Eagles complete next step, advance to 1st final four in program history
JACKSONVILLE -- Step one included winning the area and winning the regional semifinal. Step two was winning the regional. The next step takes them to Legacy Arena in Birmingham.
Oak Mountain High School's boys basketball team advanced to the Class 7A final four at the BJCC next week by beating Sparkman 60-51 in the Northeast Regional final on Tuesday at Jacksonville State University’s Pete Mathews Coliseum. Zane Nelson led the charge with 23 points and eight rebounds for the Eagles, with Wilder Evers and Will Shavers posting double-digit point totals as well.
Oak Mountain had four players play all 32 minutes of the contest and head coach Chris Love said a hustle play by sophomore point guard Evan Smith defines this team's effort.
“We talk about toughness all the time,” he said. “When you get down to these games everybody is really good and talented. You have to find something down deep and that’s what these guys have done for the last two or three weeks.”
Nelson said the fans and students stepped up as well to make the regional final a great atmosphere.
“We probably have the best student section in the state,” he said. “It affected [Sparkman at the] free throw line and the overall game by putting pressure on them.”
Oak Mountain came out firing on all cylinders, with Nelson scoring seven and Shavers adding four points during the first quarter. The Eagles were up 13-5, but Sparkman used three three-pointers to gain the lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Senators went on a 14-0 run spanning from the first to early in the second quarter. The Eagles answered the call retaking a 29-24 lead heading into the halftime break.
Sparkman hung with Oak Mountain, keeping it close throughout the third quarter, and the Eagles carried a three-point lead into the final quarter. A thunderous dunk from Shavers to put the Eagles up six late and the celebration commenced.
“It was a huge momentum swing,” Shavers said. “That moment I’ll cherish for a long time.”
Shavers contributed seven rebounds and four blocks in the game as well.
Oak Mountain shot 51 percent during the game while holding Sparkman to 31 percent shooting. Sparkman’s Tyrese Elliot had 25 points for the Senators.
Love said this is big for the program, but there are still two more steps left to complete in Birmingham.
“The civic center is not the end,” he said. “We took care of step one early in the week, step two today and now step three is next week. We’re excited for the opportunity to go represent Oak Mountain.”
Click here to view and purchase photos from the Eagles' victory.