By Rubin E. Grant
Hoover’s boys basketball team ended December with an 18-2 record, but third-year Bucs head coach Scott Ware isn’t putting much stock in the mark.
That’s because the Bucs posted a 16-3 record at the turn of the calendar last season but finished 5-7 and was eliminated in the area tournament.
“We’re super happy to be 18-2, but we haven’t won anything,” Ware said a few days before Hoover played its Class 7A, Area 5 opener last Friday at Thompson.
The challenging area also includes Vestavia Hills and Tuscaloosa County.
“7A overall is tough period and our area might be the toughest in 7A with us, Vestavia, Thompson and Tuscaloosa County,” Ware said. “You have to be up and ready to go every night or you will lose.”
The Bucs were up and ready for Thompson, defeating the Warriors 54-45 while using the balanced attack that has worked so well for them this season.
Sophomore swingman Salim London led Hoover with 15 points and four rebounds. Senior forward Jonathan Caicedo posted a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds and 6-foot-6 sophomore center DeWayne Brown scored eight points and pulled down nine rebounds. Sophomore guard Jarett Fairley had nine points and three assists.
“We’ve got a good group of guys,” Ware said. “It’s been a different guy every night. We’ve got two or three guys averaging in double figures and some others who are hovering between seven and nine points. When you have multiple guys capable of scoring, the other teams can’t plan for just one or two guys.
“I’m sure some teams go in planning to stop a couple of our guys. One is DeWayne Brown and the other is Salim London. DeWayne has size and great hands and Salim was honorable mention all-state last year as a freshman.”
Brown is averaging 16 points and 11 rebounds, and London is averaging 14.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists.
Caicedo, who is a 6-7 transfer from Orlando, Florida, is one of two seniors in the starting lineup. The other is guard Elijah Herron. The Bucs also have two seniors coming off the bench, forward Jake Hatch and guard Noah McAfee.
“Our seniors are great leaders,” Ware said. “They have pulled together and have pulled this team together.”
Junior Elijah Thomas and sophomores Seneca Robinson and Cam Torbor are talented reserves.
Ware likes the way his team has come together.
“The guys have worked hard,” he said. “We had a great offseason and a great summer. The good thing about us is this is a team. The guys are playing for the name on the front of the jersey and it doesn’t matter who gets the credit.”
Hoover (19-2) has won 13 consecutive games since a narrow 54-50 setback at crosstown rival Spain Park on Dec. 2. This week the Bucs were scheduled to play two more area games, at home Tuesday against Vestavia Hills and on the road Friday at Tuscaloosa County.
The glossy record hasn’t raised Hoover’s expectations for the rest of the season.
“We have high expectations anyway,” Ware said. “You walk into our gym and you see all the championship banners from different sports. Our ultimate goal is to play the last game of the season. To get there, we’re going to have take one day at a time and one game at a time. Basketball is marathon. You can’t just hit little sprints.”
