By Lee Davis
Fans of the Mountain Brook, Hoover and Spain Park basketball teams may be doing a lot of traveling this week.
The boys’ and girls’ teams of all three schools have advanced to Class 6A regional play, and while following them might burn a little gas, none of the boosters will be complaining.
Each team punched its respective ticket to Wednesday’s regionals with do-or-die victories in sub-regional play last week.
The Mountain Brook boys advanced to the Northeast Regionals at Jacksonville State University, where they face Huntsville. If the Spartans win, they will meet the Shades Valley-Gadsden City winner for a berth in the Class 6A Final Four.
Mountain Brook’s girls also moved to JSU’s Northeast Regionals, where they will face Clay-Chalkville. The winner will meet the Huffman-Lee of Huntsville winner for a date in the 6A Final Four.
Hoover’s teams will compete in the Northwest Regionals at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville. The Buccaneer boys will face Hazel Green. If Hoover wins, the winner of the Hillcrest-Sparkman game will stand between the Bucs and their second consecutive Final Four appearance.
The Lady Bucs will meet Austin. If they defeat the Lady Bears, Hoover will also have to defeat the Hillcrest-Sparkman winner to reach the Final Four.
Spain Park fans will find themselves at the Central Regional at Alabama State University in Montgomery. The Jaguar boys will take on Carver of Montgomery. The winner will face the Opelika-Thompson winner to have a shot at the Final Four.
The Jaguar girls will likewise face the girls’ team from Carver. The winner will meet the Jeff Davis-Prattville victor, as Spain Park reaches for what would be its first-ever girls’ Final Four.
Mountain Brook’s boys earned their way to the regionals with a 60-52 win over Carver of Birmingham. The Spartans overcame a one-point halftime deficit to achieve the victory.
Jeremy Berman led the Mountain Brook effort with 17 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots. Malek Grant scored 15 points with seven rebounds. Stuart Harmon added 12 points.
The Spartans raised their record to 26-6 for the year.
The Spartan girls earned their way to Jacksonville with a 54-37 rout of Gardendale. Collier Ogilvie paced Mountain Brook with 17 points and seven rebounds, along with four steals. Ellie Mouyal scored 13 points with six rebounds and five steals. The stingy Lady Spartan defense forced Gardendale into 20 turnovers.
Mountain Brook moved its record to 22-5.
Hoover’s boys battled their way to Hanceville with a 74-40 win over Tuscaloosa County.
Brannon DeFore sparked the Bucs with 16 points and 10 rebounds as Coach Charles Burkett’s team raised its worksheet to 29-4.
The Bucs’ girls’ team held up its end by routing Northridge 69-39.
Courtney Hunter topped the Hoover scoring with 21 points. Breigha Wilder-Cochran followed with 16. Sara Mitchell and Kara Rawls each scored 11.
The Lady Bucs are 24-4 for the year.
The Spain Park boys continued their hot streak in post-season play with a 74-53 triumph over Wetumpka. Deon Wright dominated with 26 points and 13 rebounds. Jonathan Troups scored 16 points, while Drew Morgan chipped in 15.
The Jags are now 15-17 for the season.
Spain Park’s girls crushed Thompson 59-24 behind Denise Newton’s 24 points. Victoria Baldwin scored 15.
The surprising Lady Jags head to the regionals with a 23-8 mark.
The Homewood boys’ team nearly reached the Northeast Regional in Class 5A before falling to Center Point 46-44 in overtime. The Patriots rallied for a 34-16 deficit in the third quarter to force the extra period. Malik Cook paced Homewood with 26 points, including 13 in the final quarter.
The Patriots ended their season with a 26-7 record.
Kiara Williams’ 17-point effort couldn’t help the Homewood girls’ team, which fell to Center Point 55-36. The Lady Patriots ended the year with a 14-13 worksheet.
The Oak Mountain boys’ team saw their season end with a 43-30 loss to Thompson in Class 6A sub-state play. DeShawn Giles led the Eagles with 10 points.
Oak Mountain finished 14-14 for the season.
Prattville eliminated the Oak Mountain girls by a 63-61 count. The Lady Eagles concluded their year with a 17-12 record.
