By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Sports Editor

CALERA – After a slow start to the season, the Calera Eagles have caught fire over the last couple of weeks. They hosted the Marbury Bulldogs in a Class 5A Area 6 matchup on Monday, Dec. 12 for their second area game of the year. The Eagles were able to handle the Bulldogs easily in this one with an offensive explosion putting up 96 points in a 96-54 win.

Back on Dec. 6, Calera (7-5, 2-0) was able to handle Jemison rather easily as well in a 57-43 win, meaning they are already 2-0 in area play, which shows an area championship is a real possibility. After starting the year 1-4, things looked a little meek, but having won six of their last seven games, the Eagles are on a real hot streak and a force nobody wants to face right now.

Over the span of their six wins, Calera ended up knocking off the 3A No. 3 team Montevallo Bulldogs. The Eagles’ only losses of the year have come to Briarwood, Gardendale, Vestavia and Childersburg.

The most pleasing part of the whole thing for head coach George Drake has to be the amount of teamwork he has seen. In the win over Marbury, five of Calera’s players scored in double figures.

Yatil Gant led the way with 21 points and 14 rebounds on the night. CJ Smith was just two points shy of giving them two 20-point scorers as he added 18 for the game. Jacob Smith had another 13 points for the Eagles, while JB Brown and Tyler Millin added 10 a piece. Those five guys accounted for 72 of the Eagles’ 96 points.

A win over Dallas County on Friday, Dec. 16 would already guarantee Calera to finish at .500 or better in area play before we even get to Christmas.