‘Ongoing’

Oxford avenged emotional loss to Gadsden City in last year’s Northeast Regional final, once again moves one victory away from Final 48.

By Joe Medley
East Alabama Sports Today

JACKSONVILLE — The “mission” started when Oxford lost to Gadsden City in 2025’s classic Class 6A Northeast Regional final, Yellow Jackets’ coach Joel Van Meter said. 

How do his players define the mission a year later, now that Oxford avenged that loss?

“Ongoing,” they said to a man.

No. 1 is not done. Class 6A’s top-ranked team separated from No. 3 Gadsden City in the third quarter of their Northeast Regional semifinal Friday in Pete Mathews Coliseum and kept its distance, winning 53-45.

Oxford (27-4) advanced to Wednesday’s 10:45 a.m. regional against Homewood, once again moving to within one game of breaking through to the state semifinals for the first time ever.

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