By Staff
Hartselle senior makes Birmingham News first team
Nick Johnston, Hartselle Enquirer
The accolades keep pouring in for Zac Ward.
Ward, a 6-2 senior at Hartselle, was placed on The Birmingham News 2003 All-State Boys Basketball First Team last week.
Ward also landed on the Alabama Sports Writers Association Second Team.
"Zac (Ward) knew what we needed him to do this year," head coach Johnny Berry said. "He was so strong physically he could go inside and score, but he could also shoot from the outside. He was just a nice complement to the rest of the team."
Ward averaged 20 points and 6.5 rebounds this past season, leading the Tigers into the Class 5A Final Four. He also averaged 4 assists per game and 2.6 steals.
Ward also was named the Northwest Regional Most Valuable Player, made the All-County Team and All Area
See WARD, B-3
Team three years, and was placed on the All Big Orange Tournament and All Sportsmed Tournament Teams.
For his career, Ward scored 1,609 points, pulled down 491 rebounds, had 324 assists and 212 steals. He hit 227 three pointers.
When thinking back to Ward's 2003 season, two games came to Berry's mind.
"I think back to those two free throws he hit against Russellville to force overtime," Berry said of a Sub-State contest. Hartselle went on to win the game. "I also think of the six three pointers he hit against Gardendale in the Regionals."
Hartselle went on to beat Gardendale to earn a trip to the Final Four, where the Tigers fell to West End.
Ward joined Jacoby Stockdale, Talladega High School; Michael Williams, Wilcox Central High School; Richard Hendrix, Athens; and Glenn Miles, West End High School on the All-State Squad.