By BAKER ELLIS / Sports Editor

TRUSSVILLE – The Thanksgiving season brings with it a plethora of early season basketball tournaments and a host of games as teams from all across the county and state try and hone in on their identity. One such tournament will pit two Shelby County teams against each other in the finals as Oak Mountain takes on Briarwood tonight in the finals of the Bryant Bank Thanksgiving Classic at Hewitt-Trussville High School.

Oak Mountain defeated a feisty Minor team in overtime in the opening round by two points and Clay-Chalkville by five in the semifinals to earn a berth in the championship game while Briarwood beat Pinson Valley by 19 and the host team Hewitt-Trussville by a single point in a low-scoring affair to earn a shot at the championship.

Oak Mountain held off Minor in the first round of the tournament in overtime after giving up a nine point lead in the fourth quarter. Wyatt Legas finished with 10 points and his three-pointer in the extra period put the Eagles up for good. Wyatt Armstrong led the way for the Eagles with 16 points, four rebounds and three assists while Payton Youngblood finished with 11 points and seven boards.

In the second round against Clay-Chalkville, the Eagles trailed by four after the first period, but chipped away at the Cougars’ lead, grabbing the advantage for good in the third quarter. Armstrong led Oak Mountain in the semifinal game with 13 points and five boards while Youngblood had 11 and five as well.

The Lions rolled over Pinson Valley in the first game of the tournament with ease, and held Indians without a single point in the third quarter. Thomas Collier had 14 points in the first-round game while David Corbin chipped in 10 to lead Briarwood.

The semifinal game against host team Hewitt-Trussville was a defensive slog. The Lions did not muster a single first quarter point, but also held the Huskies to just five first quarter points to stay in the game. Collier found his touch and put up six points in the second quarter to lead Briarwood’s 10-point second quarter effort. The Lions defense again held Hewitt-Trussville to five points in the second quarter, and the teams went into the break locked at 10-10. In a tight second half, Briarwood outscored Hewitt-Trussville 25-24 to win the game 35-34. Collier had 11 and Carson Donnelley had 10 to lead Briarwood in the semifinal game.

Oak Mountain and Briarwood will tip off in the championship game of the Bryant Bank Thanksgiving Classic tonight at 6:30.