By BAKER ELLIS / Sports Editor

NORTH SHELBY – It took an extra five minutes, but the Oak Mountain boys’ basketball Eagles took down the defending 7A state champion Hoover Bucs on Jan. 23 by a final of 66-61 to lay claim to the 7A Area 5 regular season championship, and will now host the area tournament in a few weeks as a result.

The game, originally scheduled for Friday, Jan. 22, was pushed back 24 hours due to the possibility of inclement weather, although the extra day did not affect either team’s overall performance. Oak Mountain came into the game with a 16-7 (4-1), with its only area loss coming to Hoover less than two weeks ago via a last-second three-pointer. Hoover, which subsequently lost to Thompson just three days later, also carried a 4-1 area record into the game, and the winner of the Jan. 23 matchup was going to be the de facto area winner.

The Bucs jumped out to a quick lead over Oak Mountain early, taking a 17-14 lead into the second half before opening things up slightly more in the second period. Oak Mountain managed 15 points in the second quarter, but Hoover’s 22 points game the Bucs a 10-point, 39-29 lead heading into the second half.

Oak Mountain, which has lost three straight games to Hoover entering the contest, began to chip away at the Bucs lead in the second half. The Eagles outscored Hoover by five points in each of the final two quarters, to tie the game at 56-56 and force an extra period.

In the extra five minutes, the home team was not to be denied. 10 points in the extra period was enough to get past Hoover, as the Eagles held the Bucs to just five, to get the win and claim the area title.

Payton Youngblood and Wyatt Armstrong led all scorers with 16 points apiece on the night. Will Stephenson also added 14 points to combine for almost 70 percent of the Eagles’ scoring. Jamari Blackmon led Hoover with 16 points as well.

Oak Mountain, the No. 8 team in class 7A, moved to 17-7 (5-1) with the win and will host the Area 5 tournament.