By Rubin E. Grant
All season long, the Hoover girls basketball team downplayed its quest for a three-peat.
But after defeating Sparkman 55-44 to win their third consecutive Class 7A championship last Saturday at BJCC’s Legacy Arena, the Lady Bucs let loose with joyful exuberance.
“I’m on cloud nine right now,” senior guard Reniya Kelly said. “It’s very bittersweet. It’s my last ride. To go out with them – my teammates, my coaching staff – it means so much. It all paid off, the hard work, the sweat, the tears all paid off.”
Hoover coach Krystle Johnson pointed to the historical significance of the triumph.
“We’ve never had a three-peat in school history, so it’s a big deal.” Johnson said. “That’s always the mission, always the standard at Hoover – to win state. That’s the reason we put them through what we put them through.”
Following the girls’ victory, the Hoover boys made it a sweep of the 7A championships with an 84-66 victory against Central-Phenix City. Hoover is the first school to sweep both basketball championships in any classification since Tanner claimed both Class 2A crowns in 2011.
The Lady Bucs finished with a 35-1 record with their only loss coming to Class 6A semifinalist Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa 31-30 on Dec. 29.
The outcome in the championship game was never in doubt after an early 9-0 run enabled the Lady Bucs to take a 20-5 lead after one quarter. They extended it to 35-15 at halftime.
Hoover went on cruise control in the second half. The Senators (26-9) pulled within 51-43 with 1:32 to play but got no closer.
Kelly, who has signed with North Carolina, led Hoover with 25 points, six rebounds and three steals to earn MVP honors. She made 5 of 7 shots from 3-point range and was 4-of-4 at the free-throw line.
“She’s the best player in Hoover High School history,” Johnson said. “She’s the best basketball player in the state and has been for the last three years.”
Senior guard Layla Etchison added 20 points, sinking 8 of 14 shots from the field, and earned a spot on the 7A All-Tournament team along with teammate Alanah Pooler, who had four points, eight rebounds and two assists.
Hoover reached the title game with an 87-39 blowout of Prattville (23-5) in the semifinals on Thursday. Kelly led the Lady Bucs with 18 points and five steals. Layla Etchison added 16 points, four assists and six steals. Kristen McMillan scored 14 points and Ariana Peagler contributed 13 points.
Sparkman advanced with a 51-33 victory against Foley (23-6).
Hoover won its fourth state championship in the past five seasons and fifth in the past seven years.
“This feeling never gets old, because of the work that they put in to get to this stage,” Johnson. said. “It’s not something that you take for granted. Through the years, it never gets old. I remember every single one of them. I remember what color jerseys we wore and everything.
Being able to get this for our girls means the world.”
