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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Colby Jones (3) shoots a free throw in the second half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Colby Jones (3) dribbles the ball toward the goal in the first half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Colby Jones (3) moves toward the goal guarded by Fairhope's Jyren Kyles (14) in the first half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Colby Blackwell (23) rises to the goal to shoot for 2-points guarded by Fairhope's Riley Leonard (2) in the first half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Colby Jones (3) shoots the ball guarded by Fairhope's Hunter Ivy (3) in the first half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook head coach Bucky McMillan calls a play during the first half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Colby Jones (3) dribbles the ball toward the goal in the first half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Carter Sobera (22) shoots a layup guarded by Fairhope's Edward Witherington (4) in the first half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Peyton Haley (5) dribbles the ball toward the goal guarded by Fairhope's Grant Phyfer (0) in the first half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Julius Clark (50) shoots for 2-points guarded by Fairhope's Jerry Bethea (34) in the first half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Colby Blackwell (23) keeps the ball in-bounds guarded by Fairhope's Edward Witherington (4) in the first half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Holt Bashinsky (1) and Mountain Brook’s Alex Belt (21) go after a loose ball in the first half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Edward Reed (15) dribbles the ball guarded by Fairhope's Hunter Ivy (3) in the second half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Peyton Haley (5) passes the ball in the second half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Colby Jones (3) shoots a layup guarded by Fairhope's Riley Leonard (2) in the second half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook head coach Bucky McMillan reacts on the sideline in the second half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Colby Jones (3) shoots a layup guarded by Fairhope's Riley Leonard (2) in the second half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Alex Belt (21) shoots for 2-points guarded by Fairhope's Riley Leonard (2) in the first half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Colby Jones (3) shoots a layup guarded by Fairhope's Edward Witherington (4) and Fairhope's Riley Leonard (2) in the first half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Carter Sobera (22) moves to shoot for 2-points guarded by Fairhope's Ramone Bradley (23) in the second half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Colby Jones (3) shoots a layup guarded by Fairhope's Jerry Bethea (34) in the second half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mary Everett Knight, 7, of Homewood, sweeps the floor during a timeout in the second half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook head coach Bucky McMillan reacts on the sideline in the second half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Holt Bashinsky (1) shoots a layup guarded by Fairhope's Edward Witherington (4) in the second half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Alex Belt (21) guards Fairhope's Hunter Ivy (3) at the goal in the second half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Julius Clark (50) shoots for 2-points guarded by Fairhope's Jerry Bethea (34) in the first half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Carter Sobera (22) shoots a layup guarded by Fairhope's Edward Witherington (4) in the first half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Colby Blackwell (23) keeps the ball in-bounds guarded by Fairhope's Edward Witherington (4) in the first half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Carter Sobera (22) moves toward the goal in the first half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Carter Sobera (22) shoots a free throw in the first half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Edward Reed (15) shoots for 2-points guarded by Fairhope's Riley Leonard (2) in the first half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Holt Bashinsky (1) and Mountain Brook’s Alex Belt (21) go after a loose ball in the first half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Colby Jones (3) dribbles the ball guarded by Fairhope's Riley Leonard (2) in the first half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Colby Blackwell (23) shoots for 2-points in the first half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Peyton Haley (5) dribbles the ball toward the goal guarded by Fairhope's Grant Phyfer (0) in the first half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Colby Blackwell (23) rises to the goal to shoot for 2-points guarded by Fairhope's Riley Leonard (2) in the first half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Colby Jones (3) shoots for 2-points in the first half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Colby Jones (3) moves toward the goal guarded by the Fairhope defense in the first half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Colby