By AUSTIN FRANKLIN / Special to the Reporter

NORTH SHELBY – With a balanced offensive attack, Oak Mountain soundly defeated Shelby County 65-50 to advance to the semi-finals of the Shelby County basketball tournament.

From the opening buzzer Oak Mountain found its rhythm and utilized quick ball movement to confuse Shelby County and garner open looks. Oak Mountain’s possessions centered on forcing Shelby County to collapse into the paint only to have Oak Mountain kick the ball out for the open look.

Relying on fundamental basketball and selfless play, Oak Mountain finished the game with seven players who scored at least 6 points.

Conversely, Shelby County failed to establish a consistent rhythm of play. Oak Mountain’s defense deserves credit for forcing Shelby County to take numerous low percentage shots and disrupting Shelby County’s style of play.

Though what shots Shelby County was able to find were consistently hit by Brandon Green, who finished with a game high 17 points. Tanner Brooks was close behind with 16 points of his own for Shelby County as Brooks and Green served as the primary scoring threats for the team and kept them in the game near the halfway mark.

Just before the half Shelby County got within one after Green stole the ball and delivered a dunk at the buzzer. The momentum of Green’s dunk failed to carry over into the second half where Oak Mountain began to distance itself from Shelby County.

Oak Mountain’s defense continued to force poor shots from Shelby County in what proved to be a tightly officiated second half of play. On the other end of the court, Oak Mountain’s Thomas Youngblood surged in the second half, hitting shots that seized any momentum Shelby County could create. Youngblood finished the game with 15 points, a team high for Oak Mountain.

The offensive consistency proved to be the key difference as Oak Mountain continued to expand their lead while Shelby County found open lanes more and more difficult to come by before the final buzzer rang.

Oak Mountain will play Vincent for a spot in the finals of the Shelby County basketball tournament later today.