By Lee Davis
For outdoor types, the first Saturday following an epic snowstorm was a chance to enjoy some fresh air without risking frostbite.
For pro football devotees, the day was for stocking up for Sunday’s Super Bowl party.
And for high school basketball fans, Saturday was a chance to watch the state’s top-ranked boys’ team take on another 20-game winner.
The walkers and party-planners may have filled their goals for the day, but they probably didn’t have as much fun as the basketball fans.
Mountain Brook, the No. 1 team in Class 6A, looked solid if not spectacular in a 66-54 win over Hoover at the Spartans’ home gym. The hosts overcame a 30-28 deficit to dominate the second half.
Senior Alex Peters led Mountain Brook with 14 points, 10 rebounds and three blocked shots as the Spartans took the lead in the third quarter and never looked back. Teammate Ben Shearer also scored 14 points. TaWarren Grant and Patrick Keim each added 12 to highlight a balanced scoring attack.
Mountain Brook ensured its grip on the top spot by running this season’s worksheet to 26-3. The victory also marked the team’s 15thconsecutive win.
Austin Cherry, Walter McDole and Andrew Strickland each scored 10 points for the Bucs, who saw their record dip to 21-8.
But if the Spartans ratified their lofty ranking with the win over Hoover, they likely had secured it the previous Monday with a 77-68 victory over three-time defending Class 5A champ Wenonah at the Birmingham Tip-Off Club Classic at Battle Coliseum at Birmingham-Southern College.
Mountain Brook broke open a close game with a 28-19 run in the third period. The Spartans raised their advantage to 69-58 to essentially put the game away with just over two minutes to play.
Peters was the key catalyst, scoring 23 points with nine rebounds and a whopping nine blocked shots. He connected on 11 of 17 shots from the field for a sizzling 65 percent. Shearer scored 10 of his 15 points in the third quarter to fuel the third quarter surge.
“Our team has great chemistry,” Peters said. “It’s great to beat good teams like Wenonah, but it’s important to use it as a steppingstone to get better so we don’t lose in the playoffs.”
Spartan coach Bucky McMillan had high praise for Peters and his teammates.
“Alex is the most improved player I’ve coached,” he said. “He’s a year young for his grade. He came in this summer and worked every single day to get better.”
Although Mountain Brook won the Class 6A title last season, many considered the Spartans to be underdogs to the Dragons. But McMillan hinted that there is a new order in high school basketball in Alabama, and his Spartans may well be the masters and commanders of the Class 6A world.
“To be honest, I think the better team won the game,” the coach said. “We did the things we had to do to be successful.”
Grant also had 15 points for Mountain Brook. Marcus Williams paced Wenonah with 18 points.
The win was impressive, but the way the Spartans did it was even more remarkable. They struggled well into the third quarter, even enduring an 8-0 run by the Dragons. Mountain Brook never lost its poise and controlled the pace the rest of the way. In short, the Spartans played like a team that expected to win, which comes from the confidence only success can bring.
Anything can happen in February, but for now Mountain Brook is the team to beat.
In other weekend games, Vestavia Hills turned back a determined charge from Homewood to edge the Patriots 52-50. Landon Crowder led the Rebels with 14 points, and Michael Morton scored 10.
Malik Cook led Homewood with 23, and Owen Ferguson added 17. The Patriots utilized four three-point baskets in the fourth quarter to come close before falling short.
In girls’ play, Vestavia defeated Homewood 52-47. Brittany Nkashama scored 18 points and grabbed four rebounds to spark the Lady Rebels. Peyton Blalock scored 14 points for the winners, while Jessica Compton scored 13.
Hannah Barber led Homewood with 16 points.
Briarwood crushed Vincent 54-29 behind Molly McKenzie’s 12 points. Hannah Brown contributed nine points for the Lady Lions.
Hoover lost to Pontotoc, Miss., 55-51. Janae Simpson topped the Lady Bucs’ scoring with 11 points. Shannon Watkins and Valencia Johnson each scored 10 as Hoover dropped to 13-12 for the year.
