The Atmore area was well represented in basketball all season long, as the Escambia Academy Cougars and Escambia County Blue Devils and Lady Blue Devils all made deep postseason runs with the Cougars and Blue Devils reaching their Final Fours respectively.

Recognition is still being earned by each of those teams, with one players from each team being recognized for their individual efforts by being named honorable mention to the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s All-State Teams.

Darren McGhee of Escambia Academy and Diamond Williams and Fred Knight of Escambia County High School were all named honorable mention on Sunday when the teams were released.

McGhee, a senior at EA, averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds during the 2011-2012 season to help his team reach the semifinals in the AISA state tournament.

Earning the recognition by the ASWA was something that is sending McGhee out on a high note, he said.

“It’s a great honor,” McGhee said. “I’m glad that I reached this achievement. Not only to make the Final Four, but to earn recognition for All-State is great for me and our team. I played hard this season, and I was able to average a double-double, so it’s good to see my hard work paid off.”

Williams, a senior at ECHS, was a cornerstone for her team, helping them reach the AHSAA South Regional Tournament for the first time since 2004.

Though she wishes she could have earned first or second team honors, the honor is still important to her, she said.

“Being named recognized for All-State is a big deal to me because not a lot of people were able to see me play,” Williams said. “I wish I could have made first or second team, but just being honorable mention is important to me.”

With the Lady Blue Devils falling at the regional, the Blue Devils continued their road to success all the way to the Final Four for Class 4A.

Knight, a junior at ECHS, was the floor general of the team leading them in scoring in nearly every game.

Being named honorable mention was something that made him feel his dedication in practice paid off, he said.

“I worked hard everyday at practice, before practice and after practice,” Knight said. “To be recognized for that is a great honor. Our team made school history in making it to the Final Four. I’m just looking forward to doing even more next season.”

Boys Class 4A
First Team
Lasheddrick Edmondson, Anniston, Sr., PG, 5-11
Preston Herring, West Limestone, Sr., C, 6-7
Brandon Moss, Midfield, Sr., F/G, 6-4
Justin Pride, Butler, Sr., PG, 5-10
Jacard Townsend, Andalusia, Sr., F, 6-3

Second Team
C.J. Duncan, St. James, Jr., G, 5-10
Deondre Haynes, Calera, Sr., SG, 6-2
Billy Ingram, Sumter Central, Sr., F, 6-4
William Lee, Dallas County, So., F, 6-8
Keenan Warren, Oneonta, Sr., G, 6-0

Honorable Mention
Fred Knight, Escambia County, Jr., G; Orlando Davis, East Lawrence, Sr., G; Austin Adams, West Limestone, Sr., F; Blake Parker, Fairview, Jr., F; RaAnthony Sanders, Holt, Sr., G; Michael Varner, Priceville, Sr., C; Dexter Marsh, Headland, Sr., C.

Boys AISA
First team
K.J. Cash, Evangel Christian, Sr., F, 6-2
Jabari Clemons, Glenwood, Sr., G, 5-7
MarQuen Mitchell, Lee-Scott, Jr., G, 6-0
Jake Newcomb, Prattville Christian, Jr., C, 6-2
Igor Prosev, Patrician, Sr., G, 6-2

Second team
Colin Inhulsen, Patrician, Sr., G, 6-0
Petar Milivojevic, Crenshaw Christian, Sr., G, 6-2
Alex Morris, Ashford Academy, Jr., 6-1, F
J.D. Owings, Macon-East, Sr., G, 6-0
Chip White, Abbeville Christian, Sr., F, 6-3

Honorable mention
Darius Bennett, Hooper, Jr., F; Torrence Brown, Tuscaloosa Academy, So., G; Chris Garner, Lee-Scott, Sr., G; Drake Garrett, Bessemer Academy, Sr., G; Cole Lipscomb, Edgewood, Sr., G; Darren McGhee, Escambia Academy, Sr., C; Dillan McMullen, Lyman Ward, Jr., G/F; Kendall Moore, Cornerstone, Sr., F; Johnny Swindal, Southern Academy, Jr., C; Hasten Williams, Lee-Scott, Sr., G

Girls Class 4A
First Team
Lacey Buchanon, Jacksonville, Sr., G, 5-1
Destiney Elliott, Oneonta, So., F, 5-11
Alexis Horton, Andalusia, Sr., G, 5-4
Tiakeefah Huguley, Anniston, Sr., G, 5-9
Jasmine Steele, Midfield, Sr., PG, 5-1

Second Team
Shaquala Bryant, Sumter Central, Jr., G/F, 5-8
Mac Kelley, Childersburg, Jr., G, 5-9
Sharon Osterbind, Jacksonville, Jr., F, 6-1
Kayla Tillman, Good Hope, Jr., F, 5-7
Shi’Amber Townsend, Andalusia, Sr., C, 5-11

Honorable Mention
Brittney Driver, Straughn, Jr., F/C; Ciarra Edwards, Wilson, Jr., F; Nina Mills, Good Hope, Sr., G; Rae Williams, Dadeville, Jr., C; Gabby Nicholson, Midfield, So., G; Diamond Williams, Escambia County, Sr., G; K’maya Roach, Brooks, Jr., G.