HUNTSVILLE–Several of the Black Belt’s finest athletes and most respected coaches took part in last week’s annual All-Star Sports Week, sponsored by the Alabama High School Athletic Association and held in Huntsville.

At the annual Awards Luncheon of the Alabama High School Athletic Directors&Coaches Association, Demopolis football coach Doug Goodwin and Sumter County basketball coach Alonzo Sledge were honored with the Meritorious Service Award for their longstanding service to their respective schools. Sledge has served with Sumter and Goodwin with Demopolis for 25 and 20 years, respectively.

Each of the state’s 85 championship-winning coaches were given their Championship Awards at the ASHADC luncheon as well. Receiving their awards were Goodwin and Sweet Water’s Stacy Luker for football; Sledge and Greene County High’s Rodney Wesley for basketball; and Demopolis’s James Moody for baseball.

Wesley had more to do in Huntsville than just accept an award, however. He also served as a coach for the South team in the North-South All-Star basketball game, played July 14.

Four different area players were named to the squad, which lost to the North 103-82: Greene County’s Curtis Nickson, who finished with five rebounds and eight points; Nickson’s Greene County teammate Howard Crawford, who also picked up five rebounds to go with nine points; Sumter County’s Larry Foster, who starred for the South team with 23 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists in only 27 minutes of action; and Livingston High’s Roland Fitch, who was not able to attend.

Demopolis High softball player Dorothy Knapp was named to the South softball team and was in attendance in Huntsville, but could not play in the All-Star softball game due to a recent injury suffered at a softball camp.

All players participating in All-Star Sports Week are rising juniors.