Katie Barton paused for a moment at the pulpit and looked towards the ceiling for a brief moment as she gathered herself. Through tears and emotion, she talked about the sacrifices that her daughter, Natalie Barton endured being a coaches daughter.
From missing time with her friends, missing home-cooked meals and meeting high expectations that Katie set for Natalie — she detailed why her daughter was sitting at table decorated with University of Alabama in Huntsville blue and a piece of paper and pen in front of her.
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Natalie reciprocated the tears and emotion when she thanked many for the support over the course of her girls basketball career at Saint James. And of course when she thanked her coach and mom, Katie. But today was Natalie’s day. She officially inked her intentions to play for UAH women’s basketball on Friday, Nov. 13.
It was a day that personified the work Natalie’s put in over the course of a six year varsity career for Saint James.
“It’s fun, I’ve enjoyed every moment of it all,” Natalie said. “All my past teammates, all my sisters and my teammates this year. I love them so much. It’s been a pleasure. I’m really excited for my senior year with this group of girls, and it can’t get any better.”
While at Saint James, Natalie has set multiple school records that include varsity games started and career 3-pointers made. She’s also been named to the Alabama Sports Writer Association’s all-state team three times. But the shining moment came when Natalie led Saint James to its first state championship in program history last season. A game that she scored her 2,000th-career point in.
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Natalie joins a surging UAH women’s basketball program that’s coming off a season in which it went 32-6 and made it to the NCAA Division II Tournament, making it as far as the semifinal round in Pittsburgh.
“It’s not too far from home and the coaching staff is great,” Natalie said about choosing UAH. “The coaches made a relationship with me, and I love it up there. The girls are the best, and I’m just really excited.”
Natalie promised that UAH was getting a player that’s committed to the program. A player that will contribute in any possible way that she can. And of course, one that’s competitive.
Saint James returns the majority of its roster from its state championship team, and has an opportunity to repeat this season. Natalie said her main goal for her senior season is to live in the moment and enjoy the final ride in a Trojan jersey.
St. James girls vs. Mobile Christian in AHSAA Class 3A Championship
St. James coach Katie Barton presents her team with their AHSAA Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship Trophy at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday March 6, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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St. James girls vs. Mobile Christian in AHSAA Class 3A Championship
St. James coach Katie Barton presents her team with their AHSAA Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship Trophy at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday March 6, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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St. James girls vs. Mobile Christian in AHSAA Class 3A Championship
St. James players celebrate with their AHSAA Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship Trophy at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday March 6, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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St. James girls vs. Mobile Christian in AHSAA Class 3A Championship
St. James players celebrate their AHSAA Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday March 6, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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St. James girls vs. Mobile Christian in AHSAA Class 3A Championship
St. James players celebrate their AHSAA Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday March 6, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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St. James girls vs. Mobile Christian in AHSAA Class 3A Championship
St. James players celebrate their AHSAA Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday March 6, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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St. James girls vs. Mobile Christian in AHSAA Class 3A Championship
St. James clebrates a late score against Mobile Christian during the AHSAA Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship Game at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday March 6, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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St. James girls vs. Mobile Christian in AHSAA Class 3A Championship
St. James’ Lily Stanford (22), St. James’ Londyn Swain (4), St. James’ Sydney Johnston (14) and St. James’ KK Corley (3) celebrate a late score against Mobile Christian during the AHSAA Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship Game at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday March 6, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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St. James girls vs. Mobile Christian in AHSAA Class 3A Championship
St. James clebrates a late score against Mobile Christian during the AHSAA Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship Game at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday March 6, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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St. James girls vs. Mobile Christian in AHSAA Class 3A Championship
St. James players clebrate their AHSAA Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday March 6, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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St. James girls vs. Mobile Christian in AHSAA Class 3A Championship
St. James’ Kaitlin Mitchell (11) drives against Mobile Christian during the AHSAA Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship Game at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday March 6, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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St. James girls vs. Mobile Christian in AHSAA Class 3A Championship
St. James’ Natalie Barton (5) shoots against Mobile Christian during the AHSAA Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship Game at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday March 6, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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St. James girls vs. Mobile Christian in AHSAA Class 3A Championship
St. James fans cheer during the AHSAA Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship Game at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday March 6, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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St. James girls vs. Mobile Christian in AHSAA Class 3A Championship
St. James’ Jordyn McRae (23) goes after a rebound against Mobile Christian’s Hadley Kelly (23) during the AHSAA Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship Game at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday March 6, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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St. James girls vs. Mobile Christian in AHSAA Class 3A Championship
St. James’ Morgan Lilly (24) gets a shot off against Mobile Christian’s Hadley Kelly (23) during the AHSAA Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship Game at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday March 6, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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St. James girls vs. Mobile Christian in AHSAA Class 3A Championship
