By GRAHAM CARR / Special to the Reporter

ALABASTER – After a slow start, the Thompson Warriors came alive in the second half to roll past the Wetumpka Indians 63-51 for the Class 6A, Area 7 championship on Feb. 11.

Warriors’ coach Patrick Davis said the coaches made a few changes at halftime, but he gave credit to his players for the big second half.

“We made a few adjustments, but the kids just made plays,” Davis said.

The game did not start out well for the Warriors though. After senior guard Marcus Lewis drilled a 3-pointer on Thompson’s first shot of the game, the Warriors’ went cold from the floor, making only one more field goal the rest of the first quarter. Wetumpka’s shooting wasn’t much better, but the Indians held a 10-7 advantage heading into the second quarter.

Thompson’s cold shooting continued into the second quarter, as the Warriors only made four field goals in the period. Wetumpka senior point guard Terrence LeFlore was not fazed by the raucaus Thompson gymnasium, scoring 11 points in the first half to give the Indians a 19-17 edge at the break.

“We had a poor first half offensively, but we were real calm at the half,” Warriors coach Patrick Davis said. “I had to check and make sure it wasn’t shellshock, but the guys said ‘No, we are good.’ That’s what you get when you have a senior−laden group. I am just proud of our toughness.”

This toughness carried Thompson to a big third quarter, as the Warriors took control of the game with a 9-4 run in the first four minutes of the period. Thompson’s hot shooting continued as the Warriors outscored Wetumpka 22-11 in the third quarter.

Wetumpka was never able to get closer than 12 points in the fourth quarter and the Warriors cruised to the championship.

Thompson was led in scoring by Lewis’s 21 points. Three Warriors posted double-doubles in Caleb Johnson (14 points, 10 rebounds), DeAndre Gamble (13 points, 10 rebounds) and Duke Thomas (12 points, 10 rebounds).

Wetumpka was led by LeFlore’s 16 points.

Thompson will host Oak Mountain on Friday in the Class 6A sub-regional tournament while Wetumpka will travel to Spain Park.