With the absence of leading scorer and Alabama signee RJ Johnson for the past nine games, Grissom coach Jack Doss has been looking for others to step up.

He found that tonight in Izzy Miles and DJ Thompson, who combined for 33 points in Grissom’s 57-44 victory over Oak Mountain during a 256-205 Challenge game at Oak Mountain.

“They believed in what we were doing, finally,” Doss said.

The 256-205 Challenge pits eight Huntsville area teams against eight Birmingham area teams over the next few weeks. In another Monday game, Vestavia Hills beat Muscle Shoals.

Other games in the challenge are Huntsville at Pinson Valley, Wednesday; Haleyville at Midfield, Friday; Ramsay at Sparkman, Jan. 24; Shades Valley at Gadsden City, Jan. 28; Spain Park at James Clemens, Jan. 30 and Thompson at Florence, Feb. 2.

Grissom led 19-11 after the first quarter and 33-23 at the half, but Oak Mountain closed the gap to two points in the third period before Grissom took a 41-37 into the fourth quarter.

The Class 7A ninth-ranked Tigers (19-6) converted 8-of-11 free throws in the final quarter to seal the victory.

“They punched us in the mouth a couple of times and our guys responded,” Doss said. “It was a great win for our team. It’s tough playing down here.”

Miles made 5-of-6 free throw attempts in the fourth quarter and 8-of-10 in the game, finishing with a game-high 18 points. He celebrated his 18th birthday on Sunday.

“There’s a lot of pressure on him,” Doss said. “He has to carry this team and I thought tonight he stepped up and said, ‘I’m a man I can do this.’”

Thompson added 15 points and Justin McCall scored 10 for the Tigers.

Tre’ Thomas led Oak Mountain with 13 points.

Vestavia Hills 66, Muscle Shoals 58

Three players scored double-digits to lead Class 7A second-ranked Vestavia Hills over Class 6A eighth-ranked Muscle Shoals in another 256-205 Challenge game.

Jackson Weaver scored 17 points, Nate Harris scored 13 and Jordan Ross had 11 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocks for the Rebels (18-4).