Eyes on Alabama: Analyzing the playoff picture
The craziness has officially arrived in Alabama high school hoops with the playoffs now in full swing. Area tournaments have begun and several teams have already went home. In this week’s Eyes on Alabama installment, we look at the playoff race, some teams that could make a run, and an unlikely prospect that is beginning to make his mark.
ANALYZING THE PLAYOFF PICTURE
For those not familiar with the high school basketball playoff system used in Alabama, the top two teams in each area advance to the sub-regional round. The winner of the area tournament wins the right to host one last game on its home floor, while the loser travels to its crossover opponent (with the exception of 7A).
The sub-regional winners advance to regionals at one of the four locations: Wallace State-Hanceville (Northwest), Jacksonville State University (Northeast), Alabama State (Central), and the Mobile Civic Center (South). From there, it’s win or go home, as only one team from each classification can advance to the Final 4 in Birmingham.
Area tournament play has been rolling since Monday. While many of the top teams in the state remain in playoff contention, some teams have already pulled off impressive upsets.
In the South in 6A, Saraland up-ended Leflore, who spent several weeks in the ASWA Top 10 rankings. In the loaded 6A Area 10, Ramsay won an overtime thriller over defending state champion Homewood to knock them off their quest to defend the 6A state title. In another tough area matchup, host and top-seeded Winfield fell to Haleyville to end their season.
Hartselle, AL
With all that being said, it’s going to be a wild few weeks leading up to the Final Four in Birmingham. Once a team makes it to regionals, anything can happen!
Last year, Muscle Shoals made an unbelievable run to a 6A state championship appearance after being a .500 for most of the season. Who are some notable teams to watch this year?
Well, where else rather to start than Muscle Shoals? Losing most of their production from last season, head coach Neal Barker has been able to reload and his team has the ability to play with anyone in 6A. Freshman Mark Sears receives a lot of the attention, but juniors Riley Wolgamott and Jacob Vandiver give the team a formidable backcourt. This time of year, you need guards to win games. Muscles Shoals plays against Hazel Green tonight in the area championship.
Arguably the hottest team in the state right now is Hartselle, led by head coach Faron Key. Heading into the 6A Area 15 tournament at Austin, the Tigers had won 10 games in a row. Last night against Columbia, Hartselle battled back from being down 26-9 at halftime to stun the Eagles and win 59-46, extending their win streak to 11 games.
Led by a solid group of seniors and guard Isaac Taylor (pictured above), Hartselle is an interesting team to watch for. They’re as hot as you can get and are rolling right into a date Saturday night with Austin for the area tournament championship.
Buckle up, ladies and gentlemen, this is going to be a wild ride for the next few weeks!
MYKELL WOODS DEFENDING HIS WAY TO BEING NOTICED
Gadsden, AL
It’s easy to identify players based on scoring and offensive production. However, there are plenty of talented players that go unnoticed on the defensive end. It’s safe to say 2018 Gadsden City power forward Mykell Woods is raising some eyebrows because of his defensive prowess.
Woods, a 6-foot-7 big man sporting a near 7-foot wingspan, has been blocking shots all season for Gadsden City – and the shots he hasn’t blocked, he sure has been affecting. Woods’ rim protection earned himself an invitation this week to the Alabama Elite Preview on March 11th. The junior backed up that invitation with an extraordinary performance Thursday evening against Huntsville at Grissom.
Woods easily had a double-double with rebounds and blocks, as the long, high-upside big man was everywhere on the floor. Nearly every shot that went up in the paint was altered by him. He doesn’t necessarily look like a game-changer, but Woods has the ability to change a game because he does one thing at an elite level: block shots.
When the high school season concludes, Woods will suit up with Pro One Select. He’s an intriguing big man with tons of potential and upside. Woods is a young pup that will get an opportunity at some level and he could run with it. Buy stock in this guy now, because he’s just beginning to scratch the surface of what could be a successful career.
