By Lee Davis
The Homewood girls basketball team had a unique problem in the 2016-17 season.
With virtually every starter back from a squad that had reached the Class 6A finals the past two seasons, few were concerned about how many games the Lady Patriots would win.
The real concern was which game they might lose.
Even Homewood coach Kevin Tubbs put his team’s unusual dilemma in perspective: “Some people will say we had a bad season if we don’t win the state championship.”
It’s all about the expectation. Two years ago, the Lady Patriots’ star-studded freshman class led Homewood to its first-ever girls state crown. The following season, the Lady Patriots reached the finals again but lost badly to LeFlore. So the question for many Homewood fans wasn’t whether their team would reach the finals again. The real question was what would happen when they got there.
“We’ve been on both sides of it,” Lady Patriot point guard Hannah Barber said. “We know how it feels to win, and we know how it feels to lose.”
And as Homewood already knew, winning is a whole lot better.
The Lady Patriots earned their second Class 6A championship with a close 52-49 win over Hazel Green in Saturday’s final at the BJCC’s Legacy Arena. Homewood led from start to finish and held double digit leads for significant portions of the game before holding off a furious Lady Trojan charge at the end.
“I was very impressed with the focus and seriousness our team had in the locker room before the game,” Tubbs said. “We were ready to play. It was important that we controlled the tempo. I told our girls that if the score was in the 40s, we’d lose.” But 52 proved to be enough.
With juniors Ajah Wayne and Tori Webb dominating the scoring, the Lady Patriots moved to a 26-14 halftime lead, as Homewood’s tenacious defense held its opponent to a paltry 19 percent shooting percentage from the field. Hazel Green rallied in the second half, using five three-point baskets to cut the margin to 50-49 with 12 seconds to play.
As Homewood attempted to run out the clock, the Lady Trojans fouled Wayne, who calmly sank a pair of free throws to seal the score at 52-49.
A desperation three-point shot by Hazel Green’s Caitlin Hose missed as the clock ticked toward zero. The ball was rebounded by Barber, who heaved it down the court as the final buzzer sounded.
“I was afraid that if they fouled us, Hazel Green might get another possession,” Barber explained. “So I just threw it as far as I could.”
Wayne was outstanding in the victory, scoring 19 points and bagging 12 rebounds. Webb scored 16 points with seven rebounds. Barber finished with eight points and five boards. Kalia Cunningham scored six points, including two crucial free throws in the final minute of play.
For the Homewood players, the second blue trophy in three years was at least as precious as the first one.
“The first year (Homewood won), it was kind of a shock,” Wayne said. “I didn’t really expect it. This time, it’s really special.”
Barber agreed. “When we lost last year, it was a terrible feeling,” she said. “We didn’t ever want to feel that way again. Now we fully understand how great it is to win.”
And with only two seniors on the squad, Homewood is almost certain to feel the intense glare of expectations in 2017-18.
“It’s sort of wash, rinse and repeat with this group,” Tubbs said. “I don’t think they’ll let the expectations fall.”
They probably won’t. With two pieces of championship hardware already in their trophy case, the Lady Patriots have plenty of room for one more.
