| Remember when takes a look back at the local stories from the files of The Messenger that took place 1, 5, 10, 20 and 30 years ago.
30 Years Ago
Dec. 6 — The Kenton girls beat Obion Central for the first time ever after 32 losses and on the big stage — for the championship of the fifth annual Messenger-Obion County Tournament. The unbeaten Maidens (6-0) won 57-43 behind 21 points from Robin Coble and another 15 from tourney most valuable player Michelle Skinner and denied the Lady Rebels a fourth consecutive C.D. Parr Memorial Trophy. Kenton’s Tammy Burress and Central’s Kim Whipple and Lisa Thompson joined Coble and Skinner on the all-tournament team. The South Fulton boys won their first-ever Messenger-Obion County Tournament championship with a thrilling 77-76 triumph over Obion Central in the nightcap before a record crowd at the OCCHS gymnasium. Greg Britton’s bucket with less that a minute left proved to be the game-winner for the Red Devils, who remained perfect after six games. Tournament MVP Ken Tolbert had a game-high 27 points and was joined on the all-tourney squad by teammate Barry Williams who had 18 markers. Jeff Riley, who hit for 24 points to pace the Rebels, was also an all-star pick for the event, as was the Rebels’ Cannon Whitby, who scored 18. Union City’s Bobby Davies rounded out the all-tourney selections.
20 Years Ago
Dec. 8 — Obion Central’s Cortney Neeley and Alicia Kirby were all tourney picks in the Allied Signal Tournament in Metropolis, Ill. Neeley scored 55 points in OC’s three games, including a game-high 29 in the Lady Rebel opener. Kirby tallied 12 against Paducah Tilghman to help Central finish 2-1 in the event, its only loss to host Massac County.
Dec. 10 — David Isbell, a standout center on Union City’s 1992 football team that posted the first unbeaten, untied regular season in school history, was named 1st team All-State by the Associated Press. Isbell graded out at 92 percent for the center and helped pave the way for the Tornadoes to win 11 games in all before they were ousted in Round 2 of the state playoffs for a second straight year by MUS. UC quarterback Marcus Lewis, a Mr. Football Back of the Year finalist, received honorable mention on the team after throwing for more than 1,000 yards and rushing for another 500 and accounting for 18 TDs.
10 Years Ago
Dec. 10 — Obion Central’s Kyle Ross, who did a little bit of everything in the Rebels’ 8-3 football season, was named the Messenger-Obion County Prep Player of the Year. OC’s top scorer with 80 total points, Ross caught 40 passes from Wes Moore for 555 yards and six scores, and also threw four TD passes in limited time at QB. Defensively, Ross had a team-high 72 tackles at linebacker with four interceptions and four fumble recoveries.
Dec. 11 — The county basketball rivalry was a wash with the Obion Central girls winning 66-26, and the Tornado boys prevailing 47-34 at Troy. The Lady Rebels improved to 6-1 and beat UC for the 20th straight time behind Jenna Roney’s 15 points, Kelli Maddox topped Union City with 11 markers. Elijah Young scored 14 points and Jason Morris 12 for the Twisters, who improved to 4-2 by salvaging a split in the nightcap. Central’s Jontez Dennis led all point-makers with 17, but OC made just 12 field goals for the entire game.
5 Years Ago
Dec. 7 — Kelsey Gibson had 18 points to lead Hillcrest to a thrilling 42-38 overtime triumph over Lake Road in local middle school hardwood action. Elsewhere, South Fulton made it a perfect 10 with its 10th win in as many starts, a 35-11 victory over Black Oak behind the play of Savannah Larson. Amber Fair’s 10 points and four steals from Kaitlyn Wheeles helped Union City top Three Oaks 30-15.
Dec. 11 — Outgoing South Fulton head football coach Gwin Wood presented awards for the final time in his tenure at the Red Devil season-ending banquet. Among those receiving accolades were Hunter Harris, Corbin Hawks, Bart Netherland, Jonathan Avent, Armonda Gonzalez and Skylar Cherry. Wood was forced to step down after SF posted back-to-back 1-9 campaigns.
1 Year Ago
Dec. 6 — Obion Central’s LaDevin Fair and Trey Phipps were chosen as the Messenger-Obion County Co-Prep Players of the Year. The duo helped lead OC to a 9-3 record, including just the second playoff win in school history and matching the program record for most wins in a season. Fair had nearly 1,800 yards when his rushing and receiving totals were combined and a hand in 21 touchdowns. Phipps threw for over 3,000 yards and 38 scores. Also receiving awards at the team’s banquet were Chris Donaldson, Josh Quinton, Mason McGrew and Kevin Cumana.
Dec. 7 — The Union City boys beat South Fulton for the 18th straight time, 63-54, in District 14A play. LaMonte Dickerson poured in 21 points while Peyton Mosley added 13 to pace the Tornadoes. The UC girls got their first win of the young season in the opener, 57-41, as Amber Fair and Kaleigh Bynum each totaled 14 points. Published in The Messenger 12.7.12 |
