Andalusia held its 35th annual basketball banquet Monday night in the high school’s Bulldog Bistro.

Athletes competing in cheerleading and boys and girls basketball were honored.

AHS cheer sponsor Clara Mellown recognized each cheerleader with certificates of appreciation and thanked this Chase Fillmer, who was this year’s mascot.

Special awards were then given to the cheerleaders who excelled in showing school spirit on the sideline during football and in the stands for basketball.

The Captain Award went to Cassie Cooper; the Choreography Award went to Sade Jackson; the Most Improved Award went to Lillian Andrews; the Most Spirited Award went to Ashlen Payton; the Fly High Award went to Alli Yant; and the Best Attitude Award went to Haley Snider.

Andalusia girls basketball coach Brad Garner thanked his bookkeeper, AHS principal Dr. Daniel Shakespeare and Bennie Shellhouse for their help during the season.

Early in the year, Garner was thrust into the head coaching position after assistant coach Teresa Herring stepped down to try and pursue a career in the military. Herring has enlisted and leaves later this month.

Garner said he appreciates the attitude the girls had as they accepted the “change” real well.

Garner then thanked his managers, Alicia Barnes, Halley Barnes, Kennedy Smith and Keauana Wright as well.

Each player from the team was recognized.

The Offensive Player of the Year Award went to Laticia Crittenden; the Leading Rebounder Award went to Grace Burns; the Blocked Shots Award went to Shandricka Thompkins; the Academic Award went to D’Ashia Johnson; and Permanent Team Captains are Crittenden and Johnson.

In boys basketball, long-time AHS coach Richard Robertson said this year’s bunch was dependable to the end, especially the three seniors — Montel Lee, Phillip James and Jayden Ellison.

“They endured to the end,” Robertson said.

Robertson recognized the junior varsity and varsity players on each team.

Lee was awarded the Highest Free Throw Percentage; Ellison earned the Most Dependable Award; and James was awarded the Leading Scorer and Rebounder Award.

Ellison, James and Lee are permanent team captains, and DeVante Jackson had the highest GPA.

To end the banquet, Robertson gave Bulldog supporter Amari Larkin a gift to say thanks for sticking with the team this season.

“If you open this before you go to bed, then you’re going to turn into a frog,” Robertson quipped to Larkin.