St. James’ Natalie Barton (5) drives against Mobile Christian during the AHSAA Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship Game at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday March 6, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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St. James girls vs. Mobile Christian in AHSAA Class 3A Championship
St. James’ Kaden Fair (20) is fouled by Mobile Christian’s Trinity Jenkins-Gaines (3) as she goes to the basket during the AHSAA Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship Game at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday March 6, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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St. James girls vs. Mobile Christian in AHSAA Class 3A Championship
St. James’ Jordyn McRae (23) drives against Mobile Christian’s Kai Wright (1) during the AHSAA Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship Game at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday March 6, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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St. James girls vs. Mobile Christian in AHSAA Class 3A Championship
St. James’ Kaitlin Mitchell (11) puts up a three point shot against Mobile Christian during the AHSAA Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship Game at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday March 6, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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St. James girls vs. Mobile Christian in AHSAA Class 3A Championship
St. James’ Morgan Lilly (24) shoots against Mobile Christian during the AHSAA Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship Game at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday March 6, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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St. James girls vs. Mobile Christian in AHSAA Class 3A Championship
St. James coach Katie Barton coaches St. James’ Natalie Barton (5) against Mobile Christian during the AHSAA Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship Game at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday March 6, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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St. James girls vs. Mobile Christian in AHSAA Class 3A Championship
St. James’ Natalie Barton (5) lays the ball in against Mobile Christian’s Catherine Bell (12) during the AHSAA Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship Game at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday March 6, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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St. James girls vs. Mobile Christian in AHSAA Class 3A Championship
St. James’ Morgan Lilly (24) passes against Mobile Christian’s Kai Wright (1) during the AHSAA Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship Game at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday March 6, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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St. James girls vs. Mobile Christian in AHSAA Class 3A Championship
St. James’ Kaitlin Mitchell (11) is fouled as she goes to the basket against Mobile Christian during the AHSAA Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship Game at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday March 6, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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St. James girls vs. Mobile Christian in AHSAA Class 3A Championship
St. James’ Sydney Johnston (14) shoots a three point shot against Mobile Christian during the AHSAA Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship Game at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday March 6, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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St. James girls vs. Mobile Christian in AHSAA Class 3A Championship
Mobile Christian’s Kai Wright (1) drives against St. James’ KK Corley (3) and St. James’ Jordyn McRae (23) during the AHSAA Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship Game at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday March 6, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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St. James girls vs. Mobile Christian in AHSAA Class 3A Championship
St. James’ Lily Stanford (22) defends against Mobile Christian’s Milan Wright (11) during the AHSAA Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship Game at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday March 6, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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St. James girls vs. Mobile Christian in AHSAA Class 3A Championship
St. James’ Kaden Fair (20) defends against Mobile Christian’s Madelyn Bell (13) during the AHSAA Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship Game at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday March 6, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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St. James girls vs. Mobile Christian in AHSAA Class 3A Championship
St. James coach Katie Barton coaches against Mobile Christian during the AHSAA Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship Game at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday March 6, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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St. James girls vs. Mobile Christian in AHSAA Class 3A Championship
St. James’ Kaitlin Mitchell (11) defends against Mobile Christian’s Madelyn Bell (13) during the AHSAA Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship Game at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday March 6, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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St. James girls vs. Mobile Christian in AHSAA Class 3A Championship
Mobile Christian’s Milan Wright (11) gets a steal from Mobile Christian’s Trinity Jenkins-Gaines (3) during the AHSAA Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship Game at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday March 6, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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St. James girls vs. Mobile Christian in AHSAA Class 3A Championship
St. James’ Natalie Barton (5) celebrates with St. James’ Kaden Fair (20) during the AHSAA Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship Game at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday March 6, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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St. James girls vs. Mobile Christian in AHSAA Class 3A Championship
St. James’ Kaden Fair (20) drives against Mobile Christian during the AHSAA Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship Game at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday March 6, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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St. James girls vs. Mobile Christian in AHSAA Class 3A Championship
Mobile Christian coach Kenny Wright, Jr., coaches against St. James during the AHSAA Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship Game at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday March 6, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
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St. James girls vs. Mobile Christian in AHSAA Class 3A Championship
St. James’ Kaitlin Mitchell (11) defends against Mobile Christian’s Kai Wright (1) during the AHSAA Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship Game at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday March 6, 2026.
(Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)
Jaeden Day covers high school sports, Alabama State football and Auburn recruiting for the Montgomery Advertiser/USA Today. You can find him on X atdayjaeden12, or reach him atJDay@montgome.gannett.com.
