Midfield holds on to defeat Sumter Central in semis

Anna Snyder

BIRMINGHAM — Midfield boys basketball defeated Sumter Central 64-61 in the AHSAA basketball Class 3A boys semifinals on Tuesday morning at Legacy Arena.

The Patriots held the lead for 6:06 of the game compared to Sumter Central leading for the remaining 22:15, but six minutes was all the Patriots needed to claim victory. They advance to the boys Class 3A state championship game, where they will face the winner between Hillcrest-Evergreen and Geraldine at 2:15 p.m. Friday.

Sumter Central's Jonathan Fitch finished the game with 21 points and five rebounds. Clarton finished with 16 points, five rebounds and four assists. Midfield's Jaden Sellers finished with 19 points and four rebounds while Aaron

Adams-Martin finished with 15 points.

After trading the lead throughout the first half, Sumter Central took its first lead of the game at 15-13 with 1:16 remaining in the first quarter. The Jaguars held the lead for the rest of the first half, taking the 29-26 edge going into the break. Emmanuel Clarton scored more than half of the Jaguars first half points, scoring 16 and shooting 46.2% (6-of-13) from the field across the first two quarters.

The game remained close throughout the stretch, with the teams battling for the lead. Midfield regained the lead at 62-60 with 0.31 seconds remaining behind a clutch 3-pointer by Sellers, a lead which it never gave up. Sumter Central had two chances to tie the game or take the lead on its ensuing possessions, but it was unable to do so as the Patriots held on for the win.

Anna Snyder covers high school sports for The Tuscaloosa News.