Editor’s Note: Through Jan. 1, the Times-Journal will look back on the top sports stories of 2016. Here’s the year in review for January-March:

Selma girls continue incredible streak

The Selma girls basketball team extended its 20-win season streak with a 56-42 victory over Paul Bryant. The win marked 13 consecutive seasons that the Selma girls had reached 20 wins.
Morgan JV basketball team finishes as state runner-ups

Morgan Academy’s junior varsity boys basketball team finished second in the state after losing to Tuscaloosa Academy 55-48.
Dallas County’s Moore wins 500 games

Dallas County head boys basketball coach Willie Moore won his 500th game in January when Dallas County defeated Billingsley 68-24.
AHSAA announces new classes, changes for area schools

The Alabama High School Athletic Association announced its new classifications, with Southside moving down from 4A to 3A and Keith moving from 1A to 2A. Selma (6A), Dallas County (5A) and Ellwood Christian (1A) all stayed in the same classification. The classes will remain in effect through the 2018 spring season.
6 football players announce CFB decisions on signing day

Six high school football players from around Selma and Dallas County announced where they’d  play college football on National Signing Day. Four Selma Saints — Aderick Moore (Tennessee Tech), Herschell Brown (Benedict College), Quintez Blevins (Waldorf College), Marquell Moorer (Waldorf College) and Southside’s Khamari Gibbs (Alabama State) signed. Morgan Academy’s J.R. Wood walked on at Troy.
Hamm speaks at banquet

Soccer legend Mia Hamm, who was born in Selma, spoke at a banquet to raise money for a new soccer academy in Selma.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been back, so it is wonderful to see some familiar faces,” Hamm said.
Stinson named tennis pro of year

Baxter Stinson was named the tennis professional of the year by the United States Tennis Association’s Alabama Awards Committee. Stinson serves as the head professional at the Selma County Club and also coaches at Morgan Academy.
Selma basketball team loses in Montgomery

The Selma girls basketball team lost to John Carroll 69-46 in the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s central regional.
Miles leaves Selma for job at state department

Selma High School football coach and athletic director Leroy Miles resigned to take a position with the Alabama Dept. of Education. Miles had coached the Saints football team to a 31-31 record during his six seasons, including playoff berths in 2010 and 2013.
Keith girls, boys make it to Birmingham

The Keith girls and boys basketball teams both won Central Regional Championship games on Feb. 25 ad both advanced to Birmingham with a chance to win the class 1A title. The girls defeated Loachapoka 53-43, while the boys routed Cornerstone 73-47. Both Keith teams lost their next games, on Feb. 28, and saw their seasons end two wins shy of a championship.
WCCS’ Likely named ACCC’s POY

Wallace Community College Selma women’s basketball player Ki’Onna Likely was named the Alabama Community College Conference’s Women’s Player of the Year. She averaged 21.3 points and shot 60.7 percent from the field.
R.C. Hatch girls lose in Birmingham

The R.C. Hatch girls lost to Samson 58-53 in the class 2A state title game. The Bobcats finished the season 23-6.
CCA women win fifth USCAA title

The Concordia College Alabama women’s basketball team won its fifth United States Collegiate Athletic Association national championship with a 72-65 win over Iowa Wesleyan. The Concordia men lost to Oakwood  University the next day 80-65 in the men’s championship.
Keith baseball team plays first game in 25 years

The Keith baseball team played its first game since 1991 on March 8 and lost to Southside 12-2. The Bears defeated Ellwood Christian on April 19 to win their first baseball game since restarting their baseball program.

“To be able to come back and get a win in our first year, it means a lot to me,” said coach Anthony Lumpkin, who played for Keith in 1991.
Bowden speaks at outreach breakfast

Former college football coach Tommy Bowden spoke at a breakfast hosted by All in Sports Outreach. Bowden most famously coached at Clemson.
Barron named baseball’s city director

Gerald Barron, a veteran umpire, was named the city’s baseball director in March, a position he still holds.