Bob Jones downs Buckhorn to win Huntsville City Classic

HUNTSVILLE – Classic tradition demands certain things.

There’s requisite standing- room-only crowds. There are stars, as witnessed by college- bound players sprinkled throughout the 16-team field each year. And, well, it’s just basketball, which means not only big crowds but big-time performances.

Saturday night, Dec. 28, in front of a spirited overflow gathering at Huntsville High School, Bob Jones defeated Buckhorn 68-52 behind an outstanding night from tournament Most Valuable Player Jacob Parks in the 42nd edition of what is now called the Huntsville City Classic.

The final score betrays the intensity that defined the final.

“It was anybody’s game with four minutes to play,’’ coach Bryant Starkey said after his Bob Jones squad won the school’s third John Pruett Championship Trophy in honor of the legendary retired sports editor of The Huntsville Times, which the tournament was originally named after.

Parks made 11-of-16 shots from the field, including 6-of-9 on 3-pointers, enroute to 28 points. He also had eight rebounds, matched for the team high by Kadern Rickard for the Class 7A Patriots (14-7).

“I think we just had unmatched energy coming into the game,’’ said Parks, who had a teal-and-dunk to start things in the first quarter.

The win comes on the heels of an upset of defending tournament champion Huntsville in the semifinals.

“We just defeated the No. 16 team in the nation,’’ Parks said of the Panthers’ standing in MaxPreps’ rankings. “We had the utmost amount of confidence coming into this. I felt like we had the energy to come out and execute everything we do.’’

Starkey can only hope the tournament title is a harbinger for the rest of the season.

“You don’t get this kind of environment anywhere else,’’ he said. “Our guys came out and pushed what happened (against Huntsville) aside and focused on what we had to do and got the job done.’’

Jeremiah Wilson had 16 points and Lee Garcia added 15 for two-time defending Class 6A state champion Buckhorn (13-5).

Bob Jones led 15-11 after one quarter and the score was tied at 26-26 all at halftime and 43-all entering the fourth.

Semifinals

Bob Jones advanced by knocking off unbeaten Huntsville 59-58 when Eric Marrow sank a clutch 3-pointer in the waning seconds of overtime.

Starkey said the Patriots were looking to go for the win on that possession after the Panthers had taken the lead. Huntsville misfired on a desperation shot in the final three seconds.

“The ball bounced our way,” Starkey said, something he repeated following the final. “It’ doesn’t always go that way.’’

Rickard had 16 points, and six rebounds and Jaylen Rice added 14 and six for Bob Jones.

J.D. Gossett had 24 points and nine rebounds and Simon Walker 16 points for Huntsville (17-1).