Members of Hartselle’s 10-12 All-Star Team, from left, are: (front row) Jackson Raley, Ayden Penley, Ethan Puckett, Payton Key, Thomas McCleskey, Xavier Cagle and Hunter Shelnutt; (back row) Jett Greenhall, Jaron Pierce, coaches Justin Billings, Dayrn Raley and Johnny Jones, Jacob White and Jarod Johnson.

Clif Knight

Hartselle Enquirer

Hartselle’s 10-12 All-Stars claimed championship honors at the District 2 Youth League Basketball Tournament in Hartselle on Sat., March 1, by defeating Huntsville Metro 43-42, in overtime.

The team will go on to represent the district at the State Youth League Basketball Tournament in Gadsden March 14-16.

Hartselle edged out Huntsville Metro by scoring the winning point with no time remaining on the clock. With 8.1 seconds left, Jacob White dribbled the length of the court and passed the ball to Hunter Shelnutt who made a lay-up to seal the win.

Shelnutt led the team in scoring with 18 points. White added seven points, Ethan Puckett, six; Jett Greenhall, five; Jaron Pierce, four; and Jackson Raley, one.

Hartselle advanced to the finals by defeating Huntsville Eastern, 42-31.

Pierce was the leading scorer with nine points. Raley and White each had eight, Shelknutt scored seven, Thomas McCleskey and Greenhall each had four and Jared Johnson added two.

In a first round contest, Hartselle outscored Monrovia 45-39.

Shelnutt was the team’s leading scorer with 12 points, Greenhall and Raley each had 10, White added seven, and Puckett, Xavier Cagle and Pierce each scored two points.

Head coach Dayrn Raley said the team rose to the top because of its desire to win regardless of the odds.

“This team has a lot of talented players, probably the most we’ve seen in this age group in a long time, Raley added. “I like our chances at state.”