Monday 02/17 NE Region Game of The Day & Notable Performances

The game of the day was undoubtedly the matchup between the top-ranked Huffman Vikings and the unranked Gadsden City Titans—and it delivered on every expectation.   First Quarter   The Class 6A #1-ranked Vikings faced off against a determined Gadsden City squad, and the first two minutes set the tone for the game. Both teams came out aggressively on offense and played physically on defense, making it clear this would be a battle. Huffman found early offense through their leader, [player_tooltip player_id='1398555' first='Peyton' last='Wiggins'] (6'3/PG/'25/Huffman), whose lethal mid-range jumper got the Vikings going. Wiggins has developed into a next-level prospect with his on-the-ball creativity. Gadsden City turned to their rising star, [player_tooltip player_id='1599936' first='Devin' last='Barksdale'] (6'0/CG/'25/Gadsden City HS), who made an immediate impact on both ends of the court. Known for his scoring, Barksdale also sparked the Titans with key defensive plays, helping Gadsden City close the quarter with a 12-11 lead.   Second Quarter   The second quarter remained evenly matched, with Wiggins and Barksdale continuing their standout performances. Huffman's [player_tooltip player_id='2294735' first='Ke'Von' last='Walker'] (6'6/PF|C/'25/Huffman) capitalized on his size advantage, providing crucial interior scoring and cleaning the glass with 9 points and 10 rebounds by halftime. Gadsden City held their ground and went into the break leading 24-21.   Third Quarter   Huffman opened the second half with hustle plays and a momentum-shifting three-pointer from [player_tooltip player_id='1958830' first='Asa' last='Wood'] (5'10/PG/'26/Huffman HS), a two-way guard known for his defensive intensity and timely shooting. Meanwhile, Gadsden City's Kai Franklin (5'11/SG/'26/Gadsden City HS), who had struggled early, found his rhythm. Franklin showcased his scoring versatility, draining threes and attacking off the dribble to give the Titans a six-point lead midway through the quarter. However, Huffman responded with the aggressive play of [player_tooltip player_id='2788724' first='Timothy' last='Austin'] (6'2/CG/'25/Huffman), who added offensive punch and helped the Vikings close the gap. Gadsden City led 38-37 heading into the final quarter.   Fourth Quarter   With the score tied at 38 early in the fourth, both teams went all-in. Gadsden City's Franklin delivered clutch baskets and drew a momentum-shifting charge on defense. The unsung hero of the night was Jakobi Sharp (6'3/G|F/'26/Gadsden City), who stepped up with critical plays on both ends, including key rebounds against Huffman's frontline. Sharp displayed his scoring ability off the bounce, drew fouls, and converted free throws under pressure. In the closing minutes, Gadsden City handled Huffman's pressure and made key plays to secure a 60-46 upset, punching their ticket to the Elite 8.   Top Performers   Huffman:   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li class="has-medium-font-size">[player_tooltip player_id='1398555' first='Peyton' last='Wiggins']: 14 pts (7-17 FG, 0-4 3PT)</li>   <li class="has-medium-font-size">[player_tooltip player_id='2294735' first='Ke'Von' last='Walker']: 13 pts (3-7 FG, 0-1 3PT, 7-8 FT), 20 rebs</li> </ul>   Gadsden City:   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li class="has-medium-font-size">[player_tooltip player_id='1599936' first='Devin' last='Barksdale']: 18 pts (6-14 FG, 2-7 3PT, 4-4 FT)</li>   <li class="has-medium-font-size">Jakobi Sharp: 17 pts (5-15 FG, 1-5 3PT, 6-7 FT), 10 rebs</li> </ul>   Notable Performances from the Day   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/PH-Salim-London-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/PH-Salim-London-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2692363" /></a></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='1398516' first='Salim' last='London'] (6'6/CG/'25/Hoover)   IG: leemlondon   X: @IAmSalimLondon   Salim was one of my top players to watch entering the 7A Sweet 16, and he delivered. The UAB commit caught fire from behind the arc, shooting the ball with remarkable confidence and precision. He shot the ball as well as I have ever seen him shoot from three. His sharp shooting led Hoover to a dominant 70-36 win over Albertville.   