THE TROJAN DAILY
Tuesday, September 14, 2021
Hazel Green High School
Email: cstewart@mcssk12.org
Website: https://www.mcssk12.org/HazelGreenHighSchool
Location: 14380 Hwy. 231-431 North Hazel Green, AL 35750
Phone: 256-851-3220
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hazel-Green-High-School/215798281789607#!/pages/Hazel-Green-High-School/215798281789607
Twitter: @HazelGreenHigh
CONGRATULATIONS
Huntsville-Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees
Last night was a big night for Hazel Green High School and the Hazel Green community. Coach Tim Miller, current girls' basketball coach, was inducted into the Huntsville-Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame, along with former Hazel Green Trojans Robbin Pruitt Berry and Ron King. We want to congratulate them on this tremendous accomplishment and thank them for making our school and community proud. We are so proud to know these LEGENDS!
Robbin Pruitt Berry
Source: Huntsville-Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame (Facebook)
Forget having enough players to form a team. There were enough to create entire leagues in that out-in-the-country part of Madison County where Toney and Merdianville meet.
That’s where Robbin Pruitt grew up, the eighth of 10 children in the competitive, athletic family of Robert and Geraldine Pruitt. Her mom was one of 11 kids, and more than a half-dozen of her siblings lived by, so Robbin couldn’t turn around without running into a cousin or brother or sister who was holding some kind of a ball and ready to get a game started.
“Growing up we always had some kind of sport,” she says. “We were poor country kids. We were outside from sun-up to sundown and played every sport there was. We were always together in the summer and on weekends, and we played together day-in, day-out. We used to say it was a family affair.”
A couple of her cousins played volleyball at school, then an aunt planted a volleyball net in the back yard of her house. That’s were Robbin Pruitt built the foundation for her athletic career, leading to this enshrinement into the Huntsville-Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame. Along with sister Pam and cousin Rosetta Ford, she started playing volleyball at age 10, and in doing so began an alliance of family teammates that would continue through college at Alabama A&M.
“As we got older, at the middle school level, we started seeing, ‘Gosh, I can get the ball over the net,’” Robbin says. “We started learning the different passing and setting and I started to realize, ‘Hey, I like this. And I might just make the team.’”
Pruitt went to Hazel Green High and joined coach Glenda Wright’s volleyball program. Wright was inducted in 2000 into the Huntsville-Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame, having gone 1,458-591 as a coach, with six state titles. Pruitt was part of three of those teams, twice being named MVP in the Alabama High School Athletic Association state tournament, in 1983 and 1984; older sister Pam was MVP in 1982.
Robbin was All-Tournament four consecutive years in the Madison County Tournament. As her senior year wrapped up, she was elected Most Athletic Female in her class.
Pruitt also played basketball her senior year at Hazel Green and led the team in rebounding. She was All-County in track for three straight years, participating in the mile relay, 4 x 400 relay, shot put and discus. On occasion, she ran the 880, though she didn’t care much for distances. “If we didn’t have anybody to do it in a pinch, Coach Wright would put somebody in there. We respected her so much there was nothing we would not do for that woman.”
She went on to Alabama A&M, where she played for coach Betty Austin from 1986-89, and twice named the team’s Most Outstanding Player.
Pruitt then mirrored her high school days. She decided to play basketball her senior year, after encouragement from coach Press Parham.
She graduated from A&M with a degree in social work. She went to work at the State of Alabama Department of Human Resources, in child welfare. She investigated cases involving child abuse and neglect. “It was a very rewarding job, a very stressful job, a very humbling job.” She also worked as a volunteer coach for youth league teams at various community centers, coaching both boys and girls teams.
She retired in 2017 after 25 years’ service and is busy playing the role of mom and grandmother. Her son Elliott Pruitt and daughter-in-law Shauna have two sons, Kardea and Kyree, and another on the way. The athletic genes certainly carried over. Kardea is already a youth-league baseball all-star.
Even more appropriate, her daughter Nadia Berry truly carried on the legacy at Hazel Green. Despite nagging knee problems, Nadia was a member of Hazel Green’s state championship basketball team in 2018, each day passing a wall covered with photos of past Trojan athletic greats – including one of her mom. Nadia is a nursing student at Calhoun Community College.
Robbin tries not to miss a game, much as her own mother dedicated herself. Geraldine Pruitt worked a shift that began at 3:30 a.m. so she could be finished in time to attend games and chauffeur her brood to games and fields all over the state. “I had brothers who played basketball, and a sister who played basketball and two others ran track,” Robbin says. “She was always there for us. And when we had fund-raisers for our teams, she’d take all the candy to work and have it sold in a day.”
Geraldine passed away in January 2018, and that sadness was soon followed by the fear when Robbin was diagnosed with breast cancer. She now has a clean bill of health, but says that, “Going through it, I fought like I fought on the court all those years.”
