Warning to upcoming Hayden basketball opponents: The Beard is back.

Forward Seth Aderhold has apparently shaken off all ill effects of his ankle injury from a couple of weeks ago, as he scored 19 points and pulled down 15 rebounds to lead the Wildcats to a 54-38 win over Sumiton Christian in Monday’s first round action at the Corner Christmas Tournament.

Aderhold, who has been off his usual form while recuperating from the injury, pushed the Wildcats out to an early lead with 13 points in the first half.

“He [Seth] has really worked hard to get back from a terrible injury,” Hayden coach Mike Dutton said. “He had about as bad an injury as you could have. Tonight he looked a lot closer to being back.”

So did Will Scott, who was known as a dead-eye 3-point shot before sitting out all of last season with his own injury. Against the Eagles, Scott hit four treys on six attempts to account for all of his 12 points.

Hayden (10-4) moved steadily out to a lead from the opening tip, and built up a 10-point advantage by halftime.

It was a battle involving two coaches who collectively have nearly a thousand varsity wins on their résumé — Sumiton Christian’s Bill Griffin, the former Gardendale coach lured out of retirement, with 515 wins; and Dutton with around 400, though he’s not big on keeping track of such things.

“I don’t have any wins. The kids have them all,” Dutton said.

The Eagles were led by Austin Clark with 12 points.

Corner 58, Vinemont 38: In a first-round game Monday, Blake Byrd paced the Yellow Jackets with 21 points, and also dished out seven assists.

Corner ran off a 12-3 run to start the game, but Vinemont gradually clawed away at the advantage and tied the game late in the second quarter, before the Jackets went on a half-ending run to take the lead for good.

Austin Samford scored 15 points and Dylan Hand added 10 for Corner. Kyle Moody and Trent Fike grabbed six rebounds each.

Hayden and Corner played each other in a Tuesday semifinal that finished after press time. Tournament play concludes with consolation, third place and championship games on Wednesday.