Back to Back: Sylacauga claims 29th Area Title in program history
With a 58-47 win over Clay Central, Sylacauga captured the Class 5A Area 8 Championship.
SYLACAUGA, Ala. - For the second straight season, the Sylacauga Aggies sit atop Class 5A Area 8.
Sylacauga claimed its 29th area championship in program history with a 58-47 victory over Clay Central. The title game win came just days after a hard-fought 57-52 semifinal victory over Shelby County.
In the championship matchup against Clay Central, Sylacauga wasted no time taking control. The Aggies jumped out to a 17-7 lead in the opening quarter and continued to build on that momentum, stretching the advantage to 35-15 by halftime.
Head coach Joel Jones couldn't have asked for much more from his team in the first half.
"[I] went into halftime and congratulated those guys and built them up a little bit and told them that we probably couldn't play a better half of basketball," Jones said.
Clay Central refused to go quietly in the second half, slowly chipping away at the Aggies' 20-point lead and turning the game into a tight contest in the fourth quarter. But Sylacauga remained composed when it mattered most. Strong free throw shooting down the stretch allowed the Aggies to create separation again and secure the 11-point victory.
As the final buzzer sounded, Jones was all smiles.
"I'm just happy we won this basketball game," he said. "This was a huge win for our basketball program."
Several Aggies earned recognition for their performances throughout the tournament. Josh Speer, CJ Franklin, Erick O'Neal, and Corbyn Patterson were all named to the All-Area Tournament team, with Speer taking home Area Tournament MVP honors.
Speer played a pivotal role in both of Sylacauga's wins. He scored 15 points in the semifinal victory over Shelby County and followed that with an 11-point effort in the championship game against Clay Central. In both contests, Speer delivered at the free throw line late in the fourth quarter, knocking down key shots that helped the Aggies close out victories.
In just two seasons, head coach Joel Jones and assistant coach Skylar Patterson have quickly built something special. The Aggies have won back-to-back area championships and posted a combined 56-6 record during that stretch.
Last season, Sylacauga made a memorable run to the state finals before falling to Vigor, 59-49. With another area title secured, the Aggies now have their sights set on returning to that stage and finishing the job this time.
The next step in that journey comes Saturday, February 14, when Sylacauga hosts the Jemison Panthers in the sub-regional round. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. as the Aggies begin their push toward Birmingham once again.
