By Lee Davis
Journal Sports Writer
The old sports adage that anything can happen when archrivals meet was proven true at Spain Park Friday night.
Coach Neal Barker’s boys’ team stunned heavily-favored and second-ranked Hoover 64-55. Spain Park was led by the talented guard tandem of Rembert Martin and Eric Washington, who scored 21 and 20 points, respectively. Martin connected on four three-point attempts.
The Bucs hurt their own cause with 11 first half turnovers.
The Jaguars moved to a 46-34 lead after three quarters and hung on to improve their record to 13-8. Hoover fell to 19-3 for the season.
Robbie Prater scored 12 points for the winners. Deontaye Curtis paced Hoover with 13 points. Devon Earl added 12.
Spain Park’s win avenged a 27-25 loss to Hoover earlier in the season.
In another Friday night game, Brody Holder’s last second lay-up gave Chelsea a 40-38 victory over Briarwood.
Jason Laatsch led Briarwood with 17 points, as the Lions’ record fell to 10-9 for the season, 0-3 in Class 5A Area 7 play. Laatsch had tied the score at 48-48 with a three-point basket just prior to Holder’s heroics.
Shades Mountain Christian ran its record to 12-6 with a 58-38 rout of Westminster-Oak Mountain. Jaylon Sims sparked the Eagles with 26 points and 14 rebounds. Chris Hardrick added 14 points for Shades Mountain.
The victory raised the Eagles’ record in Class 1A Area 8 play to 3-1 for the season.
John Carroll Catholic fell to Parker 51-43. The Cavaliers were led by Chris Turk, who scored 17 points. Joe Garley chipped in 12.
Vincent defeated Altamont 58-40. Peyton Thetford scored 15 points for the losing cause.
In girls’ play on Friday, Hoover routed Spain Park 67-34. Bre Cochran sparked the Lady Bucs with 14 points and five steals. Marqu’es Webb scored 11 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for Hoover. Whitney Gulledge scored 14 points for the Lady Jaguars.
The top-ranked Lady Bucs ran their record to 15-3.
Briarwood overwhelmed Chelsea 49-15. Hannah Wainwright topped the Lady Lions’ scoring with 18 points, 15 of which came in the first half.
Wainwright’s team lifted its record to 12-4 overall and 3-0 in Class 5A Area 7 competition.
In Saturday basketball action, Nyck Young scored 32 points to lead Homewood to a 61-49 win over Northridge. Malik Cook followed with 10 points as the Patriots raised their record to 11-9.
In the Ice Breaker Indoor Invitational track meet at the Crossplex, several area athletes brought home titles. Spain Park’s Joseph Williams won the shot put, while teammate Myles Charley won the triple jump. Brandon Hazouri won the 1,600 meter run.
Hoover’s Marlon Humphrey won the 60 meter dash, and the Bucs’ Nigel Cribbs won the 400 meter run. The relay team of Humphrey, Cribbs, Alfonzo Steele and Jarrett Brown won the 4X400 meter relay run.
Mountain Brook’s team of Andrew Fix, Jack Miller, Jack Monaghan and Payton Ballard won the 4X800 meter run.
Northridge won the overall boys’ competition with 69 points, followed by Hoover’s 62.5 total and Spain Park’s 57 points.
In girls’ competition, Hoover’s foursome of Chalandra Gooden, Breona Humphrey, Olivia Tofani and Joy Maneice-Marbury won the 4X200 meter relay. The team of Sarah Sanford, Gooden, Humphrey and Maneice-Marbury won the 4X400.
Spain Park’s Simone Charley won the triple jump, and Mountain Brook’s Ann Sisson took first place in the 3200 meter run.
McGill-Toolen of Mobile took first place in the girls’ team standings with 77 points. Mountain Brook was second with 75. Hoover