Blogs
post a blog entry
Please note that The Anniston Star reserves the right to delete blog entries for any reason without prior notice.
Blogs are for personal use only. Any posts used for commercial purposes (i.e., selling products or services) will be deleted.
Blog posts containing racial or sexual remarks or other offensive content will be removed immediately.
Please do not use your blog post to copy content from other Web sites. Instead, we encourage you to provide a link to that content.
Repeated violations of these rules may result in the termination of your AnnistonStar.com account.

Today's Events
event calendar Icon_info

Tuesday, 18, 2013
post a new event Icon_info

Pond Spring- The Gener... 3:50 PM
Oxford Farmers market 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM
Join us for the kick-off of Oxford's first...
Oxford Farmers market 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM
Join us for the kick-off of Oxford's first...
All-Calhoun County girls soccer team -- complete list
by Brandon Miller
Jun 18, 2013 | 0 views |  0 comments | 0 0 recommendations | email to a friend | print
FIRST TEAM Kiyana Bullock So., 5-8, F • Anniston Noteworthy: Bullock handled a versatile role to the Bulldogs, playing nearly every position on the field. She finished in the season with seven assists and three goals. Laura Davenport Fr., 5-7, MF • Oxford Noteworthy: Davenport worked the hardest for the Yellow Jackets and led the team in goals this past season. The freshman was also one of the team’s captains. Marissa Davis Sr., 5-1, D • Donoho Noteworthy: Davis was a team captain the past three seasons and brought relentless play to the Lady Falcons’ defense. Allison Judge Sr., 5-7, ATH • Jacksonville Noteworthy: Judge played nearly every position for the Golden Eagles. Jacksoville’s valedictorian scored two goals and had eight assists. Mattison Lowery Fr., 5-5, GK • Jacksonville Noteworthy: Lowery allowed an average of only 1.1 goals a game for the Golden Eagles. She made 112 saves and recorded seven shutouts. Quenteeria Mooney Soph., 5-10, D • Jacksonville Noteworthy: Mooney was a relentless defender who won half of her battles last season. She also recorded three assists and a goal. Sharon Osterbind Sr., 6-1, F • Jacksonville Noteworthy: Osterbind led the Golden Eagles with 44 goals and 18 assists, but also played a larger role for the run. The UAB signee served as a coach on the field and played the largest role in Jacksonville’s state quarterfinals run. Virginia Poe So., 5-10, MF • Jacksonville Noteworthy: Poe defended and scored for the Golden Eagles. The sophomore finished the season with 37 goals and 17 assists. Miranda Schoening Fr., 5-11, GK • Oxford Noteworthy: Schoening kept the Yellow Jackets in most games with her outstanding play in goal. The freshman was also the heart of the defense. Katherine Westbrook Sr., 5-9, MF • Donoho Noteworthy: Westbrook provided steady leadership on both sides of the ball for the Falcons. The senior recorded 16 goals this past season. Leslie Williams Jr., 4-10, F • Donoho Noteworthy: Williams broke onto the scene as the Falcons leader in goals scored with 27, as she helped Donoho make a second-round playoff run. Maddy Oblena Soph., 5-3, MF • Sacred Heart Noteworthy: Oblena was all over the field for the Cardinals, leading Sacred Heart with her offensive and defensive play. Second TEAM Anniston — Raven Cooley, Tahlyia Knox; Oxford — Tristan Lackey, Aniya Mahaffey; Jacksonville — Ashton Wells, Elizabeth Poe, Cindee Tang, Jordan Terry, Kaila Green; Donoho — Lily Wiedmer; Sacred Heart — Haili Clark.
Sharon Osterbind had 44 goals and 18 assists in helping Jacksonville advance to the Class 1A-4A girls state soccer quarterfinals. (Photo by Bill Wilson/Anniston Star)
Sharon Osterbind had 44 goals and 18 assists in helping Jacksonville advance to the Class 1A-4A girls state soccer quarterfinals. (Photo by Bill Wilson/Anniston Star)
slideshow
All-Calhoun County girls soccer: Osterbind always found joy in the game
by Brandon Miller
Jun 18, 2013 | 1 views |  0 comments | 0 0 recommendations | email to a friend | print
Sharon Osterbind had 44 goals and 18 assists in helping Jacksonville advance to the Class 1A-4A girls state soccer quarterfinals. (Photo by Bill Wilson/Anniston Star)
Sharon Osterbind had 44 goals and 18 assists in helping Jacksonville advance to the Class 1A-4A girls state soccer quarterfinals. (Photo by Bill Wilson/Anniston Star)
slideshow
JACKSONVILLE — Jacksonville High girls soccer coach Sam Cain noticed future star Sharon Osterbind at a camp while she was in elementary school and knew then he wanted to coach her. Cain said that at the time, Osterbind clearly had talent and passion for the game. About a decade later, that hasn’t changed. “It’s her intensity to be the best and her desire to want to be the best at whatever she does. In elementary school I knew I wanted to coach her just because she enjoyed the game so much,” Cain said. “She was out there working, smiling and laughing during the game. It’s not because she’s playing well — it’s because she enjoys the game. That’s kind of refreshing to see.” Not only was the love Osterbind had for soccer unconditional, but her skill on the field was as well. The senior striker was the star on a team that went to the quarterfinals of the Class 1A-4A state playoffs and recorded a school-record 16 wins. She managed 44 goals and 18 assists. “It was probably the most talented soccer team at JHS that I played on,” said Osterbind, who is The Anniston Star’s Calhoun County girls soccer player of the year. “Everyone just put in extra to work hard. It was a good season because everyone came in. “A lot of us have been playing