Ron King
Source: Huntsville-Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame (Facebook)
Early in the 1972-73 season, the Athens College Bears had the constant reminder of “Win!” on a sign in their locker room at Carter Gymnasium. Then came a pair of one-point victories, one of which was sealed when Ron King stepped up and sank a pair of free throws with 12 seconds remaining.
A nerve-jangled coach Oba Belcher then amended the sign in what more a plea than encouragement. “Win Big!” it said.
They didn’t always manage to win big. Their schedule was pockmarked with close calls. But they were big winners. The Bears finished the season at 19-7, and were co-champions of the Southern States Conference.
And Ron King going back to the free throw line? Automatic as sunrise. He led the nation by hitting 94.6 percent of his free throws, including one stretch of 68 in a row.
He was pretty doggone good on the move, too. King hit 53 percent from the floor and averaged 14 points a game as a senior. That hardly called an end to his athletic career. King continued to play on big-time independent basketball teams and on national-power slowpitch softball teams.
However, it was his 31-year coaching career – much of which was spent at Hazel Green High School -- that earned King, a 69-year-old native of Arab, his spot in the Huntsville-Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame.
Immediately upon his graduation from Athens, he was hired to coach at J.B. Pennington in Blountsville, inheriting a program where the team had gone 0-25 the previous season. Things were slowly turned around, then he moved to Chattooga County High in Somerville, Ga., as an assistant in basketball and football for two seasons.
On a trip back to Arab, King stopped by the gym and saw his former coach, Bill Morgan, who had a job lead: Hazel Green had an opening for a head basketball coach. It so happened that Morgan had some connections there, and King was hired.
King moved to Hazel Green in 1979 and coached the boys basketball team for 14 seasons, winning a pair of Madison County Tournament Championships and four times reaching the Sub-Regional. He had a 197-167 record. He coached the girls team for 11 years, going 211-128, winning five area tournaments and three Madison County championships. He also coached track, soccer and was an assistant football coach.
For two seasons, he led the Hazel Green Middle School boys team, winning two Madison County titles and going 55-16. During that time came his most memorable – and bizarre – victory. Hazel Green trailed by three with two seconds left when an opposing player twice illegally stepped over the line while shooting a free throw. Then a Hazel Green player was fouled on a desperation 3-point shot and made all three foul shots, sending the game to overtime and a Hazel Green win.
King was born in Arab, first enjoying success more in baseball than basketball. While he was advanced enough to join a team full of 11- and 12-year-olds as a 10-year-old baseball player, he was barely made the last cut for the seventh-grade basketball team.
He seldom got off the bench that season and by late in the year told his father, Cecil, that he wanted to quit because of playing time.
“If you quit, I guarantee you that you won’t get to play,” his father told him. He began practicing religiously, improving his game and by the time he reached the eighth grade he was a starter – and scored 32 in his first game.
He was a prolific scorer as his career evolved at Arab High, once amassing 54 points in a game. He averaged 29 points as a senior, scoring more than 40 in a game a dozen times.
He recalls some memorable area tournament games against Lee High School in his junior and senior seasons. After going for more than 40 points in the first meeting, King faced a triangle-and-two defense from Lee in the encore.
“I was getting double-teamed by Dave Beck and Condredge Holloway. I think I got 19 points, and patted myself on the back for getting that many,” he laughs.
King attended Snead State as a college freshman and sophomore, striking up a lifelong friendship with Bill Jones, the long-time Jacksonville State coach and Alabama Sports Hall of Famer with whom he traveled for years on the softball circuit.
King and his wife Vickie have son Mitch, two daughters, Brittani Baker and Morgan Craciun, and are grandparents of five. Brittani is the girls basketball coach at East Limestone High, and talked her father out of retirement a few years back to coach the middle school girls. The first team he coached, only two of the girls had ever played basketball before. But he has transformed the program to a pair of 20-win seasons.
As much a labor of love as anything, it takes him back to the days when he coached his daughters in basketball and softball, “when they were five and six years old, and then all the way up. We had a blast,” King says. “I don’t think I’d take a million dollars for all that.”
Tim Miller
Source: Huntsville-Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame (Facebook)
Tim Miller was the newcomer on the coaching staff, the calligraphy ink on his University of Alabama diploma barely dry. He was, in his own words, “the low man on the totem pole.”
He was hired to coach at Hillcrest High in Tuscaloosa, where he’d been volunteering even as an undergrad. Miller was told he’d assist on the football team and handle other duties. Once on-board, he was told he’d have to coach the middle school girls’ basketball team. Miller grew resistant. Not only had he never coached a girls’ team, he’d never coached basketball. He was caught in a combination of lack of confidence and lack of interest. “I told them, ‘I can’t do it.’” To which the response was: “Do you want a job?”
