Robertson, Mantooth lead All-Capital City Conference girls team

Leighton Robertson (4) was named Most Valuable Player by coaches in the Capital City Conference. (Tim Gayle)

By TIM GAYLE

The expectations were high for Leighton Robertson and her Montgomery Academy teammates, even in a rugged area with a new girls’ basketball coach. 

Robertson was the backbone of a senior-laden team that had been upended in the regional finals a year earlier and had bigger plans, even as they were learning a new system under first-year coach Reg Mantooth.

The result was a 26-3 season, which included an early-season loss to 7A Vestavia Hills and losses to area rivals Trinity and Prattville Christian. And while Robertson didn’t wind up with the blue trophy and a championship ring, she did earn the praise of her rival coaches, who selected her as the Capital City Conference Player of the Year.

“We had an awesome season,” Robertson said. “It was definitely the most fun season I’ve had. With a new coach, it can he hard sometimes, but coach Mantooth was incredible and he taught us so much. I learned so much from him this year. I think he’s a great coach and I wouldn’t have traded this year for anything.”

The 5-9 senior wing player averaged 10.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.7 steals per game. If those numbers don’t dazzle you, you’re not alone. No one picked Robertson because of her statistics. All they had to do is watch her guard some of the best players in the state, holding them to half their scoring average while helping her team win. 

“In the ninth grade, that’s when I started on varsity and I kind of juggled whether or not I was going to play varsity or stay on JV, where I knew I would have more playing time,” she said. “I decided to go ahead and move up to varsity, but I knew I was going to have to work really hard if I wanted to start. I didn’t start in the beginning, but I eventually did and I think it was because of my defense.

“I knew I was smaller than the girls I was going to be playing against, but defense is something anybody can do. You just have to work hard. I just tried to get in shape -- you’ve got to be fast -- and you have to want it.”

Renijah Brown, who led Marbury to its first appearance in the state tournament, managed one field goal (and six points) in a game against Robertson. Emma Kate Smith, an all-state player and the 2020 Capital City Conference Player of the Year, managed four points in one game against Robertson, five in another. 

Ella Jane Connell, the double-digit scoring threat from Prattville Christian, faced MA six times in the 2021 season. Six times, her scoring was cut in half by Robertson.  

“They’re great players,” Robertson said. “I have to get in the mindset. I’m thinking about it a lot. And we play them so much, you get to know a player. That doesn’t make it any easier but you just know I’ve got to work hard this game. When you get tired, you’ve got something left. You’ve got to give it.”

Robertson was joined on the first team by teammates Chloe Johnson and Madi Caddell, sisters Emma Kate and Maddie Smith from Trinity and forward Ava Card of St. James. The senior admits it was a different feeling this year as she went through her final year of high school basketball, but a last-second loss to eventual state champion Prattville Christian in the regional finals won’t tarnish the memories. 

“The goal was always a state championship but this year I really wanted it,” Robertson said. “Being your last year, it’s kind of like this is your last shot, give it everything you’ve got. Sometimes, things don’t go your way. It was a two-point game, that last game, and we would’ve won state.”

CAPITAL CITY CONFERENCE GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM

First Team

Emma Kate Smith                             G                             5-8                          So.                          Trinity

Maddie Smith                                    G                             5-7                          8th                         Trinity

Chloe Johnson                                   G                             5-7                          Jr.                           Montgomery Academy

Madi Caddell                                      G                             5-6                          Sr.                           Montgomery Academy

Ava Card                                              F                              5-11                       Fr.                           St. James

Second Team

Michaelyn Manning                        G                             5-6                          Sr.                           Alabama Christian

Gabby Ramirez                                G                             5-4                          Sr.                           Montgomery Academy

Mary Alice Sasser                             G                             5-5                          Jr.                           Trinity

Nona Johnson                                    F                              5-8                          Sr.                           Catholic

KK Hall                                                  G                             5-6                          Jr.                           St. James

Honorable mention: Alanna Aiken, G, 5-5, Sr., Catholic; Hannah Grace Griggs, G, 5-1, Sr., St. James; Sarah Johnson, G, 5-3, Sr. Alabama Christian; Kaylee Peevy, F, 5-8, Jr., Trinity; Anaya Thomas, F, 5-8, Sr., Montgomery Academy.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR -- Leighton Robertson, Montgomery Academy 

COACH OF THE YEAR -- Reg Mantooth, Montgomery Academy