Calhoun Lady Warhawks Defeat Bishop State in State Quarterfinals Basketball Tournament and Byrd-Vinson Named Coach of the Year

On March 8th, the Calhoun Community College Lady Warhawks Basketball team won its first game in the ACCC (Alabama Community College Conference) Basketball Tournament against the Bishop State Community College Wildcats with a score of 83-74. The tournament will be held all week at the Alabama A&M University Event Center. 
 
Eight women’s and men’s teams from across the state of Alabama are competing in the ACCC playoffs, which started Tuesday, March 7th with championship games on Friday, March 10th to close out the tournament. Today’s win allowed the Lady Warhawks to advance in the tournament and compete against the Shelton State Community College Pirates from Tuscaloosa on March 9th. 
 
After a 21-year hiatus, Calhoun announced the return of men's and women’s basketball. “We are beyond excited that our first season back competing, our Lady Warhawks have made it to the state tournament,” commented Candace Byrd-Vinson, Calhoun Women’s Head Basketball Coach. “We finished the regular season with a 13-6 conference record, and I am extremely proud of the hard work and dedication these young ladies have put in to make it this far,” added Byrd-Vinson. 
 
In addition to the big win today, the Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) named Byrd-Vinson “Coach of the Year” for the northern division. The Tanner, AL native was also a 4-time All-State player and 2A State Player of the Year at Tanner High School in Limestone County. She played college hoops at Birmingham Southern and had coaching stints at East Lawrence High School and R.A. Hubbard High School, where she led Hubbard to a Class 1A State Championship in 2017. In 2018, Coach Byrd-Vinson was inducted into the Limestone County Sports Hall of Fame. 
 
Link to Calhoun vs. Bishop State game highlights and Coach Byrd-Vinson’s video clip: https://we.tl/t-g35ACUDBca  
 
Link to game photographs: https://we.tl/t-xHj0RERyLU 
 
All media inquiries must contact the Calhoun Public Relations Team at 256-306-2560 or 256-306-2965.
 
To learn more about Calhoun’s athletics programs, visit www.calhoun.edu/athletics.