Most Memorable Moment from the Class 7A and 6A Area Tournaments [User Poll]
Area tournaments got underway last week, and there were too many games to count happening all across the state throughout the week. Prep Hoops has picked out a couple of our favorite moments from the Class 7A and Class 6A area tournament games, and have decided to put it up to a vote to see which moment was the best! Below is a short synopsis of each of our favorite moments. You can vote at the bottom of the page for your favorite moment or write in your own favorite moment!. Make sure to share it on social media so that others can vote as well. We will be announcing the winner on our Twitter page on Saturday, February 16th!
Moment #1: Down by 1 point with just a couple of seconds left in the game, #2 ranked Lee-Huntsville saw their postseason hopes on the line, as a 3-27 Hazel Green was about to complete the upset. However, Texas A&M signee, Kobe Brown, got the ball and with 14 seconds left, dunked it to survive Hazel Green 44-43 in the Class 6A Area 16 Semifinal game.
Moment #2: A very good, but unranked Buckhorn team went into the area tournament hoping to avenge their 3-4 area record and get the credit they deserved for putting together a 25-6 season. They were matched up against #3 ranked Mae Jemison in the Class 6A Area 16 semifinal. After a hard fought battle by the whole team, and with Kuran Garners 22 points, 11 of which came in the 4th quarter, the Bucks were able to upset the Jaguars and advance to the Class 6A Area 16 Championship game.
Moment #3: It’s not too often that you see a game 40 years in the making, but that was the case for the Class 6A Area 3 matchup against Northview and Dothan. After being rivals for 40 years, at the end of the school year, Dothan City Schools will be consolidated, wiping out this long-standing rivalry. The teams got to have one last battle on the hardwood, and Northview came out on top 56-48, behind Jabre Barbers 13 points.
Moment #4: The Class 6A Area Championship game saw a matchup between Gardendale and Carver. Gardendale was looking to take home their first Area Championship in 15 years and had home court advantage. Down by one with less than 30 seconds to go, Gardendale fans began to wonder if they would have to wait another year for their shot at an Area Championship. But alas, with 14 seconds left to go, Clayton Cunningham sunk the go-ahead bucket for Gardendale, giving them their first Area Championship in 15 years.
Moment #5: After advancing to the Class 7A Area 2 Championship game, Fairhope and McGill-Toolen were matched up against each other, with the winner being deemed Area Champions. McGill-Toolen found themselves down 53-50 with less than a minute left in the game, and it seemed like their Championship hopes might be over. Then, an elbow to the face resulted in a technical foul against Fairhope with 6.5 seconds left. Christopher Al Suggs stepped up to the line to shoot 2 free throws, to try and bring his team within one point of Fairhope. After knocking them both down, it was a 1 point game, and because of the technical, McGill-Toolen would get the ball back. The drew up a play, took a shot, and missed…but then, Freshman Barry Dunning followed the shot and was able to tip the ball into the basket in the final seconds to give McGill-Toolen the Area 2 Championship.
Moment #6: After surviving a close one against Hazel Green, Lee-Huntsville found themselves in another close one in the Class 6A Area 16 Championship game. With under 20 seconds to go, it looked like the Generals and Bucks might have to battle it out one more quarter to decide a winner. With time winding down, Kobe Brown got the ball and started pushing it down the court, and with 6 seconds left, he hit a shot to give them the 44-42 lead, and victory over Buckhorn to crown themselves the Area 16 Champions.
Moment #7: With a 3-3 area record and a new coach, Huntsville High was playing good basketball, but also caught in a rebuilding year under the first year head coach, Christian Schweers. After defeating Gadsden City 64-57 in the semifinal game, Huntsville advanced to the Class 6A Area 7 Championship game, where they would face #4 ranked Sparkman, who had beaten them twice this season. However, thanks to some clutch free throws from Huntsville’s John Cole Norris in the final seconds, Huntsville was able to get the 51-50 edge over Sparkman and were crowned the Area 7 Champs.