BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – For the second straight season, the Sylacauga Aggies are returning to the Class 5A State Championship game.
On Wednesday night, Sylacauga earned its spot with a gritty comeback win over Guntersville.
Unlike their previous two regional tournament games, the Aggies did not come out firing. Guntersville set the early tone and carried a 13-10 lead at the end of the first quarter. The second quarter brought more of the same. CJ Franklin and Corbyn Patterson accounted for all of Sylacauga's scoring in the period, but turnovers and missed opportunities kept the Aggies from finding their rhythm.
By halftime, Sylacauga trailed 21-18, marking the first time all tournament the Aggies had gone into the break behind. Eleven first half turnovers told much of the story, and Patterson was the only Aggie to connect on more than one field goal before intermission.
But if there is one thing this team has shown all season, it is resilience.
Sensing the moment, Franklin delivered the spark his team needed in the third quarter. He scored seven points in the period, attacking the rim and playing with the urgency of a senior who refused to see his season slip away. Josh Speer added five points, while Patterson and Erick O'Neal each knocked down a three pointer to help steady the offense. Even with the improved production, Sylacauga still found itself trailing 38-36 heading into the final quarter.
The fourth quarter is where champions are defined, and the Aggies played like a team determined to protect its opportunity.
With 4:52 remaining, Guntersville's Kobe Brothers converted an and one opportunity to give the Wildcats a 48-45 advantage. On the very next possession, Patterson buried a three pointer that brought the Sylacauga crowd to its feet and tied the game.
Then came another critical trip down the floor. Speer muscled in a basket inside to give the Aggies a 50-48 lead, and from that point on, Sylacauga never surrendered control. Over the final 4:36, the Aggies closed the game on a 14-2 run.
The turnaround in the second half was dramatic. After committing eleven turnovers in the first half, Sylacauga gave the ball away just once after the break. Meanwhile, the Aggies forced nine Guntersville turnovers in the second half and turned those mistakes into nine points. Sylacauga also dominated the fourth quarter, outscoring the Wildcats 23-12 when it mattered most.
Franklin finished with 18 points, 14 of them coming in the second half. Patterson added 16 points, including the clutch three that shifted the momentum for good. Speer delivered a strong all around performance with 13 points and nine rebounds, and O'Neal contributed eight key points.
The Aggies will return to Legacy Arena at the BJCC for the Class 5A State Championship game on Saturday, March 7, at 10:45 a.m.
Fans can hear the game live on MiX 106.5 or watch via the Allen Brew Market Courtside Cam.
