Center High school recently held it's All-Sports banquet at the CHS Cafetorium. Among those athletes honored were Jeremy Small and O'Mattie Swindle, who received the annual R.E. Malone Awards. The R.E. Malone Award is presented each year to the school's top male and female atheltes.

Swindle was a standout athlete in volleyball, basketball and track. She participated in the Region III Track & Field Meet.

JACKSONVILLE -- When Center guard Ty Hubbard made a no-look pass to Jaelyn Short for a layup with 2:47 remaining in the third quarter Friday night here in the Vivian and Bob Smith Event Center, the Roughriders appeared to be well on their way to a berth in the regional quarterfinal contest as they led the Mexia Blackcats 49-32.

TENAHA -- The Center Roughriders played with a collective heavy heart Saturday night as they found out a common friend had passed away just hours before their warm-up contest with Sabine in the Tenaha Special Events Center. But, with the game on the line, the 'Riders pulled together and held off a pesky Sabine squad for their 17th consecutive win, a 53-52 win.

When good teams come down the stretch toward the playoffs, they look to their solid players to lift them up when they need a much-needed 'punch' on either offense or defense. But when great teams need something a little extra, players step up their game to a new level to help the squad in a big game. That's what this week's ShelbyCountySports.com Male and Female Athletes of the Week did in Shelby County when Ty Hubbard of Center and Ashlee Ray of Tenaha picked up their respective squads.