Thorsby moved up to Class 3A, and Billingsley moved down to Class 1A in the newest football and basketball classifications released by the Alabama High School Athletic Association.

Classifications are studied and set every two years, based on number students in grades 10-12, and then on proximity to other schools.

Local schools Billingsley, Isabella and Thorsby competed in the same football region for the past two seasons but now all three are split up.

Thorsby football coach and athletic director Billy Jackson said school officials were aware the Rebels might move up.

“We said, ‘We will either be one of the biggest 2As in the state or one of the smallest 3As,’” Jackson said. “It was that close.”

Jackson said the reclassification will challenge all Rebels athletic programs because several new region foes—including Midfield, Montevallo and Tarrant—have been 4A schools within the past several years.

While Thorsby lost a couple of close rivals from its region, Maplesville gained one in Billingsley.

MHS football coach and athletic director Brent Hubbert said having natural rivals as region foes is a luxury because of the revenue brought in for ticket sales.

“You have to be able to make some money,” he said.

Basketball and football groupings for each local program are listed below:

Basketball

Class 5A, Area 10

Chilton County, Shelby County, Sylacauga, Talladega

Class 4A, Area 7

Bibb County, Calera, Jemison, West Blocton

Class 3A, Area 5

B.B. Comer, Central Coosa, Thorsby, Trinity Presbyterian

Class 2A, Area 8

Isabella, Montgomery Academy, Prattville Christian, Reeltown

Class 1A, Area 5

Autaugaville, Billingsley, Ellwood Christian, Keith, Maplesville

Class 1A, Area 6

Loachapoka, Notasulga, Saint Jude, Verbena, Wadley

Football

Class 5A, Region 4

Briarwood Christian, Chilton County, Homewood, John Carroll, Ramsay, Shelby County, Sylacauga, Talladega

Class 4A, Region 4

Bibb County, Calera, Corner, Carbon Hill, Dora, Jemison, Oak Grove, West Blocton

Class 3A, Region 4

B.B. Comer, Central Coosa, Leeds, Midfield, Montevallo, Tarrant, Thorsby, Trinity Presbyterian

Class 2A, Region 5

Horseshoe Bend, Isabella, Lafayette, Lanett, Montgomery Academy, Prattville Christian, Randolph County, Reeltown

Class 1A, Region 3

Akron, Autaugaville, Billingsley, Ellwood Christian, Holy Spirit, Keith, Maplesville, Sunshine

Class 1A, Region 4

Fayetteville, Loachapoka, Notasulga, Saint Jude, Talladega County Central, Verbena, Wadley, Winterboro