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The Oak Mountain Eagles beat Hillcrest and Parker in two matchups as part of the Husky Holiday Shootout. (For the Reporter/Jeremy Raines)

By DAVE DOMESCIK | Staff Writer

HELENA – Before the Oak Mountain boys’ basketball team could enjoy the holiday festivities, they had business to attend to at Helena’s Husky Holiday Shootout.

The Eagles handled their business, winning both of their games in the event. The event wasn’t a tournament, but the Eagles more than proved their championship prowess in a 62-56 win over the Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa Patriots on Thursday, Dec. 19 and a 77-47 drubbing over the Parker Thundering Herd on Saturday, Dec. 21.

The game against the Patriots was close throughout, with a big fourth-quarter run from the Eagles providing the victory. Oak Mountain jumped out to a 24-15 lead by the end of the first quarter.

However, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa took the momentum in the second period, outscoring the Eagles 17-12. The teams headed to the halftime with Oak Mountain leading 36-32.

The third and fourth quarter both saw huge momentum swings, but it was Oak Mountain who had the last word. Hillcrest had a blistering offense and pesky defense in the third quarter, winning the period 19-8, leading to a 51-44 tally headed to the fourth quarter.

Oak Mountain took a page out of the Patriots’ book in the fourth quarter, imitating the same offensive and defensive intensity to win the game in the final period. The Eagles outscored the Patriots 18-5 in the fourth quarter, solidifying the 62-56 win.

Chase Lamey shined individually for Oak Mountain, scoring 19 points. He received assistance from Rocco Plaia, who scored 11 in the game. Lamey and Plaia were the only two players to score in double figures for Oak Mountain, as the Eagles used a balanced scoring attack to overwhelm Hillcrest.

Hillcrest was led by Paul Jones, who scored 15 points for the Patriots. He was joined in scoring by Osa Alohan and Ja’kari Andrews, who each had 13 points.

The game against Parker on Friday was not as much of a barn-burner as the Hillcrest matchup as Oak Mountain cruised to a 30-point victory.

The Eagles won every single quarter of the game: 23-9 in the first, 19-12 in the second, 19-14 in the third and 16-12 in the fourth.

Chase Lamey followed up his 19-point game on Thursday with an even better showing against Parker. He scored 21 in the game for a total of 40 points in the Husky Holiday Shootout.

After quiet games in the matchup with Hillcrest, Christopher Kunard and Will Patterson both rebounded well, scoring 15 and 12 to join Lamey in double-figures.

Parker saw Julian Plaza go toe-to-toe with Lamey, scoring 21. Miles Brison scored 12 for the Bison to join Plaza in double-figures, but the rest of Parker’s offense was limited by a stingy Oak Mountain defense.

The Oak Mountain Eagles will next play in the Big Orange Classic hosted by Hoover High School on Thursday, Dec. 26 and are set to take on the Muscle Shoals Trojans in the first round at 6:30 p.m. in the auxiliary gym.

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