February

HHS basketball finishes impressive season

The Helena boys basketball team loses in the AHSAA Sub-Regional 5A tournament to Talladega. Helena finished as Class 5A Area 7 runner-ups In the program’s first season.

Helena baseball records first win as program

The Helena High School baseball team records their first win in program history, defeating the Chelsea Hornets 5-3 in below-freezing temperatures.

March

Laatsch receives award

Helena head basketball coach Chris Laatsch receives the James Perryman Coaches Recognition Award after completing an impressive first season.

April

Bringing home hardware

HHS winter guard team wins SCGC Championship.

May

Helena boys soccer advances to state semifinals

The Helena boys soccer team blanks Marbury 4-0 to advance the state semifinals.

Helena baseball falls just short

The Helena boys baseball team advances to the 5A AHSAA Baseball State Championship game in the program’s first season. The Huskies fell just short of a state championship after being swept by the Russellville Golden Tigers in Montgomery.

June

Helena’s PJ Guy honored by ASWA

The Alabama Sports Writers Association named first-year Helena High School baseball coach PJ Guy 5A Coach of the Year after guiding Helena to an impressive first season.

Helena has two make All-County soccer list

Helena soccer forward Matt Sheets and Phildon Dublin both make the 2015 Boys Soccer All-County list.

July

Dublin named All-Star MVP

Helena Huskies goalkeeper Phildon Dublin represents Helena in the AHSAA All-Star Soccer game on July 21, where he was named MVP for the North team after recording two saves in the game.

August

Huskies fall to PHS in first rivalry jamboree game

The Pelham Panthers beat the Helena Huskies 31-22 at the first rivalry jamboree on Aug. 21.

September

Huskies improve to 3-0

The Helena Huskies football team remains unbeaten after a 31-7 rout of Dallas County.

October

HMS football undefeated

The eighth-grade HMS football team finishes the year undefeated, posting an 8-0 overall record.

Volleyball area champs

The Helena High School volleyball team wins the area tournament and eventually made it to the AHSAA 5A State Tournament.

November

Helena football records program’s first-ever playoff win

The Helena Huskies defeat the Sidney Lanier Poets 24-7 to record the program’s first-ever playoff win.

December

Helena boys and girls basketball teams sweep Pelham

The Helena boys basketball team defeats rival Pelham 63-52, while the girls also take care of business, winning 65-52 at Pelham high School.