By Lee Davis
Journal Sports Writer
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When two teams ranked in Class 6A’s top 10 face one another, fans can usually count on a close game.
And when ninth-ranked Mountain Brook hosted sixth-ranked Homewood Friday night, that’s exactly what the fans got – at least for two and a half quarters.
The Patriots broke open a 32-32 deadlock with a 16-2 run in the third period to take a 72-61 win over the Spartans.
After falling behind, Mountain Brook battled back but never got within six points of Homewood.
David Walker paced the Patriots with 18 points, and Jeremy Watson followed with 16. Nick Young chipped in 13. Marvin Whitt – Homewood’s leading scorer – was held to just nine points.
Mario Stramaglia topped the Spartans’ scoring with 19 points. Taylor Harsh followed with 18.
Homewood’s record rose to 19-3 overall and 3-1 in Class 6A Area 12 play. Mountain Brook dropped to 19-4 overall and 3-3 in area competition.
Spain Park, ranked number eight in Class 6A, used a lay-up from Robby Prater in overtime to give the Jaguars a hard-fought 55-53 win over Vestavia Hills. Steven Lawson keyed Spain Park’s win with 23 points, which included six three-point baskets.
The Jags rallied from a seven point deficit in the fourth quarter to force the game into overtime. B.J. Houston led the Rebel scoring with 19 points.
Spain Park moved its record to 18-7 overall and 4-1 in Area 12 play. Vestavia fell to 10-11 overall and 0-5 in the area.
Oak Mountain defeated Pelham 39-36, thanks to Colton McGriff’s three-point basket with three seconds remaining in the game. Heath Quinn led Oak Mountain with 10 points and pulled down nine rebounds. Bert Seitz scored eight points and 10 rebounds.
The Eagles raised their record to 12-9 overall and 3-1 in Class 6A Area 10 play.
John Carroll Catholic used two free throws by Marcus Merriweather to earn a 54-52 win over Parkway Christian. Merriweather finished with 12 points. Chris Turk paced the Cavs with 24 points and nine rebounds.
Shelby County defeated Briarwood 62-59. James Palmer led the losing cause with 21 points; Jason Laatsch added 16.
Thompson upset Hoover 45-42. Sam Hutcheson led the Bucs with 10 points.
Altamont overwhelmed Fultondale 68-46. Brindon Sutton paced the Knights with 18 points, and Shawn Tuteja chipped in 15. Altamont raised its record to 7-8 overall and 3-2 in Class 2A Area 10.
In girls’ play, Mountain Brook handily defeated Homewood 75-25. Mary Katherine Pinson and Grace Morrissette each scored 11 points for the Lady Spartans, while Annabelle Friedman contributed 10. Eden Williams led the Lady Patriots with 10 points.
Mountain Brook ran its record to 19-3 overall, 6-0 in Class 6A Area 12.
Cayman Crowder’s three-point basket with just six seconds remaining gave Vestavia a 54-52 win over Spain Park. Sharon Sanders led all scorers with 17 points. Crowder scored 11, and Caroline Langley scored 10. Carolyn Perry helped the Lady Rebels’ cause with eight rebounds. Jessica Freeman led the Lady Jaguars with 14 points.
Vestavia saw its record rise to 9-10 overall and 2-3 in Class 6A Area 12 play. Spain Park fell to 14-12 and 2-3 in Class 6A Area competition.
Opening with 23 unanswered points, Hoover – ranked second in Class 6A – rolled to a 66-32 rout of Thompson. Breion Allen scored 16 points, while Chardonae Fuqua added 13 and Breigha Cochran contributed 10.
The Lady Bucs ran their record to 22-2 overall, 4-0 in Area 10 games.
Oak Mountain defeated Pelham 37-30 as Madison Pierce scored 13 points for the winning cause. Hannah Griffin added 11. The Lady Eagles improved their record to 16-5 overall and 3-1 in Class 6A Area 10.
John Carroll Catholic easily defeated Parkway Christian 53-23. Alexis Willis led a balanced scoring attack with 12 points. Megan McCarrick and Holly Schneider each added 11, and Caitlin Just scored 10.
John Carroll brought its record to 10-11 for the year.
Briarwood saw its 17-game winning streak shattered in a 63-51 loss to Shelby County. Cara Medders was the Lady Lions’ top scorer with 13 points. Anna Handlin added 11.
Briarwood’s record dropped to 20-4 overall and 5-1 in Class 5A Area 8 action.
In Saturday boys’ play, Vestavia defeated Hazel Green 66-50. William Truss topped the Rebels’ scoring with 16 points, and Frank Belcher added 15. B.J. Houston scored 11.
The Hoover girls’ team suffered its third loss of the season, falling to Norcross of Georgia 49-44. Chardonae Fuqua paced the Lady Bucs with 15 points, and Breion Allen added 10.
