Mountain Brook pulls away to beat Vestavia Hills

Mountain Brook shot 58% from the field and won easily in the first round of the Class 7A, Area 6 Tournament on Thursday, defeating Vestavia Hills, 87-56.

In the tournament at Spain Park High School, the Rebels hung around in the first quarter, before a 27-point second quarter allowed the Spartans to pull away and hold onto the lead.

Freshman Trendon Watford led all scorers by a wide margin with 26 points, nine coming in the first quarter. He was 11-of-17 shooting on the night, knocked down all three shots from beyond the arc he attempted, and grabbed six rebounds.

As good as Watford was in the first, senior Jack Kline was just as good in the second quarter, as he scored nine of his 13 points, and Mountain Brook took a 44-28 lead into the locker room.

The Spartans put two more into double figures scoring. Sean Elmore scored 13, knocking down 3-of-5 three-point attempts and getting four rebounds. Clay Collins scored ten as well.

Collins, Elmore, and Drew Smith each had three assists for Mountain Brook. Jeb Brown accumulated five rebounds.

Anthony Lacey led the way for Vestavia Hills, with 13 points. William Snell finished with a game-high eight rebounds.

Levi Wiggins chipped in nine points. Eric McCrory and Mac Smith each scored seven in the game, with all of Smith's coming in the first half.

Colby Milner scored six, and Scott Morrison and Will Macoy added five points each.

Mountain Brook improves to 24-5 with the win, and earns a spot in the regional round of the state playoffs. The Spartans will face Spain Park for the third time this season in the area championship, on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Vestavia's season ends with the loss.