Colvin's big game pushes Spartans to final
BIRMINGHAM – Tyler Davis was feeling a sense of déjà vu as the clock wound down Wednesday afternoon.
His Mountain Brook High School boys basketball team was in the same position as its regional final loss a season ago: up three points with fewer than 10 seconds remaining on the clock.
The Spartans didn’t foul last year, and ultimately lost the game. This time around, they did foul, and hung on to beat Paul Bryant 54-52 in the Class 7A semifinal at the BJCC’s Legacy Arena.
Mountain Brook (26-7) will play in the state championship game Saturday at 2:15 p.m. against Buckhorn.
The final moments were still quite nerve-wracking for the Spartans, as they turned the ball over twice in the final minute to keep the Stampede’s hopes alive. After being fouled with seven seconds to play, Paul Bryant’s Adrian Wooley made his first free throw and missed the second. That miss led to an offensive rebound and a chance at a game-winning shot.
John Colvin was having none of that, though. Colvin, the Spartans’ quarterback during last fall’s state runner-up season, blocked Eric Grant’s 3-point shot at the horn, sending the neon-clad student section into a frenzy.
“I was trying to put my hand in his face and I was ready for it,” Colvin said. “I jumped up and was able to block it.”
Colvin was a key force Wednesday for more than that play. He led Mountain Brook with 16 points in the contest, draining 4-of-6 shots from beyond the arc.
“It’s pretty easy with these guys,” Colvin said of his ability to step up. “Ty [Davis] always finds me in the corner when I’m open. This is the most unselfish team.”
What was Tyler Davis thinking as the Stampede took a shot at the win in the final seconds?
“Please miss this shot and let’s move on,” he said, with a sense of relief in his voice.
For much of the game, it looked as if Mountain Brook would win comfortably. The Spartans held Paul Bryant at arm’s length much of the game, with the lead hovering between 5 and 10 points. But the Stampede hung around and made it interesting at the end.
“I’m not upset with the result, but we did some things that we shouldn’t down the stretch,” Tyler Davis said. “We should be able to close out a game better than we did, but when you get in a situation like that in the final four with a team like Paul Bryant, we’re thankful to be surviving and advancing.”
Julius Clark had a solid performance, going for 14 points and 9 rebounds. Ty Davis, the team’s leading scorer, was held to just 5 points on 2-of-10 shooting. He did dish out 4 assists. Despite the offensive struggles, he was determined to still contribute.
“Every game you’ve got a new role,” Ty Davis said. “Usually mine is shooting and passing and making plays for others. Today, it called for defense.”
Jaycob Johnson was one of four Paul Bryant players in double figures, as he led the way with 15 points.
Jackson Beatty added 8 points for the Spartans.
After not making it to the state tournament last season, the Spartans will look to claim another state title this weekend. Mountain Brook and Buckhorn played earlier this year in the Huntsville City Classic, with Buckhorn winning 60-52 in overtime.