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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Maplesville High School has claimed a share of their area championship, finished with a perfect record at home and built their second lengthy win streak within the last week. The Red Devils built a five-game win streak after their win over Francis Marion High School 50-27 on Jan. 23.

The win moved Maplesville to 11-2 overall this season and 6-1 in Class 1A Area 7 play, tied atop the area standings with Francis Marion. The Red Devils are doing it with their defense. During the five-game winning streak, Maplesville did not allow their opponents to score over 37 points — holding them to an average of 32 points.

“We live on our defense,” Maplesville head coach Undra Rush said. “They are playing team ball, and now their shots are starting to fall. When you put a great defense and shots falling together, that is a good combination.”

Maplesville got a very late start to the season with its first game coming on Dec. 10, and an immediate area opponent to boot. However, the Red Devils combatted the fast and furious start to their season with limited practice time and won their first five games before Francis Marion handled them in the reverse fixture of Jan. 23, 46-22 — their only Class 1A Area 7 loss.

Maplesville was knocked out of the 2025 Chilton County Basketball Tournament narrowly by Jemison High School 51-50 in the semifinals on Jan. 8. Since then, the second five-game winning streak of the season was compiled — including a 43-37 win over county tournament champions Thorsby High School on Jan. 13 in the first game for both teams after the tournament.

The Red Devils were tripped up on the road against Dallas County High School on Jan. 24, 56-51, to end the five-game winning streak. Nehemiah McCary led Maplesville with a double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds, followed by Chris Simon with 12 points and three assists. Jakobe Nix and Aidan Abbott each had 11 points, and Nix knocked down three 3-pointers.

Maplesville bounced back the next day taking their final area game over the season 61-27 over Breakthrough Charter School to finish 7-1 in the area and clinch a share of the area championship. The win also finished the Red Devils’ season on their home court with a perfect 8-0 record. Simon led all scorers with 16 points, followed by Devon Nix with 13 points and six assists. McCary tallied another double-double with 10 points and 17 rebounds.

Rush said he is confident in his team going into the Class 1A Area 7 Tournament, and added that he hopes the Red Devils can carry this momentum over and propel them into a deep playoff run, this time on the hardwood.

“If we keep playing ball the way we are now, tighten up some stuff and see where the chips fall,” Rush said.

Maplesville received votes in the latest Alabama Sports Writers Association high school basketball rankings in boys Class 1A on Jan. 23.