Chambers Academy claims second boys’ basketball title

BY KATIE MCELVY

THE LAFAYETTE SUN

LAFAYETTE — After a series of wins, the Chambers Academy boys team took top honors at the state championship game after defeating rival Springwood. What follows are recaps of the three games played over the last week.

Elite Eight vs. Jackson Academy

Chambers took the floor in the Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery in the first game of their playoff run against Jackson Academy. The Rebels looked outmanned and unenthused as Jackson jumped out to a 10-2 lead in just the first three minutes of the game. Everything seemed to be going the Eagles’ way as they rained threes down on the Rebels with Chambers only being able to pick up fouls, but a quick timeout to regroup turned the tables as the Rebels focused in on the press causing turnovers for buckets allowing the Rebels to take a 16-12 lead at the end of the first.

The Rebels controlled the boards in the second quarter, with most of their points coming from shots in the paint and getting most of the rebounds on both sides of the court, extending their lead to 31-22 at the half.

The Rebels defense went to work in the third quarter, only allowing three points to give Chambers a big 47-25 lead going into the final period of play. Chambers played to kill the clock in the fourth but still ended their possessions with points to get a big 62-28 win and head to the final four.

Final Four vs. Restoration Academy

Hunter Andrews found the basket on a midrange shot to strike first for the Rebels. A pair of free throws each by Christian Terry and Jake Reames put Chambers up 8-3. The Rebels chose not to press, instead opting to rush down the court to keep Restoration outside of the key and limit shots by the big Bulldog down low. This strategy worked for the most part, limiting the Bulldogs to only four made baskets; however, half of those were threes which kept the game to a close 11-10 at the end of the first.

Restoration tied it up at 14-all halfway through the second period, but Christian Terry and Jake Reames got hot at just the right moment, sinking multiple three-pointers in the quarter to give Chambers a 25-15 lead at the half.

The Rebels had trouble getting shots to fall in the first four minutes of the second half, allowing Restoration to chip away and finally tying it up at 26-all. The Rebels regrouped with a timeout, and a Jake Reames jumper and a Christian Terry and-one put Chambers back on top.

A Cohan McDonald basket gave the Rebels a five-point lead going into the fourth. A quick Restoration three-pointer made the game a close 33-32 again with just minutes left on the clock. Cohan McDonald came down with three critical rebounds on the Bulldogs’ side of the court to put the Rebels back in play. Bryce Modling found a loose ball and took it to the house to give Chambers back a five-point lead. The Rebels then went to work in the paint adding quick buckets under the goal to capture a 47-37 win and punch their ticket to the championship game.

BY DANIEL SCHMIDT, THE LAFAYETTE SUN

MONTGOMERY – Located just 15 miles apart, the first meeting between bitter rivals Chambers Academy and Springwood School in a state championship was sure to produce fireworks on the hardwood. 

And produce it did as the Rebels (15-6) dug deep late in the fourth quarter to hold onto a slim lead and defeat the Wildcats (13-8) 45-41 in the AISA boys’ AA title game.  

According to the Alabama High School Football Historical Society’s website, this is Chambers’ first boys’ basketball state championship since 2014 and the second all-time. The Rebels also finished as runners-up in 1989, 2015, 2019, 2020 and 2022. 

After an emotional win that saw junior forward Cohan McDonald exit the game with a gruesome ankle injury in the second quarter, Chambers head coach Jason Allen praised his team’s resilience and self-belief. 

“I don't know that they expected this at the end of the year, and I don't know that I did either. But it's not how you start, it's how you finish,” Allen said. “We’ve played for a state championship in basketball five times and only won one before tonight, so to do it with this team, which was a very improbable run for us, makes it that much sweeter.” 

Standing in front of microphones and television cameras, the moment admittedly felt a little surreal for junior guard Christian Terry, who helped seal the victory with five fourth-quarter points. 

“People doubted us at the beginning, but we showed up, we played, followed the game plan and won all three games,” Terry said. “This the first year Chambers and Springwood ever played in a championship together. We're rival schools, so it meant a lot for fans, for us, for the program, everything.” 

The disappointment was evident in a phone interview with Springwood head coach Lisa Sampson several hours after the game ended, especially after losing in the AISA boys’ AA championship game last year. However, it didn’t take away from her pride in her players’ efforts at the end of a grueling season. 

“We gave it all we had, but our shots just weren't falling. It was one of those days we were where right there and it was close, but we just couldn't get over the top and finish,” Sampson said. “But what a season. I’m proud super proud of the guys, what they accomplished and the way they went about it. They’re hard-working kids that played great team basketball and were fun to watch.” 

Early on, it appeared the championship game was a three-point shooting competition after Chambers’ Jake Reams and Springwood’s Wes Carden each recorded two treys. Despite being down in the opening minutes, the Rebels eventually took a late 15-11 lead heading into the second quarter.  

In the second period, the continued trading three-pointers until McDonald went up for rebound, landed awkwardly on his right ankle and had to be carted off by paramedics. Although they appeared initially rattled, Chambers rebounded nicely and retreated to their locker room with a 23-21 lead. 

Following halftime, two three pointers from Clarence Moore and the Rebels’ inability to finish enough shots at the rim briefly put the Wildcats ahead halfway through the third quarter. That lead was short-lived, and Bryce Modling’s late three-pointer later gave Chambers a 32-30 lead entering the final frame. 

With both teams able to land a decisive blow, Chambers and Springwood battled until both held leads in the final two minutes. The Rebels overcame that stalemate by playing a near-perfect game of keep-away and benefiting from Braxton Terry making four of six free throw attempts. 

Christian Terry led the Rebels with 12 points, while Braxton Terry contributed 10 points. Kori Key finished as the game’s leading scorer with 15 points for the Wildcats, and Moore 10 points.