Toros fall to Spartans in Class 6A championship game

Mountain Brook 56, Spanish Fort 43

By Michael Hanich, Sports Analysis
Posted 3/3/21

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -  After a dominating regular season and solid performance in the 2021 Alabama 6A State Championship Tournament Elite 8 and Semi-Finals, the Spanish Fort Toros left without …

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Toros fall to Spartans in Class 6A championship game

Mountain Brook 56, Spanish Fort 43

Posted

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -  After a dominating regular season and solid performance in the 2021 Alabama 6A State Championship Tournament Elite 8 and Semi-Finals, the Spanish Fort Toros left without the AHSAA State Championship Title. For them to win the 6A title, they would have to go through the Mountain Brook Spartans.

Despite a strong start from the Toros, they would feel the pressure from the Spartans, who were playing highly aggressively on both ends of the court. The Mountain Brook Spartans would end the title hopes of the Spanish Fort Toros with a tough 56-43 loss.

After a back-and-forth scoring match at the beginning of the first quarter, Logan Pierce’s three-pointer put the Toros up 7-6 one minute and 40 seconds into the game. The Toros kept a solid lead of 14-11 going into the second quarter thanks to nine points from Toros guard Colby McAllister.

In the second quarter, the Spartans  were more  aggressive in their passing and setting up excellent scoring opportunities. Mountain Brook made four-of-nine from behind the three-point arc as they outscored Spanish Fort 16-11 in the second quarter. The Toros were having difficulty trying to drive into the paint as three of five baskets made were jumpers or three-point shots.

The Toros were continuing to find problems trying to find a basket as their offensive inefficiencies expanded throughout the entire court in the third quarter. Mountain Brook’s largest lead of the game was eight points in the middle of the third quarter until Toros guard Carl Fauntroy scored five consecutive points and lowered the deficit to three points. Mountain Brook finished out the third quarter with a 40-35 lead.

In the fourth quarter, the Toros had one of their most difficult quarters throughout the entire championship tournament. A combination of fatigue, frustration on both ends of the court, and the continuation of the Spartans’ aggressive playmaking ability made it difficult for Spanish Fort to fully attempt a comeback. The Spartans outscored the Toros 16-8 in the fourth quarter as they finished the game up 56-43.

McAllister finished the game as the Toros’ leading scorer with 14 points (3-for-10 in field goals and 2-for-5 from the three-point arc). Kolby Horace scored 13 points shooting 4-for-12 in field goals. He also accounted for seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Fauntroy scored the game with seven points, two assists, six steals, and one block. The Toros finished the game shooting 34.1 percent  in field goals (14-for-41) and 21.1 percent from the three-point arc (4-for-19).

The good news for the Toros, who finish the season 28-4 is that they return four of their five starters. The combination of this experience and talent will make the Toros a dangerous team to compete with next season.