Mortimer Jordan’s boys were facing an uphill struggle against Cold Spring, until a change in defense resulted in a change of fortune.

But a 12-0 rally wasn’t quite enough to catch the Eagles, ranked ninth in Class 2A, who went on to post a 50-44 victory Wednesday’s finals of the Charlotte Cummings Christmas Classic boys basketball tournament at West Point.

The Devils started their rally after Eagle guard Justin Aby sank a pair of 3-pointers to put his team up by 13 midway through the third quarter.

“Then we changed our defense, started giving them a three-quarter court press and backing that up with a zone,” Jordan coach Daniel Foy said. “That forced a few turnovers and really slowed them down. But they have three really good guards, and Aby is exceptional.”

“We got a little stagnant on offense. We got timid and made a few turnovers because we weren’t attacking the basket,” aid Cold Springs coach Tim Burleson.

Jamey Hammock scored 11 points and Blake Renshaw added 10 for the Devils.

Aby led all scorers with 16 points for the Eagles (16-4). Nick Blanks and Chase Elliott added 13 points each.

• Gardendale 68, St. Clair County 35: The Rockets have discovered that good things come with threes.

6-foot-7 forward Dallas Tidwell knocked down five baskets from outside the arc, and Zack Snow hit three more as Gardendale won the fifth-place game in the Springville Christmas Tournament.

KD Gunnerson led all scorers with 16 points for the Rockets (10-7).

Cody Helms topped the Saints with 10 points.



Mike Cummings of our sister newspaper, The Cullman Times, contributed to this story.