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Photo by Erin Nelson
The Eagles celebrate on the court after defeating Auburn 45-37 in the AHSAA boys Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
The Eagles celebrate on the court after defeating Auburn 45-37 in the AHSAA boys Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
The Eagles’ cheerleaders rally during the AHSAA boys Class 7A state semi-final game against Auburn at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Eagles defeated Auburn 45-37 to advance to the state championship game. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Oak Mountain’s Noah Young (2) shoots for 2-points as a foul is called on Auburn’s Bryson Clague (24) during the AHSAA boys Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Eagles defeated Auburn 45-37 to advance to the state championship game. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Oak Mountain’s Noah Young (2) is fouled under the goal by Auburn’s Bryson Clague (24) during the AHSAA boys Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Eagles defeated Auburn 45-37 to advance to the state championship game. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Oak Mountain’s Wilder Evers (4) shoots a layup guarded by Auburn’s Eli Elston (4) during the AHSAA boys Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Eagles defeated Auburn 45-37 to advance to the state championship game. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Oak Mountain’s Noah Young (2) shoots a free-throw during the AHSAA boys Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Eagles defeated Auburn 45-37 to advance to the state championship game. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Oak Mountain head coach Chris Love talks with the Eagles in a timeout during the AHSAA boys Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Eagles defeated Auburn 45-37 to advance to the state championship game. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Oak Mountain’s Wilder Evers (4) dribbles the ball towards the goal during the AHSAA boys Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Eagles defeated Auburn 45-37 to advance to the state championship game. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Oak Mountain’s Evan Smith (1) guards Auburn’s Jae Baker (33) during the AHSAA boys Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Eagles defeated Auburn 45-37 to advance to the state championship game. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Oak Mountain’s Brady Dunn (3) dribbles the ball downcourt during the AHSAA boys Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Eagles defeated Auburn 45-37 to advance to the state championship game. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Oak Mountain’s Wilder Evers (4) shoots for 2-points guarded by Auburn’s Bryson Clague (24) during the AHSAA boys Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Eagles defeated Auburn 45-37 to advance to the state championship game. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Oak Mountain’s Evan Smith (1) dribbles the ball across the court during the AHSAA boys Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Eagles defeated Auburn 45-37 to advance to the state championship game. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Oak Mountain’s Will Shaver (25) shoots a layup as he’s fouled by Auburn’s Caden Brown (32) during the AHSAA boys Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Eagles defeated Auburn 45-37 to advance to the state championship game. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Oak Mountain’s Evan Smith (1) passes the ball guarded by Auburn’s Jayden Buckley (5) during the AHSAA boys Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Eagles defeated Auburn 45-37 to advance to the state championship game. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Oak Mountain’s Wilder Evers (4) shoots a layup guarded by Auburn’s Eli Elston (4) during the AHSAA boys Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Eagles defeated Auburn 45-37 to advance to the state championship game. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Oak Mountain head coach Chris Love talks with the Eagles in a timeout during the AHSAA boys Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Eagles defeated Auburn 45-37 to advance to the state championship game. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Oak Mountain’s Wilder Evers (4) shoots a layup guarded by Auburn’s Gabe Forthofer (13) during the AHSAA boys Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Eagles defeated Auburn 45-37 to advance to the state championship game. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Oak Mountain’s Wilder Evers (4) shoots a layup guarded by Auburn’s Gabe Forthofer (13) during the AHSAA boys Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Eagles defeated Auburn 45-37 to advance to the state championship game. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Oak Mountain head coach Chris Loves talks to Brady Dunn (3) on the sideline during the AHSAA boys Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Eagles defeated Auburn 45-37 to advance to the state championship game. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
