NORTHPORT – After outlasting the Hillcrest Patriots in double overtime just two nights before, the Thompson Warriors knew an area title was within reach. While the Tuscaloosa County Wildcats were ranked in the top 10 of Class 7A for most of the season, the Warriors handed them their lone area loss in the regular season.
That gave the Warriors a blueprint to follow, and most importantly, hope that they could do what they had never done in the Class 7A era–win an area championship. Now, in the final year of Class 7A for the foreseeable future, they can call themselves champions.
Thompson defeated Tuscaloosa County 70-68 on Saturday, Feb. 14 at Tuscaloosa County High School to win the Class 7A, Area 5 championship, their first area title since 2013 in Class 6A.
The win ensures that the Warriors' return to the Sweet 16 after a year away will be with a No. 1 seed next to their name, avoiding No. 4 James Clemens for another round to instead face the Bob Jones Patriots on Friday, Feb. 20 at 10:30 a.m. at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville.
Both teams started the game on the right foot offensively with Matthew Bevelle following up his game-winner from the area semifinals with five points in the first, the same total as Cam Pritchett.
Five different Warriors combined for 18 points, but the Wildcats slightly outpaced them and led 20-18 at the end of the first quarter.
However, Thompson flipped the script in the second quarter thanks to a big seven-point quarter from Damonte Tabb, taking him into double figures, while Landyn Smith made a basket and a couple of free throws for four points.
The Warriors spread the love on offense and outscored Tuscaloosa County 17-12 in the second quarter, putting them in front 37-32 at the halftime break.
The Wildcats didn't go down easily though as they erupted from deep and the charity stripe to score 22 points in the third quarter. Thompson went toe-to-toe with the hosts though as Riley Bryant and Tabb dominated on offense. The pair combined for 14 points in the third.
What's more, they weren't the only offense from the Warriors as Pritchett and Ethan Hudson each scored four points in the quarter. Thompson finished with 24 points in the third to outpace Tuscaloosa County and lead 59-54 ahead of the fourth quarter.
Tyler Noble made life difficult for the Warriors in the fourth by scoring 12 of his team's 14 points to trim the deficit. However, Thompson kept the hosts at bay with crucial free throws from Tabb and Pritchett, who combined to go 5-for-6 from the line in the fourth.
That was enough for the Warriors to hold on for the two-point win and claim the area title.
Tabb led Thompson with 20 points while Bryant and Pritchett each dropped 15 points. Bevelle finished with seven points, Smith scored six points and Hudson earned five points in the win.
