FROM STAFF REPORTS

The Homewood Patriots rallied back from a 10-point deficit to spoil a Thompson season-opening sweep, winning the boys’ basketball nightcap 57-53.

Homewood held Thompson scoreless in the first four minutes but the Warriors built a rally to take a 16-8 lead over the Patriots at the end of the first quarter. Jonathan Kendrick hit a 3-pointer just before the half to grow the lead to 10 points, 31-21.

However, Homewood fought back in the fourth quarter to win the game on the free-throw line after trailing by seven with 3:30 to play.

Siddeeq Cooper led Thompson with 15 points, followed by Dameion Bland with 12.

“We’re trying to play a little different than we did in the past, but we looked good for the most part,” Thompson head coach Jeff Nichols said. “Homewood is supposed to be one of the better teams in Birmingham this year, or so I’m told.”

-Thompson 68, Homewood 59: Rhonda Watts jump started the Thompson Warriors girls’ basketball season leading all scorers with 25 points to down Homewood at home Tuesday. Brittaney Owens added 16 points and Zoriah Williams added nine points and 12 rebounds.

-Shades Mountain 62, Chelsea 47:Shades Mountain began its run for a repeat of last years area championship by out rebounding Chelsea 41 to 19 to knock off their Class 5A opponent Tuesday. Thomas Strider led Chelsea with 12 points, while Alex Sturdivant had nine and Stephen Icolano added eight. Despite the poor performance from the three-point arc, just 1-of-20, second-year head coach Michael Napp thinks better days are coming once Luke Moore, Kenny Waters and Patric Brasher join the team at the end of football season.

-Chelsea 56, Shades Mountain 42:Wayne Trucks made his debut as the Chelsea girls’ basketball coach Tuesday, downing the visiting Eagles by 12. Kingwood Christian transfer Rebecca Simpson led all scorers with 25 points, seven steals and five assists. Morgan Arnold and Sydney Morgan attacked the boards with 17 and 10 rebounds respectively.

Trucks said the team gave a very aggressive performance on defense to help the Hornets control the inside and perimeter.

-Evangel-Montgomery 51, Coosa Valley 48: J.B. Ripley led the Coosa Valley Rebels with 18 points and nine rebounds, but CVA fell just shy of upsetting last season’s Class 2A champs. Chris Holcomb had 20 points, while Chase Lacy had nine.

-Coosa Valley 37, Evangel-Montgomery 32: Tyger Paris scored 14 points and Cassie Brock added 12 to lead CVA to a 2-0 start on the season. The CVA junior varsity team began its run for a repeat of the state title with a 23-6 win over Evangel.

-Kingwood 65, Tri-County Academy 33: Andrew Steele collected a double-double, 14 points and 10 rebounds, to lead Kingwood in its season opener past Tri-County. Eli Hogan also scored in double figures with 12 points, while adding five steals