Oak Mountain wins area; playoffs await

Oak Mountain put together a strong second half and beat Hoover to claim the Class 7A, Area 5 Tournament championship, 64-49, on the Eagles' home floor.

The Eagles held Hoover to just 13 points over the third and fourth quarters and were able to pull away for the win.

Payton Youngblood notched a double-double and paced Oak Mountain, with 22 points and 11 rebounds in the game. Warren Shader and Noah Egan followed him with nine points each. 

Jamari Blackmon and Marion Humphrey scored 12 points apiece for Hoover.

The victory improves Oak Mountain to 24-7 on the season. The Eagles are now winners of ten in a row, and 18 of their last 19 contests.

"This is a special group; selfless and tough," Oak Mountain head coach Chris Love said. "It is a great group of kids who love playing basketball and love playing basketball together."

Oak Mountain and Hoover both advance to the regional round of the state playoffs by finishing in the top two of the area tournament.

Both teams play at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville on Friday. Hoover faces James Clemens at 10:30 a.m. Oak Mountain will play Sparkman at 1:30 p.m.

"We are excited and confident to go to the regionals and compete," said Love.

The season is now a single-elimination format the rest of the way for both teams.