Preseason practice was a cavalcade of tears and trauma. The players were inexperienced. So was their coach. The first game was a 54-2 loss. That’s not a typo. 54-2. Good news, bad news. Good news, they really didn’t miss as many shots as the score would suggest. Bad news, they didn’t shoot as much because they couldn’t even get the ball up the floor to run an offense.
There was nowhere to go but up. Even then, though, who could have imagined that three decades later the low man on the totem pole would have more than 600 victories and eight state championships, coming at three different schools.
“If you would have asked me when I was in high school or college if I’d be coaching girls basketball, I’d have said no way,” Miller says.
Miller joins this Huntsville-Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2020 fresh from the most recent championship. His Hazel Green squad defeated Carver-Montgomery in the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 6A championship game on March 3 for the program’s fourth consecutive title. He has been at Hazel Green since 2013, following a one-year stint on staff at the University of Alabama.
His teams at Bob Jones High also won three championships (in 2008, 2009 and 2011), and he enjoyed another one at Jefferson Davis in Montgomery, his alma mater, in 2006. In December 2019, he collected that milestone 600th win, in a victory over Eufala. A commemorative basketball from that game is stacked on a shelf in his office. Two other basketballs, for wins No. 500 and No. 400, are on shelves below. There is plenty of room for more shelves above No. 600.
That sort of history is downright flabbergasting in light of that disastrous start. He pleaded with the school’s athletics director for a reprieve, but that wasn’t forthcoming. Having been “humbled” by that loss and the many that followed, “it told me I had to go to work at this.” Phillip Pearson, the former Alabama player and by then an assistant with the Tide, had grown up with Miller, and the two of them talked. He called other friends in the profession, begging for advice. By season’s end, Miller’s team had a rematch with the team from his debut, losing this time by only seven in the county tournament.
Miller briefly left the coaching profession before Terry Posey, his old coach at Jefferson Davis called. Miller had been a three-sport standout in high school, an All-State tight end on the football team, All-Area pick in basketball and a skilled enough baseball player to draw interest from college scouts. His first job at Jefferson Davis was to assist Posey with the boys’ program. However, by this point, he was intrigued by women’s basketball. He’d watch the Jefferson Davis girls and imagine what he would do as their coach. He finally got his chance when the incumbent coach retired.
Miller was at Bob Jones for five seasons, winning the five state championships and going 168-18. He had become friendly with Wendell Hudson, the Alabama women’s coach, as Miller’s players went through the recruiting process. Hudson is a legendary figure at Alabama, the school’s first black scholarship athlete, joining the Tide in 1969 and recently having his uniform number retired. Hudson asked Miller to join his staff as an assistant coach prior to the 2012-13 season.
It was quite the lifestyle change. Instead of making calls to arrange a school bus for a cross-town game, he was leaving immediately after practice to jet somewhere on a recruiting trip. He enjoyed the new opportunity, but it lasted only a year as new director of athletics Bill Battle and Hudson agreed Hudson should step down, having had little success in the tough Southeastern Conference.
Miller is married to the former Kimberly Brooks, and he has one stepson, Charles Bennett. His parents, Doug and Frances still live in Montgomery. And while Miller doesn’t get to Montgomery quite so often, Montgomery comes to him: Doug Miller – “burning up the road,” as Tim says – is at each Hazel Green game, keeping the official scorebook for his son.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
PINK Game--Kick Cancer!
Let's PINK-OUT the stadium Friday night for our annual "Kick Cancer" Pink Game against Cullman! Tickets are on sale now on GoFan. Student tickets will be sold Friday in the cafeteria during lunch. We hope to see a big Trojan Nation crowd! Let's go, Trojans!
Fall Softball Camp Canceled
Interested in Track?
FCA
Why Apply Day
CURRENT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Flu Vaccine Clinic: The student flu vaccine clinic is scheduled for September 15th starting at 9:45 a.m.
*Click HERE for consent form.
Student Council: Students interested in running for class office should stop by room N234 or room S130 to pick up an application. These applications must be completed and returned to Mrs. K. Harris or Ms. Arce by Thursday, September 16th. Any questions related to the Student Council Association and running for class office can be directed to Mrs. Harris or Ms. Arce.
Spanish Club: The first Spanish Club meeting will be Tuesday, September 21, at 8:05 a.m. or 3:35 p.m. in Room C110. Stop by Mrs. Dean's classroom for more details.
National Honor Society: Attention Juniors and Seniors: If you are interested in learning more about membership in the Hazel Green High School chapter of the National Honor Society, please fill out this form by September 24th. You must be logged in with your school email to complete the form. Mrs. Ross and Mrs. Cole will be in touch with those who express interest regarding requirements and the application process.
