Game eight — the main event of Day 1 at the 43rd Annual Huntsville City Classic — delivered everything it promised. In a battle between the top two teams in Class 3A, #1 Hale County outlasted #3 Whitesburg Christian 72–69 in overtime, closing the night with one of the most dramatic games of the event.
The contest swung back and forth throughout regulation before Hale County leaned on star power, toughness, and timely execution to escape in overtime.
2026 G Gage Mayfield, the #1 player in Alabama and a Top 50 national prospect, showed exactly why he carries that status. Mayfield finished with a dominant 34 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 steals, shooting 12-of-25 from the field and 10-of-11 from the free-throw line. He delivered the game-tying basket with three seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime, then helped close the door in the extra period. Remarkably, Mayfield scored just four points in the first half, yet still controlled the game late while logging all 37 minutes.
Omarr Lewis turned in a stellar all-around performance with 12 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block, committing just two turnovers. His activity and composure were crucial as the game tightened late.
2027 G Kaden Ragland-Morris was a force on both ends, posting 24 points, 16 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks, and 2 steals. While seven turnovers came with the aggressive workload, his physicality and production were vital throughout.
Whitesburg Christian matched Hale County punch-for-punch and nearly walked away with a statement win of its own.
Senior Thadd Landman had a big first half, finishing with 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting and 4-of-9 from three, with 14 of his points coming before the break to help Whitesburg control stretches of the game early.
2026 G Tripp Mason added 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists, providing steady scoring and playmaking as the Warriors pushed the game into overtime.
The Day 1 main event lived up to the billing. Hale County’s ability to make winning plays late — highlighted by Mayfield’s clutch shot and overtime composure — proved decisive in an instant-classic finish.
For Whitesburg Christian, the performance reinforced why the Warriors are firmly in the 3A title conversation, pushing the state’s top-ranked team to the limit.
Final Score: Hale County 72, Whitesburg Christian 69 (OT)
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