Hazel Green, Austin win Area Tournaments
In an unlikely turn of events, Hazel Green defeated Sparkman 58-53 on Sparkman’s home court Monday night to claim the Area 16 title and the right to host Decatur in a sub-region game on Friday night. Also Monday night in a game played at Bob Jones High School gym Austin defeated Decatur 62-48 to claim the Area 15 title.
Sparkman will now travel to Austin in the other sub-regional game with the loser being eliminated.
Hazel Green (18-12) led Sparkman early and held a 15-10 lead after one quarter. Sparkman closed to within a point at halftime and led several times in the third quarter.
Sparkman’s Jeff Landrum put the Senators up 35-31 and Sparkman held a 37-34 lead at the end of the third quarter.
After the game was tied at 44 Hazel Green went on a 10-0 run. Rodney Held and Willie Spencer got hot for Hazel Green in the fourth quarter. Held scored 5 points and Spender scored 8 in the fourth quarter alone.
For Hazel Green, Lewis Sullivan scored 9 and Willie Spence scored 19 in the game.
If Hazel Green can win over Decatur it would be the first appearance in a regional game at Wallace State for the school. Head coach Todd Jeffers said that has been the goal for his team’s motivation throughout the post season.
“It’s all about kicking the door in for Hazel Green. We have not been to Wallace State and that is what we want. The best opportunity was to try to get a home game. We split with Decatur this season. We are playing a lot better right now. Our guys have confidence and believe in each other,” Jeffers said.
One thing Hazel Green will have is a size advantage over Decatur. Center Willie Spencer is 6-foot-5 and about 300 pounds. The team also has 6-foot-6 Lewis Sullivan. The team is lead by 6-foot-2 guard Austin Dempsey.
Austin 62, Decatur 48
It took two teams from Decatur to do what Bob Jones had not done all season. Pack the gym to capacity. The River City rivalry came to Madison on Monday night and Class 6A No. 7 ranked Austin (21-7) left no doubt who had the upper hand in this rematch.
Austin led early but really got going in the second half as they stretched their lead after Decatur had closed to within 2 points in the third quarter. Detric Mostella scored 22 points and pulled 10 rebounds to cement his standing as a college prospect. Malique Elliot had 17 points.
Decatur’s Darius Nelson, who torched Bob Jones for 22 points Friday night was held to 16 points.
