The Plainview varsity boys, defending Class 3A Champions, held it together in a gut-clenching win over Midfield at the AHSAA championship matchup at the BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham.
Luke Smith led the Bears with nine rebounds and 18 points, going 8-14. The trio of Levi Brown, Landon White, and Jonah Williams netted seven points each, and Dylan Haymon pitched in a point for Plainview.
The win marks the Bears’ fifth state title, capping their season with a 31-6 record under the leadership of head coach Robi Coker.
Changing their defense approach, Coker said Midfield’s Shannon Jones was too good a player for the Bears to press and be efficient. “We felt like it was our best chance to win the game,” he said.
At the half, Plainview trailed by four. However, the Bears recovered ground in the second half as Smith scored 12 of his 18 points.
Continuing their momentum, Levi Brown sank a 3-pointer with less than three minutes left to lift Plainview to 35-31, while Jonah Williams added a pair of free throws with 22 seconds remaining to further their advantage.
Williams netted two more free throws with 1.1 seconds left to seal the win for the Bears.
All-tournament team: Sumter Central’s Jonathan Finch, Hillcrest Evergreen’s Robert Simpson, Midfield’s DeMarreon Baldwin and Shannon Jones, Plainview’s Landon White and Luke Smith (MVP).
Of his team, Coker said he couldn’t be more proud of the group’s toughness. “They deserve to be champions,” he added.
Midfield closed its season with a 26-6 record as De’Marreon Baldwin paced the Patriots with 17 points and nine rebounds, and Shannon Jones added 11 points.
Semifinal Round Plainview 55, Sumter Central 41
The Bears defeated Sumter Central 55-41 during the semifinal round of the AHSAA Class 3A state championship game at Legacy Arena.
Jonah Williams and Dylan Haymon led Plainview’s defensive efforts with a game-high 15 points apiece. Despite an early 9-0 Sumter Central lead, the Bears regained control midway through the second quarter.
Plainview stretched its advantage by eight points in the third quarter before Sumter Central cut its deficit to three. The Bears entered the fourth sporting a 42-35 lead en route to a 55-41 victory.
Luke Smith finished with 12 points, Landon White added 10 points, Levi Brown chipped in two points, and Joseph Hutcheson had one point for the Bears.
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