Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

After a three-peat a handful of years ago, Thorsby High School reclaimed the top spot in the varsity boys Chilton County Basketball Tournament with a 78-58 win over Jemison High School in the final on Jan. 11. The Rebels posted impressive shooting percentages from the field, and specifically three-point range, to cruise in both games winning by an average of 17 points.

“That was the team that I thought I was going to have at the beginning of the year, and we have played good at times, but I think we played our best basketball in the tournament,” Thorsby head coach Russell Ricks said. “The team was hungry, and you could tell we wanted to win it. Everyone on the floor at both ends was giving it everything they had. I know that is coach speak, but everyone was 100% committed.”

After taking down the host school Chilton County High School in the semifinals, the next largest school in the county was on the Class 3A school’s radar. Braylon Carroll got things started with an and-one layup plus the ensuing free throw to jump out to a 5-1 lead. Jemison grabbed the lead 7-5 on back-to-back 3-pointers from CJ Kidd and Darion Slaughter, but it was the only lead the Panthers would have throughout the game.

Kidd led the Panthers in scoring with 15 points alongside Luke Gann. Slaughter checked in just behind with 12 points.

Thorsby responded with a 10-0 run that sparked a Jemison timeout, but the run continued after it as Aiden Seeley caught fire from 3-point range again. The senior hit five 3-pointers in the semifinal against CCHS. He equaled that number in the first half against Jemison going 5-for-5 to start from deep, boosting the Rebels to a 23-11 advantage after the first quarter.

Thorsby continued building into the second quarter with Lucas Jackson’s 3-pointer forced another Jemison timeout, but the Rebels added six points to their lead from the opening quarter — 39-22 at halftime.

Jemison made a quick 5-1 run coming out of the intermission and got the lead down to as little as 11 points. However, the Rebels withstood the push and were able to pull away in the second half for the 20-point win.

“(The final) was the best game we played all year, and we did not play bad (in the semifinals),” Ricks said. “We are coming around. After a late start to the season, we are playing three games a week and not getting a lot of practice time. Last week, we had had several days to practice and get some things ironed out, and we were just focused and playing at a little different level than what we have played all year.”

Thorsby’s county tournament win was their first since three consecutive championships from 2019-2021.

 

2025 All-County Tournament Team

Aiden Seeley, Thorsby High School (MVP)

Christian Davenport, Thorsby High School

Braylon Carroll, Thorsby High School

CJ Kidd, Jemison High School

Darion Slaughter, Jemison High School

Jordan Simon, Chilton County High School

Marshall Thornhill, Chilton County High School

Aidan Abbott, Maplesville High School

Nehemiah McCary, Maplesville High School

Garrett Price, Isabella High School

Caleb Price, Verbena High School