with recent honor

Staff Report

Feb. 29, 2000 11 PM

Randi Lynn Black, a senior guard for the Ariton Lady Purple Cats basketball team, has been selected as one of only four girls statewide to participate in the Alabama Power 3-point Shoot-Out to be held during the state basketball finals at the Civic Center Coliseum in Birmingham this week.

The Alabama Power Slam is sponsored by Alabama Power Company and the Alabama Basketball Foundation.

Four participants were selected in three categories, Girls 3-Point Shoot-Out, Boys 3- Point Shoot-Out and Slam-Dunk.

Randi’s qualifying round will be during half-time of the 2A Girls Final at 4 p.m. Friday.

The final round will be at half-time of the 5A Boys Final at 4 p.m. Saturday.

"Being selected as one of four girls statewide to participate is quite an honor," said Sonny Scyphers, coach of the Lady Purple Cats." Randi has been a vital part of our basketball program at Ariton and she is an outstanding athlete. She was the MVP of our team this year and we went 22-7 and she carried us a lot of the time with her outstanding shooting and defensive play."

Scyphers said Randi averaged better than 16 points a game and canned 100 3-pointers over the season.

"To make 100 3-pointers is something that makes people sit up and take notice," Scyphers said. "The participants in the Shoot-Out were selected based on their skill level and on their academic performance. I’m sure 100 3-pointers got their attention."

Scyphers said the competition is set up much like the NBA 3-Point competitions.

Each participant is given one minute to shoot 25 balls which are racked in fives at five spots on the court – the wings, the points and at the top of the key.

Each goal scores one point except for one colored ball in each of the five racks. A made goal with the colored ball counts two points. A possible 30 points can be made but Scyphers said he believes 15 points will win it.

"Randi is one of the best 3-point shooters in the state and, if nerves don’t get the best of her, she’s got a good chance at bringing home the trophy," Scyphers said. "Even if she doesn’t win it, the exposure will be good for her as she looks toward playing college ball somewhere. A lot of coaches will be able to she what a great athlete she is and how she performs under pressure."

Randi said she shooting 100 or more 3-pointers every day in preparation for the competition.

"When we lost in the sub-regional, I was kind of down because I wanted us to go to state," she said. "We had a good year and we were hoping it wouldn’t end that soon. So, getting to go to the state finals and participate in the 3-Point Shoot-Out is exciting, especially since I’ll get to watch a lot of the games."

Randi said her favorite spot to shoot is from the top of the key and she also likes shooting from the wing.

"What I’m going to have to do is not rush my shots," she said. "I know I’ll be nervous but the other three probably will be, too. The main thing is to make shots. They are the ones that count. You get nothing for a ball left in the rack but nothing for a missed shot either. I want to make good with the ones I shoot."

Randi’s participation in the 3-Point Shoot-Out caps off an outstanding basketball season. After being selected All-Conference in volleyball, she was named to the 2A Area 4 All-Tournament basketball team, the South Central Alabama Conference All-Tournament first team and she was the SCAC basketball player of the year. She was also the captain of the Lady Purple Cats and the team’s MVP.

Randi hopes to play college basketball and will probably play junior college ball and then transfer to a four-year college and play there "if I’m good enough."

As a three-sport athlete, Randi wants to coach once her playing days are done.

Randi is a native of Brundidge and her dad Randy Black was a three-sport athlete at Pike County High School. She said she inherited her athletic ability and love of sports from him.

Black has not missed a single one of his daughter’s games and will be in Birmingham, along with other family members and friends, to support her in her quest for the 3-Point Shoot-Out championship.

Randi is the daughter of the late Peggy Black and the granddaughter of Agnes Jacobs of Brundidge.