The CCHS boys varsity won their third straight county basketball championship on Jan. 7. (Photos by Brandon Sumrall/Special)

Chilton County High School did its part to secure bragging rights on the hardwood for the next year, after winning the varsity boys, varsity girls and junior varsity championships on Saturday, Jan. 7.

The sweep was completed once the varsity boys finished off Jemison 57-47. It was the third consecutive boys tournament championship for Chilton County.

Pressure defense was the key early on for Chilton County, as the Panthers struggled at times to clear it and the result was turnovers and points at the other end for the Tigers.

According to Jemison senior guard Wes McGehee, it took a little longer than expected to adapt to Chilton County’s full-court pressure defense.

“It was hectic there for a while in the first quarter,” McGehee said.

Chilton County held a 32-23 lead at the half, and despite Jemison making runs in the second half the Tigers continually had an answer to extend its lead once again.

Mondez Jones finished with a double-double of 27 points and 14 rebounds to lead Chilton County, including stringing together multiple baskets to end the first and fourth quarters.

It was a game that featured skill and physicality, as the Tigers pounded the ball into the post with Damian Wilson.

Damian Wilson of CCHS (No. 52) muscles his way in the post.

There were two highlight-reel dunks in the game, from Jemison’s Ryan Thompson on an alley-oop and Jones on a breakaway that helped put an exclamation point on the outcome.

Thompson led the Panthers with 14 points.

“It’s all about the intensity that surrounds the games,” McGehee said. “The entire county comes out to watch, and you enjoy playing in that atmosphere.”

Jemison defeated CCHS earlier in the regular season on Dec. 9, but could not replicate the success that they had that night.

The Tigers look to use the victory as a springboard into the remainder of the season and area play.

“It’s been and up and down season thus far, but this is something that they can hang their hat on,” Chilton County head coach Deon Timmons said. “We beat a good quality program on the floor tonight.”