We don’t have a record of this comp being won by an Alabama group since 2003 with Opelika. (Note that we don’t have a record for 2006). Oak Mountain and Auburn both have realistic chances of winning this comp depending on who is judging. SCC has never been won by a non-regional group, with Wheaton South being the closest in 2011 taking Best Choreography from Clinton.
TVs and LED panels are becoming popular in the South (Clinton 2011 being the first to use TV screens that I am aware of), and if I counted correctly, there will be eight groups on stage this Saturday with either TVs or LED panels. May not sound like much, but that is 40% of performing groups, and based on community predictions, two of the five finalists have them as well.
Caption splits at the top have been rare at this comp, largely because Clinton is usually here to secure them all. However, in 2023, Petal was able to sweep over Glenwood. Brandon was able to get Vocals and Choreo here in 2022, but lost Overall Effect to Auburn. Community Predictions currently have Oak Mountain taking Vocals, Choreo, and 1st place. As close as they were to Clinton last year in Overall Effect, it seems that they almost have a lock on that caption. Having already seen Auburn and Oak Mountain last week, this competition appears to be a true tossup.
South Central Classic has the record in the South for the latest finish ever, when Network’s exhibition performance in 2004 happened at 2:30AM. If memory serves me well, Network used to perform after finals then, so awards were next at 3AM. Southern comps have a tendency to get behind, and this one is not immune to it even in recent years with the new construction. Final awards are currently slated for 11:45PM, meaning a finish before midnight. The only time I’ve seen that happen was last year.
Small Mixed
1 - Sylacauga
2 - Prattville
Vocals - Sylacauga
Choreography - Sylacauga
Overall Effect - Sylacauga
Univoice
1 - Oak Mountain
2 - Petal
3 - Wheaton South
Vocals - Oak Mountain
Choreography - Oak Mountain
Overall Effect - Oak Mountain