together for a while. We all know each other well enough to play good soccer.” Osterbind excelled at several sports throughout childhood, but eventually dropped softball because it cut into her time spent playing soccer. She continued playing basketball, which she did at Jacksonville, but her true love was always soccer. “I’ve been playing since I was 5, and it’s just something I’ve always really liked,” she said. “It’s a physical sport, and, for example, I’ve always loved basketball, but I’d always get in foul trouble because I was so used to soccer. In soccer, you can actually use your body — you just can’t use your arms to push.” Similar to when Osterbind was on the court, she typically took the spotlight on the soccer pitch. Cain called her a coach on the field and added she also is a “great role player,” saying she’s going to make a difference no matter where she plays on the field. “As she got older, she developed the leadership so that when it was time to score goals, she could go in and do that,” he said. “But when the game was in hand, she would make her teammates look better by setting them up for scores.” Osterbind spent six years on the Jacksonville varsity before graduating last month. Although her prep career is finished, she’ll continue playing soccer at UAB next year. “I like the campus, coaches and players. It’s really exciting and I can’t wait to start, but I’m a little nervous about preseason and all,” Osterbind said. “I’ll continue to work hard and try to be successful there, too.” Brandon Miller covers prep sports for The Star. He can be reached at 256-235-3575 or follow him on Twitter @bmiller_star.
San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) and Miami Heat forward LeBron James (6) collide during the second half. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) and Miami Heat forward LeBron James (6) collide during the second half. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
slideshow
They're headed to a Game 7
by Associated Press
Jun 18, 2013 | 59 views |  0 comments | 5 5 recommendations | email to a friend | print
San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) and Miami Heat forward LeBron James (6) collide during the second half. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) and Miami Heat forward LeBron James (6) collide during the second half. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
slideshow
MIAMI — LeBron James led a title-saving charge, and now his crown will be on the line one more time in Game 7. James powered Miami to a frantic fourth-quarter rally and overtime escape as the Heat beat the San Antonio Spurs 103-100 on Tuesday night to extend the NBA Finals as far as they can go and keep their repeat chances alive. Losing his headband but keeping his cool while playing the entire second half and overtime, James finished with 32 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, making the go-ahead basket with 1:43 remaining in the extra period. Tim Duncan scored 30 points for the Spurs, his most in an NBA Finals game since Game 1 in 2003, but was shut out after the third quarter. He added 17 rebounds. Game 7 will be here Thursday, the NBA's first do-or-die game to determine its champion since the Lakers beat the Celtics in 2010. The Spurs looked headed to a fifth title in five chances when they built a 13-point lead with under 4 minutes left in the third quarter, then grabbed a five-point edge late in regulation after blowing the lead. But James hit a 3-pointer before Ray Allen tied it with another with 5.2 seconds remaining in regulation. James was just 3 of 12 after three quarters, the Heat trailing by 10 and frustration apparent among the players and panic setting in among the fans. Nothing to worry. Not with James playing like this. He finished 11 of 26, even making a steal after his basket had given Miami a 101-100 edge in the OT. Before that, he was 12 minutes from hearing the familiar criticisms about not being able to get it done, from having to watch a team celebrate on his home floor again. Then he changed the game and erased that story. The Heat, who haven't lost consecutive games since Jan. 8 and 10, had too much defense and way too much James for the Spurs in the final 17 minutes. They are trying to become fourth team to win the final two games at home since the NBA went to the 2-3-2 format for the finals in 1985. James came in averaging 31.5 points in elimination games, highest in NBA history, according to a stat provided through the NBA by the Elias Sports Bureau. This wasn't quite the 45-point performance in Game 6 of last year's Eastern Conference finals in Boston, but given the higher stakes may go down as more important — if the Heat follow it with another victory Thursday. The Heat were in the same place as they were in 2011 at the end of their Big Three's first season together, coming home from Texas facing a 3-2 deficit in the finals. This is a different team. And oh, what a different James. They said they welcomed this challenge, a chance to show they how much mentally tougher they were than the team the Dallas Mavericks easily handled in Game 6 that night. James made sure they did, looking nothing like the player who was so bad in the fourth quarters during that series. He was simply unstoppable down the stretch of this one. Kawhi Leonard had 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Spurs. Tony Parker had 19 points and eight assists, but shot just 6 of 23 from the field. The Spurs had one final chance down 103-100, but Chris Bosh blocked Danny Green's 3-pointer from the corner as time expired. Bosh had said Green wouldn't get open the way he has all series — and he didn't.
-->
Marketplace