Spartans take back-to-back state titles

You could feel the smack of Ben Shearer hitting the floor as he burst out the back of the lane, tripped up by a member of the Blount High Leopards. Patrick Keim had just missed a foul shot that would have put the Spartans up by four. Instead, it was a one-possession game, and the clock read 13.3 seconds.

But Shearer had made it to the rebound, and in moments he was off the ground and on the foul line. Two shots later, the stands responded like the game was over.

And Coach Bucky McMillian swung his fist like he was in a boxing ring.

On Friday, Feb. 28, The Mountain Brook High School Varsity Boys Basketball Team became consecutive state champions, defeating Blount 60-57 in the Alabama High School Association 6A Finals at the BIrmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex.

Following the game, three Spartans were named to the AHSAA All-Tournament team - Patrick Keim, Alex Peters and Tawarren Grant, who was also named Tournament MVP.

Sporting shirts that read “Swag wins championships,” thousands of Spartan fans again saturated the stands with neon green. They watched as Mountain Brook battled with the Leopards for four quarters, changing leads numerous times.

At the close of the first quarter, Mountain Brook moved the ball around the perimeter until Grant had an open look. His three-pointer dropped through the net at the buzzer, giving the Spartans a 16-13 lead.

The second period belonged to Blount, though. Mountain Brook dropped in a couple needed shots, but Grant seemed to be called for a charge every time he drove the lane. The Spartans went to halftime down 32-28.

Blount held off the Spartans through the third, maintaining a four-point lead through much of the period. But with approximately four minutes left in the period, the full-court press paid off and Mountain Brook tied the game 38-38.

Heading into the final period, the Spartan fans had voiced their displeasure with the game’s referees multiple times, chanting “Take his whistle.” Alex Peters and Tawarren Grant both had four fouls, but stayed in the game.

The final five minutes of the game were a battle back and forth, but with two minutes to go a layup by Grant gave the Spartans back the lead 51-50.

Shortly after, Keim was at the line. And shortly after that, Mountain Brook made history.