Spartans’ chase for three-peat continues
Mountain Brook will get a chance for a three-peat.
Senior forward Trendon Watford scored 15 of his game-high 21 points in the first half as the two-time defending champion Spartans cruised to a 57-36 victory against rival Vestavia Hills in the boys Class 7A Northwest Regional final Tuesday at Wallace State-Hanceville’s Tom Drake Coliseum.
The Spartans (29-3) jumped to a 21-4 lead after one quarter and led 32-11 en route to their fourth victory against the Rebels this season.
Colby Jones and Lior Berman added 11 points apiece for Mountain Brook.
Luke Couch scored nine points to lead Vestavia Hills, which finished its season with a 22-11 record.
Mountain Brook will play Lee-Montgomery (29-3) in the Class 7A semifinals at 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 28 at Legacy Arena in Birmingham. Lee advanced with a 67-45 victory against Enterprise in the Southeast Regional final in Montgomery.
Spain Park denied chance for repeat
Sarah Ashlee Barker scored 29 points, but it wasn’t enough as defending Class 7A champion Spain Park fell 72-56 to Hewitt-Trussville in the girls Class 7A Northwest Regional Final Tuesday at Wallace State in Hanceville.
The Jaguars had beaten the Huskies four times this season, but fell behind early, trailing by as many as 17 points in the second quarter and 39-28 at halftime. The closest Spain Park came in the second half was eight points as its season ended with a 27-7 record.
Amiyah Payne scored 23 points to lead Hewitt (20-10).
— Rubin E. Grant