BIRMINGHAM — The South Lamar boys basketball team fell just short of a Final Four bid in a 61-40 loss to Calhoun in the Class 1A AHSAA central regional final on Wednesday at Bill Harris Arena.

The Stallions had built a 17-13 lead by the end of the first period, but a 12-0 run by the Tigers to close out of the first half up 32-20 gave them momentum South Lamar was unable to counter. From there, Calhoun outscored South Lamar 29-20 in the second half, going on to punch its ticket to the Final Four.

The loss marks the end of a successful season for South Lamar. They finished the season going 29-9, along with winning the Class 1A, Area 9 regular season and area tournament. The season they had this year, along with their trip to the Elite 8, is something coach Chris Tucker said nobody expected from his team, not even some of his players.

"I'm proud of them. They gave me their all all-year long," Tucker said. "Nobody expected them to be here. They just stuck to the course, stuck to the process, and they made it to the Elite 8. Even themselves did not think they were going to make it. I told them at the beginning of the year you have a chance at the Final Four if you do things right, and they changed."

Despite the season coming to an end with the loss, South Lamar players reflected on the success it saw this season, with senior Charles Neal saying it was his favorite season wearing a Stallions jersey.

"(This season) meant a lot to me," Neal said. "It's my senior year and by far the best year. I have been playing my whole high school career, and this is probably the best one. Like coach said, nobody thought we would be here. I mean nobody, but us. But they will be back next year and even further."

Freshman Kye Crimm finished the night leading South Lamar with 12 points and three rebounds. As a freshman, Crimm was part of the Stallions starting five, the only freshman to do so. Moving forward, he will be a big part of the South Lamar program.

"I mean nobody expected us to be here," Crimm said. "I am just a freshman, but I love those seniors. We are going to come back next year just as well ... It's like taking redemption back. We will get them next year. Same team next year."

Crimm is not the only one who shared that sentiment that the Stallions' will be back in years to come.

"We'll be back," Tucker said with a smile.

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Anna Snyder covers high school sports and University of Alabama softball and football recruiting for The Tuscaloosa News. Reach her at asnyder@gannett.com. Follow her on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, @annaesnyder2

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: AHSAA regionals: South Lamar boys fall to Calhoun, look ahead to next year