Final Stats: 22 pts (8-14 FG, 6-9 3PT)   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/PH-JD-Gossett-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/PH-JD-Gossett-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2766190" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Huntsville HS Huntsville High School Basketball Program</figcaption></figure>   J.D. Gossett (6'5/PG/'25/Huntsville HS)   IG: jd_gossett5   X: @JD_Gossett5   JD was another one of my players to watch in the 7A Sweet 16, and his size compared to Vestavia's backcourt players was too much for them to overcome. He showed his all-around scoring arsenal as he scored from behind the arc, at the line, off the bounce, and by posting smaller guards. He has a strong body, is not afraid of physical play, and is a solid on-ball defender. He helped his team to a 79-57 win over Vestavia.    Final Stats: 22 pts (8-11 FG, 2-4 3PT, 4-8 FT)   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/PH-John-Robert-Towry-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/PH-John-Robert-Towry-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2613864" /></a></figure>   John Robert Towry (6'6/PF/'27/Vestavia Hills HS)   IG: Johnnytowry   X: @JohnnyTowr9236   John is another one of my players that I had in my players to watch before the 7A Sweet 16 got underway. Several people came up to me and asked about John, and they were impressed with his play and the fact that he is only a sophomore. His stock definitely rose with the caliber performance that he put on display. I was concerned with his ability to stand up to the physical play of Huntsville's interior players, but John did not back down one bit; he held his own and impacted both ends of the floor. His skill set is increasing, and every time I have seen him, he has shown me a little more to his game. Despite the loss to Huntsville, Vestavia has some really good young talent coming up, starting with John.    Final Stats: 14 pts (4-6 FG, 6-11 FT)   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/PH-Jaylen-Alexander-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/PH-Jaylen-Alexander-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2773292" /></a></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='1958808' first='Jaylen' last='Alexander'] (6'1/PG/'26/Oxford HS)   IG: j3ylen   X: @256Jaylen   In the 6A Sweet 16 match-up between Oxford and Mountain Brook, the Spartans found out, like every team that has faced Oxford this year, that [player_tooltip player_id='1958808' first='Jaylen' last='Alexander'] is 'That Guy.' the #1-ranked player in the 2026 class was nothing short of impressive. He scores the ball as well as anyone in the state and is pretty aggressive doing so, especially when he is slashing to the cup or hitting shots off the dribble in the midi or from behind the arc. He had one of his usual performances, leading his squad to a 61-45 win and a birth into the Elite 8.   Final Stats: 23 pts (8-14 FG, 2-5 3PT, 5-7 FT)   [player_tooltip player_id='2415265' first='Jack' last='Bakken'] (6'7/PF/'25/Mountain Brook)   IG: jackwb25   Jack finished his senior year after leading the Spartans to the Sweet 16. He had been a steady source of production for the Spartans all year, and without his play, the Spartans probably would not have made it this far. He is a tough interior prospect who plays extremely hard. I love how hard he plays on every possession as he battles on the post and fights relentlessly for rebounds, whether he boxes out or just follows the trajectory of the ball and goes after it with relentless pursuit.   Final Stats: 12 pts (5-8 FG, 0-1 3PT, 2-3 FT), 9 rebs   The day was filled with standout performances, upsets, and moments that will be remembered for a long time. As we move into the Elite 8, expect even more fireworks on the court. Stay tuned for more coverage and analysis of Alabama's high school basketball postseason action!   Up Next:   Thursday Feb. 20. 2025   Class 7A    10:45a Hoover vs Huntsville   Class 6A   2:15p: Oxford vs Gadsden City

The game of the day was undoubtedly the matchup between the top-ranked Huffman Vikings and the unranked Gadsden City Titans—and it delivered on every expectation.