By Rubin E. Grant
The outcome in Class 6A championship games might have turned out differently for the Mountain Brook football and boys basketball teams if it weren’t for two phenoms.
In December, Saraland’s sensational sophomore Ryan Williams scored four first-half touchdowns and finished with 268 yards total offense, leading Saraland to a 38-17 victory against Mountain Brook on his way to becoming the first sophomore to be named the state’s Mr. Football.
Last Saturday at BJCC’s Legacy Arena, Buckhorn’s fabulous freshman Caleb Holt took center stage against the Spartans in the boys basketball final.
The 6-foot-5 Holt was unstoppable, scoring 32 points, collecting 18 rebounds, handing out four assists and making two steals to lead the Bucks (28-7) to a 65-56 victory against the Spartans (26-8).
Afterward, Mountain Brook coach Tyler Davis mentioned two NBA legends while talking about Holt.
“He’s an unbelievable talent, and the way the other players compete around him puts a strain on your team,” Davis said. “We tried to take him away, but he’s a generational talent. What can I say? That’s a Lebron James, Michael Jordan performance.”
In the semifinals, Holt had 33 points, 14 rebounds and five steals in a 65-57 victory against McGill-Toolen (28-7), finishing the tournament with 65 points and 32 rebounds. He understandably was named MVP.
“He was the best player on the biggest stage,” Buckhorn coach Patrick Harding said in a colossal understatement. “He absolutely performed at the highest level. He probably played two of his best games of the season against two really good teams and good coaches.”
Holt said he was just able to get into a good rhythm in the tournament.
“It’s not like I saved it until now,” he said. “You just have to do what you have to do on this stage, so I had to perform.”
Mountain Brook led 34-32 early in the third quarter when the Bucks went on a 10-0 run to take a 42-34 lead. Buckhorn was ahead 46-40 early in the fourth quarter when Holt buried a 3-pointer to extend the advantage to 49-40 and give the Bucks the momentum they needed the rest of the way.
Junior guard Ty Davis led Mountain Brook with 18 points, four assists and four steals. Senior guard Kyle Layton finished with 15 points on 5 of 8 3-pointers, and senior center Julius Clark had 13 points and 11 rebounds. All three were named to the All-Tournament team.
The Bucks also beat the Spartans 60-52 in overtime in the Huntsville City Classic on Dec. 28.
Buckhorn won its first title since 1995 and fourth overall.
Mountain Brook was denied its second title in three seasons.
“The journey was crazy,” Clark said. “There were many ups and downs. We fought through a lot of adversity. Just to be in this game is a blessing. I’m not happy with the result, but we were glad to be here.”
Mountain Brook advanced to the championship game with a 54-52 semifinal victory against Paul W. Bryant (22-13) last Wednesday. Spartans senior John Colvin blocked a potential game-winning 3-point attempt by the Stampede’s Adrian Wooley just before the buzzer.
“I was trying to put my hand in his face and make it a tough shot,” Colvin said. “I knew he was going to try and shoot a three and win the game. I was able to jump up and block it.”
Colvin led the Spartans with 16 points and four assists, and Clark added 14 points and nine rebounds.
But Mountain Brook was unable to overcome Holt and Buckhorn.
“It’s a disappointing loss,” coach Tyler Davis said. “We coach every day to be champions. We didn’t get the outcome we wanted at the end of the day.”
