Valley continued its dominance in Class 5A basketball with a 62-53 win over Demopolis in the Central Regional final at Bill Harris Arena on Wednesday.

The second-ranked Rams were led by Cam Dooley’s 20-point, 12-rebound performance.

“We feel disrespected by several folks,” Valley coach Marshon Harper said. “We should be the top ranked team in Class 5A, but we aren’t.”

Valley, which went 33-0 last year, has lost only once in 24 games this season, falling to Class 7A Auburn in December.

“Everyone wanted us back in Birmingham,” Harper said. “Now, we are headed back with a chip on our shoulder.”

The Rams trailed by four points in the second quarter and rallied to a double-digit lead in the third quarter.

“Just like last year in the finals, coach woke us up at halftime,” said tournament MVP Dooley. “We want to go back-to-back.”

Valley and LaFayette high schools will merge into a new school at the end of the school year.

“I have been with these guys since third grade,” Harper explained. “It would be so special to finish on top and make history again.”

Brandon Thomas added 13 points and 10 rebounds while teammate Ian Crim-Davis chipped in 10 points in the win.

Demopolis, which ended the with a 19-6 record, was lead by Zamarian Johnson’s 20 points and Dalyn Jackson’s 18.