Surreal: Reborn Calhoun hoops in state tourney

TANNER — It was the turn of the century. In fact, to the players, it was a lifetime ago when, before last November, the Calhoun Community College women’s basketball team last played a game.

Now, just four months after going 21 years without women’s basketball, Calhoun has advanced to the Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) State Championship tournament. The Lady Warhawks will take on Bishop State Community College at noon Wednesday in the Alabama A&M Event Center.

“This moment is surreal for the coaches, the students as well as our amazing Calhoun and community fan base,” said head coach Candace Byrd-Vinson. “To say we worked hard to get to this place would be a complete understatement.”

For more than two decades, Calhoun had been without a basketball program when the men’s and women’s programs were axed for what the school said were financial reasons.

However, in early October 2021, the college conducted a survey to gauge the community’s interest in expanding Calhoun athletics. The response was overwhelmingly in favor of basketball and volleyball.

“There are many decisions that are made at the college, and this one is at the top of the list I deem as being a great decision,” said Calhoun President Dr. Jimmy Hodges. “The college sports experience is just as important as the academic experience. And if there is an opportunity to provide both to a student, I say go for it, which is what we did when we brought back basketball.

“This program has allowed students to attend Calhoun debt-free while enjoying the game they love and obtaining a high-quality education.”

The school hired Byrd-Vinson, a former Calhoun player, last April and she had to put a team together. In May, the team held tryouts – less than six months before the 2022-23 season opener Nov. 1, barely a year after the program was reinstated.

“After being hired as the new head coach, I knew time was not on my side, and that I had to begin recruiting very quickly.” she said. “Recruiting late in the year can be extremely discouraging as many athletes have already decided where they wanted to go, but I truly felt in my heart that we still stood a chance with obtaining athletes that could help us have an amazing season.”

The team went on an 8-2 run to close out the regular season and end their 21-year drought.

“This season has been magical! I have been blessed to be surrounded by talented and hardworking young women, who bought into the vision,” Byrd-Vinson said. “This season has exposed what a team can do when everyone is on the same page, working together to accomplish the same goal. I am humbled that the college and athletes placed their faith and trust in myself as well as my amazing coaching staff to guide and direct the new program. My motto has always been that every person is important, regardless of their title or role.

“The continuous outpouring of support from my President, the faculty and staff at Calhoun, as well as our athletics Director Dr. Nancy Keenum and fans has been nothing short of amazing. Calhoun basketball is back.”

General Admission tickets are $10.00 a day. All games will be streamed live by JockJive at the following link: https://www.jockjive.com/acccsports.html.