Blackwell (23) shoots for 2-points in the first half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook head coach Bucky McMillan calls a play as he walks the sideline in the second half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Carter Sobera (22) is fouled by the Pirate defense, guarded by Fairhope's Ramone Bradley (23) and Fairhope's Riley Leonard (2) in the second half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Colby Jones (3) high-fives his teammates as he takes to the bench as time runs out on the clock in the second half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Colby Jones (3) high-fives his teammates as he takes to the bench as time runs out on the clock in the second half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Holt Bashinsky (1) dribbles toward the goal guarded by Fairhope's Hunter Ivy (3) in the second half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Fairhope's Hunter Ivy (3) fouls Mountain Brook’s Holt Bashinsky (1) as the ball is knocked away in the second half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Holt Bashinsky (1) is fouled by Fairhope's Edward Witherington (4) at the goal in the second half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Holt Bashinsky (1) shoots a free throw in the second half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Holt Bashinsky (1) moves toward the goal in the second half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook head coach Bucky McMillan high-fives players and coaching staff following the Spartans win over Fairhope in the AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Holt Bashinsky (1) with Mountain Brook’s athletic trainer following the Spartans win over Fairhope in the AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Holt Bashinsky (1) rises to the goal for 2-points in the second half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Alex Belt (21) high-fives his teammates as he takes to the bench as time runs out on the clock in the second half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook’s Holt Bashinsky (1) rises to the goal for 2-points in the second half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
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Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
AHSAA State Semifinal boys 7A
Mountain Brook head coach Bucky McMillan meets with the Spartans during a timeout in the second half of an AHSAA Class 7A state semifinal game between Mountain Brook and Fairhope on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. The Spartans defeated the Pirates 60-50 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game Sat. Feb. 29, against Lee-Montgomery. Photo by Erin Nelson
BIRMINGHAM – Colby Jones will do whatever it takes.
Not only is he a prolific scorer, but he is willing to do the dirty work, such as pulling down rebounds and drawing charges.
He did each of those things at a high level in the Mountain Brook High School boys basketball team’s 60-50 win over Fairhope on Thursday afternoon in the Class 7A semifinals at the BJCC’s Legacy Arena.
Before the Spartans took the floor, Mountain Brook head coach Bucky McMillan told his star player, “It’s your time to get 30 [points].”
He didn’t reach that benchmark, but he finished with a more-than-respectable 29 points and 14 rebounds.
“When you’ve got somebody that can fill up the stat sheet and make people better, that’s what superstars do,” McMillan said. “He had to play multiple positions in the game. He played the 4 and guarded their 5. At the end of the game, we played him at point guard.”
Jones scored all 10 of Mountain Brook’s points in the third quarter after putting forth 14 in the first half, as the Spartans took a 28-17 lead into the halftime break.
“My teammates have the most trust in me to get a bucket when we need, but I was just trying to do what we needed to,” Jones said.
Mountain Brook (32-2) opened up a 13-point lead midway through the fourth quarter, but Fairhope (24-5) fought back, cutting the deficit down to 53-49 with a minute to play.
“The message in our huddle was we have to keep attacking on defense,” McMillan said. “When we got back to attacking, good things happened to us.”
Mountain Brook scored seven of the game’s last eight points in the final minute of play.
Last season, Mountain Brook made history by becoming the first school in the history of the Alabama High School Athletic Association to win three straight state championships at the highest classification. On Saturday, the Spartans can extend that record by claiming a fourth.
“I’m glad we’re still alive and looking forward to Saturday,” McMillan said.
Holt Bashinsky and Carter Sobera provided the supplemental scoring punch for the Spartans on Thursday, with each chipping in 12 points. Sobera also had eight rebounds in the contest. Bashinsky, Sobera and Alex Belt said following the game that Mountain Brook’s experience at this level is a significant advantage.
“It helps a lot,” Bashinsky said. “Even as kids, coming and watching, we’re used to seeing the guys ahead of us win, you’re used to winning.”
Mountain Brook will face Lee-Montgomery (32-1) on Saturday at 5:45 p.m., as the Spartans look for yet another state title.
“I don’t know a better state final you could have,” McMillan said. “That’s how you want it. Hopefully the fans appreciate that and we have a good crowd on Saturday.”
