Vikings, Eagles hold state title rematch

RABBITTOWN - At the time, when East Hall met Mitchell-Baker for the Class AA boys state basketball title in 2000, it was a moment the Vikings had dreamed about for decades.

The Vikings were making their first-ever trip to the state championship game after three failed attempts in the semifinals of the Final Four and seemed a little out of place as the powerful Eagles rolled to a 105-76 win.

The two teams' will meet Monday in a 4 p.m. tip-off at Valhalla in the East Hall Challenge Battle of Champions. It's their first meeting since the 2000 finals.

For East Hall coach Seth Vining, just getting to the title game at that time was the defining moment for his program.

"That was a big game for us, but beating Randolph-Clay in the semifinals was really the game that pushed the program forward," Vining said. "If there was a defining moment, that was it. We had been to the Final Four three times but could never get a win to get a shot at the title. Once we beat Randolph, we knew then that we could win a big game. That was a big hurdle.

"Whether we had won against Mitchell-Baker or not, it would not have been a disappointment or a momentum builder. We knew we would be back again."

And they were. The next year East Hall stormed through the tournament, whipping Calhoun 78-67 in the Class AA finals to win their first-ever boys state title. Last year the Vikings demolished Hart County 81-47 to win the Class AAA title.

In Monday's matchup, the two programs are nearly identical.

The Vikings (15-3) are now a yearly favorite to make the finals while the Eagles, who have won six state titles since 1990 including last season, are also considered a strong contender for this year's title..

"They may not be as strong as they were then, but they're still a very good team," Vining said. "They still like to pressure you and run up-and-down the court. I expect it to be a fast, exciting game."

The Vikings also like to press and get most of their 87 points a game through transition baskets.

Frank Davis leads East Hall in scoring at 15 a game. Keldrick Coleman averages 11 and Brody Langston 10. All five of East Hall's starters average 9 points or better and the bench averages 30 points a game.

"I like the balance we have on offense and that will be a factor in whether or not we can beat them this time," Vining said. "I think we're playing very well but we could always get better."

Tickets are $5 at the door and a big crowd is expected for what Vining hopes will become an annual tradition on MLK Day.

"We would like to do this every year. The turnout could be a factor in whether we do it again, but this should be a tremendous game for fans of basketball," Vining said.