The Cullman Bearcats claw their way to the Class 6A title game
Class 6A Boys’ Semifinals
Cullman 71, Park Crossing 55
Birmingham, AL – The Cullman Bearcats boys’ basketball program had to wait 90 years before returning the AHSAA State Basketball Championships. The wait for the state finals will only be three days.
Stu Stuedeman’s Bearcats (28-3) downed Park Crossing 71-55 Wednesday in the Class 6A boys’ semifinals of the 100th AHSAA State Basketball Championships being held this week at the BJCC’s Legacy Arena. The state tourney appearance was the first for Cullman since 1932.
The win catapults the Bearcats into Saturday’s Class 6A finals against Huffman (29-5) in a game that is scheduled to tip off at 2:15 p.m., March 5.
The fast-paced, swarming Bearcats forced 26 Park Crossing turnovers and overcame 25 of their own, thanks in part to a team 21-of-27 free-throw performance. Garrison Sharpe led a balanced Cullman scoring attack with 20 points, five assists and three steals. He was 6-of-6 at the free-throw line. Tucker Cagle added 14 points, Tucker Gambrill had 3, Max Gambrill pitched in 12 and Tucker Apel had nine.
For Courtney Ward’s Thunderbirds (27-5), Aaron Brown scored 16 points, Deontavious Smith had 12 and Jayden Scott scored 11. Smith also turned in eight assists and four steals.
The Class 5A boys’ and girls’ semifinals continue in Wednesday’s second session and the Class 7A semis are scheduled for Thursday’s first session. Championship games begin Thursday with 1A girls and boys. Class 2A, 3A and 4A finals will be Friday. Classes 5A, 6A and 7A will conduct their title games on Saturday.
AHSAA 2022 State Basketball Championships
Birmingham Legacy Arena, Feb. 28-March 5
WEDNESDAY’S SCHEDULE/RESULTS
CLASS 6A
Girls’ Semifinals
Oxford (27-4) 70, Pelham (27-6) 67
Hazel Green (34-0) 74, Park Crossing (30-5) 54
Boys’ Semifinals
Huffman (29-5) 62, McGill-Toolen Catholic (29-5) 58
Cullman (28-3) 71, Park Crossing (27-5) 55
CLASS 6A CHAMPIONSHIP
6A Girls’ Finals
Oxford (27-4) vs. Hazel Green (34-0), March 5, 12:30 p.m.
6A Boys’ Finals
Huffman (29-5) vs. Cullman (28-3), March 5, 2:15 p.m.
CLASS 5A
Girls’ Semifinals
Charles Henderson (17-11) vs. Guntersville (28-5), Mar. 2, 3 p.m.
St. Paul’s Episcopal (18-11) vs. Lee-Huntsville (25-6), Mar. 2, 6 p.m.
Boys’ Semifinals
Carroll, Ozark (25-7) vs. Ramsay (26-9), Mar. 2, 4:30 p.m.
UMS-Wright (26-9) vs. Lee-Huntsville (24-6), Mar. 2, 7:30 p.m.
THURSDAY, MARCH 3 SCHEDULE
CLASS 7A
Girls’ Semifinals
Auburn (20-6) vs. Vestavia Hills (32-2), Mar. 3, 9 a.m.
Davidson (31-2) vs. Hoover (31-3), Mar. 3, noon
Boys’ Semifinals
Enterprise (23-6) vs. Spain Park (26-7), Mar. 3, 10:30 a.m.
Baker (31-3) vs. James Clemens (21-9), Mar. 3, 1:30 p.m.
CLASS 1A CHAMPIONSHIPS
1A GIRLS’ STATE FINALS
Skyline (28-8) vs. Marion County (28-7), Mar. 3, 4 p.m.
1A BOYS’ STATE FINALS
Decatur Heritage (21-7) vs. Covenant Christian (28-6), Mar. 3, 5:45 p.m.
