Jags, Eagles perform well in holiday tournaments

Oak Mountain and Spain Park high schools competed locally last week in holiday basketball tournaments. Oak Mountain’s boys hosted the Zaxby’s Invitational, while the girls played in Hoover’s Big Orange Classic. Spain Park hosted the Lady Jag Christmas Tournament.

In the Zaxby’s Invitational, the Eagles won three games in three days to win the event. In the opening round, Oak Mountain knocked off Carver-Birmingham, 51-46, behind big performances from Will Stephenson and Chris Mayweather. Stephenson poured in 17 points to lead the team, with Mayweather dropping 16 points and eight rebounds.

Stephenson led the Eagles with 13 points the following night, as Oak Mountain took down Scottsboro, 68-60, in the semifinals. Josh Pierce also reached double figures, with 10 points and six boards.

Oak Mountain defeated Grissom in a tight final, 42-41, to win the tournament and improve to 12-5 overall on the season. Stephenson scored 17 and was named the MVP. Pierce and Mayweather also garnered all-tournament honors.

The Lady Eagles finished second in the Silver Bracket of the Big Orange Classic. Eventual tournament runner-up Charles Henderson and Oxford (MS) were in the Lady Eagles’ pool. Charles Henderson defeated Oak Mountain 47-31, but the Lady Eagles knocked off Oxford, 41-30.

In bracket play, Oak Mountain used a fourth-quarter comeback to knock off Carver-Montgomery, 51-48. Deerfield Beach (FL) took a 52-29 decision in the Silver Bracket final.

Spain Park, the No. 4 team in Class 7A, performed well in the Lady Jag Christmas Tournament. The Lady Jags opened the tournament with a 54-26 win over McAdory, and followed that up with another convincing victory in the quarterfinals, a 68-43 win over JB Pennington.

In the semifinals, the Lady Jags avenged a loss to Thompson the week prior, with a 57-47 win in a game they controlled throughout.

In the final, however, Spain Park ran up against Hazel Green, a 7A semifinalist last season and one of the top 6A teams this year. Hazel Green won the tournament with a 47-15 victory over the Lady Jags.

In local action this week, Chelsea’s boys go to Mobile for the UMS-Wright Christmas Classic, while the Lady Hornets play in Etowah County’s tournament.

The Spain Park boys are in Georgia for the Tournament of Champions, while the Lady Jags take part in the Decatur Orthopaedic Clinic Classic.