Trojan S.P.A.R.K.S. (Students Peer-Helping At-Risk Kids in School)
Trojan S.P.A.R.K.S. was created to provide a resource of mentorship to local K-8 students. This program allows high school students to gain leadership experience through serving their community. Mentors will be required to meet once weekly during 1st block at the mentee's school. The mentoring program will begin the week after fall break. If you have questions, please email Kristin Masterski (kmasterski@mcssk12.org). If selected, you'll receive an email the last week of September.
Trojan S.P.A.R.K.S. Application
Application Deadline: Friday, September 24
Redstone Federal Credit Union: Are you interested in opening a new checking or savings account with Redstone Federal Credit Union? Stop by the HG RFCU branch during 3rd block on September 24, and we can help you get started as a new member!
Programming/Gaming Club: Please complete the sign-up form below if you would like to join HGHS's Programming/Gaming Club. This form MUST be completely filled out in order to be accepted into the club.
Programming/Gaming Club Sign-Up Form
Track Tryouts:
- Tryouts for indoor track will be November 8th - 10th at the HG track from 3:45 to 5:30.
- Tryouts for outdoor track will be January 10th - 12th at the HG track from 3:45 to 5:30.
Senior Newsletter: Mrs. Owsley, our senior counselor, would like seniors to read this month's newsletter for college, career, and financial aid information. Click HERE to read the senior newsletter.
Click HERE for Mrs. Owsley's "Where Do I Start" guide.
View Grades Online: Students are now able to log into PowerSchool and see their grades. Students should go to https://madisonco.powerschool.com/public/ and select "Student Sign In" and then select their Google Account on the next screen.
Balfour: Juniors can order class rings at www.jdrgrad.com.
Seniors can order cap/gown and senior wear at www.jdrgrad.com.
If you have any questions, email jdrgradsupplies@gmail.com.
First Day Forms: Even though students are eating breakfast and lunch at no cost this year, it is important that these are filled out in order for students to receive waivers or discounts on other things throughout the year such as AP tests, ACT, etc. If you think you may qualify, please complete these forms.
College & Career Visits: Cafeteria visits take place in the cafeteria during our lunch block. Representatives from these institutions will have a table on the cafeteria stage, and students may speak with them during their lunch time.
University of Alabama Birmingham Cafeteria Visit--September 15
University of Alabama Huntsville Cafeteria Visit--September 16
McDonald's Cafeteria Visit--September 17
Spring Hill College Cafeteria Visit--September 20
Freed-Hardeman University--September 22
MTSU True Blue Tour
September 22, 6:00 PM
Westin Huntsville
U.S. Navy Cafeteria Visit--September 23
Mississippi State Cafeteria Visit--September 27
University of Montevallo--September 28
Calhoun Community College Cafeteria Visit--September 30
ATHLETIC SCHEDULES
Recent Issues of The Trojan Daily
Menus
*These menus are subject to change due to supply issues. Please check our HGHS Facebook page for any updates to our menus throughout the month.
Menu Update: We will have potato wedges instead of broccoli on Tuesday, September 14th.
Dates to Remember - Fall Semester
October 4-8 - Fall Break
November 11 - Veteran's Day (No School)
November 22-26 - Thanksgiving Break
December 20-January 4 - Winter Break
Permanent Announcements
Online Application for Free/Reduced Meals: Online free and reduced meal applications are available at the link below for a faster, more confidential way to apply. A new application must be completed each school year to qualify for free or reduced meals. Your child's eligibility status carries over to the new school year for the first 30 school days, allowing parents time to re-apply. Only one application per household should be submitted, and everyone living in the house must be included on the application.
Online Application--Free/Reduced Meals
HGHS Athletics Online: Subscribe to watch Hazel Green High School athletics at nfhsnetwork.com.
Search for Hazel Green High School to subscribe.
Subscriptions are $9.99 a month (can be renewed monthly) or $69.99 a year (renewed annually).
Great for family or friends who cannot attend events or those who live a distance away.
Check-Out Procedures:
*Please go to door #44 at the back of the school (near the Trojan statue and courtyard) for all check outs. No check outs are done through the front office. Remembering this will save you some time when you arrive to check out your student.
- Students drop check-out notes in the basket on the attendance clerk’s desk before 8:30 in the morning.
- Notes will be verified by the attendance clerk prior to the time of check-out.
- Check-out notes need the following information:
- Student’s first and last name (printed)
- Time of check-out
- Reason for check-out
- Parent’s signature
- Parent’s contact information
Without a parent note, no student will be allowed to check out unless a parent/guardian comes to the Attendance Office to check out the student. Parent notes must be turned in to the Attendance Office before 8:30 a.m. No phone or email checkouts will be allowed. The only exception will be if the school nurse determines that a student is sick and needs to go home. The school nurse will then contact the parent/guardian and the Attendance Office.
*No walk-in check outs after 3 p.m.