An Oak Mountain student holds up a cutout of President Joe Biden as the Eagles’ lead Auburn during the AHSAA boys Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Eagles defeated Auburn 45-37 to advance to the state championship game. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Oak Mountain's student section rallies during the AHSAA boys Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Eagles defeated Auburn 45-37 to advance to the state championship game. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Oak Mountain’s Evan Smith (1) shoots a free-throw during the AHSAA boys Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Eagles defeated Auburn 45-37 to advance to the state championship game. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
The Eagles celebrate on the court after defeating Auburn 45-37 in the AHSAA boys Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Oak Mountain head coach Chris Love calls a play from the sideline during the AHSAA boys Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Eagles defeated Auburn 45-37 to advance to the state championship game. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Oak Mountain’s Evan Smith (1) looks to make a play guarded by Auburn’s Eli Elston (1) during the AHSAA boys Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Eagles defeated Auburn 45-37 to advance to the state championship game. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Oak Mountain’s Evan Smith (1) dribbles the ball during the AHSAA boys Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Eagles defeated Auburn 45-37 to advance to the state championship game. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Oak Mountain’s Noah Young (2) celebrates with a friend in the student section following the Eagles’ win over Auburn in the AHSAA boys Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Eagles defeated Auburn 45-37 to advance to the state championship game. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Oak Mountain’s Wilder Evers (4) shoots a free-throw during the AHSAA boys Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Eagles defeated Auburn 45-37 to advance to the state championship game. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Oak Mountain’s Will Shaver (25) moves to shoot a layup as he’s fouled by Auburn’s Caden Brown (32) during the AHSAA boys Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Eagles defeated Auburn 45-37 to advance to the state championship game. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
The Oak Mountain bench reacts following a 3-point shot during the AHSAA boys Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Eagles defeated Auburn 45-37 to advance to the state championship game. Photo by Erin Nelson.
BIRMINGHAM – The Eagles returned to the stage they saw it come to an end last year, but this time they triumphed.
The Oak Mountain High School boys basketball team showed up in the second half and locked down Auburn, beating the Tigers 45-37 in the Class 7A state semifinals on Tuesday at Bartow Arena.
Oak Mountain (23-9) came out of the halftime break determined to put its imprint on the game by doing the little things, defending and rebounding. The Eagles did just that, holding Auburn to six third-quarter points and taking the lead.
“The key to the game for us was defensively in the second half,” Oak Mountain head coach Chris Love said following the game. “We decided we wanted to guard them and after they killed us on the boards in the first half, we kept them off the boards in the second half.”
With the win, Oak Mountain advances to the state championship game for the first time in school history. The Eagles will now face either Spain Park or Enterprise at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The Eagles went on an 8-1 run to end the third quarter, taking their first lead in the game in the process. Wilder Evers made several big plays down the stretch, including three baskets during that run. He finished the game with a game-high 15 points.
“Wilder has struggled a little bit early in the year, but the son of a gun is not scared of the moment. He’s a tough kid and comes through in pressure situations,” Love said.
Will Shaver threw down an emphatic dunk during that run. Playing through pain, Shaver had 10 points and six rebounds. He was credited with two blocks in the game, but affected many more shots than that with his 6-foot-11 frame and 7-4 wingspan.
“He’s had a ton of blocked shots this year, and the shots he doesn’t block, he alters,” Love said.
After a sluggish first half, in which Auburn led the entirety, Noah Young said the team took a collective deep breath and trusted what it was doing. Young provided 12 points and six rebounds, including back-to-back 3-pointers in the Eagles’ third-quarter rally.
After Auburn cut it to 32-30 with 4:13 to play, Oak Mountain put the clamps down defensively and went on a 9-2 run over the next three minutes to put the game out of reach.
Oak Mountain was at this stage a year ago for the first time in program history. In the state semifinals, the Eagles lost to Lee-Montgomery, but the lessons learned translated to Tuesday, when they cleared another hurdle.
“Our teammates made a decision about a year ago at this time when we lost to Lee-Montgomery,” Young said. “We made a decision to be committed to this to get even further than we did. The way that we’ve responded to everything that was thrown at us shows the character that we have.”
Despite COVID-19 restrictions, Oak Mountain had a strong contingent of fans.
“To have a sea of red up there and being loud, it’s great,” Love said. “Oak Mountain’s a a great place to be. Our basketball program is made up of a bunch of great kids and assistant coaches, and our school is made up of people that care about each other and love each other.”
