R.C. Hatch Holds Off Oakwood Adventist to Earn A Spot in the Class 1A Boys Title Game

BIRMINGHAM, AL – The R.C. Hatch Bobcats, ranked No. 9 in Class 1A, are set to compete for their 11th state basketball title on Thursday evening. The team earned its place in the championship by defeating No. 3 Oakwood Academy 65-61 in an intense semifinal matchup held Monday at Legacy Arena.

The Bobcats (23-4) will face the No. 8 Brantley Bulldogs in the Class 1A final, scheduled for 5:45 p.m. on Thursday. Brantley advanced after defeating Hubbertville in the earlier semifinal game.

R.C. Hatch took control during the third quarter, building their largest lead of the game—52-41—following two free throws by Isaiah Thomas and a buzzer-beating tip-in by Merion Jones. Jones delivered an all-around stellar performance, finishing the game with 19 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals. Despite managing foul trouble, Thomas contributed 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists.

Oakwood Adventist Academy (25-9) made a fierce comeback attempt, opening the fourth quarter with a 16-6 scoring run. A pivotal 3-pointer by Jaiden Morton narrowed the deficit to 58-57 with just 2:25 remaining.

The game’s tension heightened as R.C. Hatch’s LaVonte Witherspoon and Oakwood’s Austin Germono exchanged crucial 3-pointers, bringing the score to 61-60 in favor of the Bobcats. Frederick Wilson’s layup provided Hatch a slim 63-60 lead before Germono was fouled on a last-second 3-point attempt with 8.9 seconds left. However, Germono only managed to convert one of the three free throws, diminishing Oakwood’s chances. Overall, Oakwood struggled from the free-throw line, shooting just 6-of-15.

The game culminated with Theotis Dudley sealing the Bobcats’ victory with a crowd-pleasing dunk in the final moments.

Key Player Stats 

  • R.C. Hatch: 
    • Theotis Dudley: 12 points, 11 rebounds, 8 blocks, 3 assists, 2 steals 
    • Frederick Wilson: 12 points 
    • Merion Jones: 19 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists 
    • Isaiah Thomas: 13 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists 
  • Oakwood Academy: 
    • Austin Germono: 22 points, 9-of-20 shooting 
    • Dylon Pognon: 22 points, 10 rebounds 
    • Jaiden Morton: 8 points 

R.C. Hatch will aim to add another championship to its storied legacy on Thursday. Basketball fans can expect an exciting showdown as the Bobcats take on Brantley for the Class 1A state title.

PrepsNet

PrepsNet
High School Sports Live Here.