Confident Oxford
- Updated: February 17, 2025
Yellow Jackets come out firing against Mountain Brook, stand one victory away from first modern-era Final Four berth.
By Joe Medley
East Alabama Sports Today
JACKSONVILLE — Confidence and shooting have eluded Oxford’s boys in Northeast Regionals past. The Yellow Jackets brought both in bunches to Monday’s Class 6A regional semifinals.
Four different Oxford players hit at least two 3-pointers, and the Yellow Jackets held Mountain Brook to one trey to advance to the regional final, 60-45, in Pete Mathews Coliseum.
Seeking the program’s first modern-era Final Four berth, Oxford (24-6) will play Gadsden City on Thursday at 2:15 winner.
Oxford is making its 13th regional appearance and seventh since 2017. The Yellow Jackets just clinched their first crack at the regional finals and hope to make program history with a trip to Birmingham.
“We’re not done, but when you put your faith into something, and you learn how to love, this is what happens … ,” 15th-year Oxford coach Joel Van Meter said. “That’s what our locker room has learned to do. They’ve learned to love each other and give God all the glory for what happens, and we’ll live with it.”
The Yellow Jackets hit nine of 15 3-pointers against Mountain Brook. With a defensive plan to push Spartan shooters off of the 3-point line, Oxford held them to 1-for-8 shooting.
Oxford’s Marcus Perry Jr. went 3-for-5, Jaylin Taylor and Chris Latson 2-for-2 and Jaylen Alexander 2-for-5.
Alexander led Oxford with 23 points to go with six assists. Latson added 14 points, Perry 11 and Taylor 10.
Center Jack Bakken led Mountain Brook with 12 points and nine rebounds, and Mac Couvillion added 10 points. The Spartans outscored Oxford 40-18 in the paint, but Oxford gave something to get something.
“That’s where they hurt you,” Van Meter said. “They hurt you from the 3-point line, and we had a good game plan. My assistants came up with a great game plan of how to guard them, and we executed it.”
Oxford hit seven of 10 3-pointers on the way to shooting 68.8 percent from the floor in the first half. The Yellow Jackets led 32-23 at halftime.
They blew the game open by outscoring Mountain Brook 20-9 in the fourth quarter.
Van Meter partly credited a nine-day layoff between their subregional game and regional opener. They practiced seven times.
“We did not have one bad day,” he said. “Guys were confident. Guys were energetic. Guys had passion. Guys were caring for each other.
“When do that and come out on the floor, our biggest thing was be fearless, man. Be on the attack. Don’t check up at any point. When you play that way, that’s what happens, and let’s be honest. We’ve got good players.”
The storyline that’s developed through Oxford’s season involves much help surrounds Alexander, a top point guard prospect with offers including top-ranked Auburn. Perry, a 3-point shooter, and forward Jayden Lewis have produced from the start. Taylor has gotten hottest late this season.
Latson’s shooting against Mountain Brook (26-6) was the revelation.
“You’ve got Jaylen, who’s a multiple-star point guard, and then you have multiple guys that are just ripping threes and are confident,” Mountain Brook coach Tyler Davis said. “The guy we really had on the scout, Latson, we didn’t really have him as a shooter, and he ripped threes like he’s Larry Bird out there.”
One Latson three put Oxford up 29-23 at 1:31 of the second quarter, the other 49-43 at 5:06 of the fourth. Van Meter’s confidence in the sophomore’s shooting has grown since New Year.
“I think it’s great for this young man to be able to step up and have the confidence to stick balls in the rim,” Van Meter said. “These guys have confidence in him doing that.
“He would tell you, two months ago, I might be a little bit skeptical about him shooting that shot. Now, I’m mad if he doesn’t shoot it.”
It all goes into the making of what’s widely believed to be Oxford’s best boys’ team in years. The rest comes down to how hungry the Yellow Jackets are to make history.
“Very hungry,” Alexander, Perry, Taylor and Latson said in chorus when asked after Monday’s game.
“We’re just taking a step every day,” Alexander said. “I’d just say it’s not being satisfied. We’re playing with a chip on our shoulder.”
It comes back to confidence, Van Meter said.
“These guys believe they can do it,” he said. “Belief is huge, and that’s what we’ve talked about … believing that you can take that next step and believing that you can get better every day.”
Photo gallery by Joe Medley, Greg Warren
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