First year Gulf Shores boys basketball coach Dru Powell has his Dolphins surging at just the right time.

As of this weekend, Powell’s Dolphins had won nine of their last 10 games, including five straight, and took a commanding lead in the 5A Area 2 race.

The Dolphins, 15-6 overall and 4-0 in Area 2, have been playing winning basketball in every aspect of the game. Gulf Shores has a tough big man in senior Brandon Gottfried. Gottfried is tough to stop when he gets the ball under the basket and he eats up rebounds. The Dolphins have several three-point threats. Ryan Godwin, Jake Van Sickler, Bryan Beviacqua and Brandon Silvers are all significant three-point threats.

Robertsdale’s boys and girls basketball teams look primed to capture the 6A Area 3 regular season titles.

Both teams were sitting at 3-0 in area play before Tuesday night’s showdown with area foe Fairhope. Wins would give both the Robertsdale boys and girls a chance to host the upcoming area tournaments starting February 4 and 5.

Robertsdale’s girls have been led senior guard Shelby Trotter, who reached the 1,000 career point mark earlier this season. Sheila Dailey, KiKi McMillian and CiCi McMillian are also an integral part of the Lady Golden Bears’ success this season. Dailey had 23 points against area opponent Foley last week.

The Robertsdale boys have been winning behind the play of senior Brandon Ellis, another member of the 1,000 career point team. Ellis had a game-high 20 points against rival and area opponent Foley last week. Quenton Evans, another Robertsdale senior, scored 26 points in a close loss to 5A No. 8 LeFlore on Saturday.

Spring sports practices officially begin this week around Baldwin County.

Soccer and tennis teams were allowed to begin practicing on Monday, while track and field teams can practice on Friday.

Softball and baseball teams start official practices on Monday, Jan. 25 and golf teams can practice on February 1.

Fairhope and Foley’s baseball teams will kick off the baseball season by hosting first round games in the 13th Annual Hank Aaron High School Classic starting on February 15.

Eric Mann is the Sports Coordinator for Gulf Coast Newspapers. Reach him at emann@gulfcoastnewspapers.com