The Shelby County Wildcats (15-9, 6-1) honored their six senior players in style Friday night, beating the Chilton County Tigers 66-54 to clinch the 5A Area 6 regular-season crown.

With the dogfight win over Calera last Tuesday, the win marks the ninth straight for the peaking Wildcat team.

Most importantly, the win secured home court advantage for the area tournament.

The swarming Wildcat defense locked down a sputtering Tiger team, racing to a 25-5 first quarter lead.

The half ended with SCHS leading 39-18.

All looked dim for the visiting Tigers going into the half, but they managed to chip away at the Wildcat lead as the second half rolled along.

A 7-0 run midway through the fourth quarter brought the Tigers within 10 points, but it was the closest the Tigers got.

The consistent offense and aggressive defense of the Wildcats held true as the buzzer sounded.

&8220;I am so proud of our guys that make up this team, most importantly the seniors.

This is probably the most different team that I have had since I have been here,&8221; Shelby County head coach Charles &8220;D&8221; Dickinson said about his team.

&8220;To start the way we did and hit a low point at 6-9 and end up as area champions, is just a credit to the make-up of this team.

I am just thrilled to death about what we have been able to do,&8221; Coach &8220;D&8221; said while enjoying his post game hotdog.

Senior, Josh Dikis, took his night in the spotlight and shined, going 5-for-11 from long range with a game high 15 points.

Darion Sutton assisted with 13 points with Tyrone Buie adding 12.

Leading scorer for the Tigers was Theo Jones with 12.

&8220;We came out of the game against Calera Tuesday night with Coach &8220;D&8221; telling us that this game would be the biggest game of our senior year.

He told us that we had a chance to do something some thought we couldn&8217;t do,&8221; Dikis said about the win.

&8220;This win tonight maybe will turn some heads and let us know as a team how good we can really be.&8221;

To the average fan of SCHS basketball, this year&8217;s team is drastically different from past years.

With no dominating, take-over-the-game type of player, there&8217;s a basketball team with bench full of guys offering different ingredients that have developed into the recipe of success.

In turn, that is what makes this

eighth area title in ten years special and all the more rewarding to Dickinson.

&8220;I am so proud of this team because this team does not have the talent to do what they are doing as the teams I have had in past years.

They are doing it because they are playing as a complete team.

That is more important than anything,&8221; Coach &8220;D&8221; said.

SCHS will travel to Vincent and Thompson to conclude the regular season