The Vestavia Hills boys’ and Hoover girls’ basketball teams took vastly different routes to the state Final Four last week, but both sadly ended the week in Disappointment Alley.
The Vestavia Hills boys’ and Hoover girls’ basketball teams took vastly different routes to the state Final Four last week, but both sadly ended the week in Disappointment Alley.Once again Rebel coach George Hatchett proved he is the best post-season coach anywhere by taking a Vestavia team with only 11 regular season victories to within one quarter of playing for the state 6A championship. The Rebels battled gamely as they pretty much ran out of gas in the fourth quarter of their 65-59 loss to Murphy of Mobile.Vestavia put itself behind the proverbial eight ball early on when aces William Truss and Patrick Prewitt got into early foul trouble. For a while, however, it looked like good offensive penetration and a high shooting percentage might be enough to give the Rebels the victory.Unfortunately, Vestavia hit a cold streak at just the wrong time, and the Panthers took control late to seal the victory.The Rebels’ final record was only 15-18, but few Vestavia loyalists will remember anything about the season besides their team’s memorable dash through late February.On the other hand, Hoover’s girls dominated the regular season and the post-season tournaments with a sparkling 32-3 record, and few expected the Lady Bucs not to reach the Class 6A Final Four. Hoover lived up to its billing, crushing most of its opposition by impressive scores.Often, however, the Lady Bucs’ games became so one-sided so quickly that at times, the team seemed to lose focus and intensity, a characteristic that drew the ire of Coach Donnie Quinn. The lapses were more understandable when you consider that Hoover had only one senior on its varsity roster, so some of the mistakes were the natural outgrowth of youthfulness.At the BJCC, it appeared early on that Hoover might have gotten rid of some of those intensity problems. In the semifinal against Blount, the Lady Bucs reversed form by starting off sloppily before stepping on the gas for an impressive 67-38 blowout.Hoover did show a few chinks in its armor, however, as it shot an uninspiring 45 percent from the field and a particularly dismal 35 percent from the free throw line.The Lady Buc machine seemed to be hitting on all cylinders in the much-anticipated state final against Bob Jones. Hoover moved to a 28-18 advantage midway through the third quarter before all the little problems the team had experienced all season magnified into big ones.Incredibly, Hoover sank only three field goals in the entire second half and shot a weak 14 percent from the field. The Lady Patriots’ strong defensive effort had a lot to do with Hoover’s second half woes, but the defending champions also missed a lot of easy buckets.The result was a 39-36 loss that had to leave Lady Bucs fans shaking their heads in dismay.Despite the disappointing finishes, 2010-2011 was probably a portent of more good times for both Vestavia and Hoover. Hatchett will say goodbye to seven seniors, but good young talent like Anton Cook (just a sophomore) and Bayrn Houston will give the Rebels a solid base to build on next year.And again, if any coach in Alabama has earned the honor of “Mr. February,” it’s Hatchett.Hoover’s girls’ program, as outstanding as it has been under the leadership of Quinn and former coach Lori Elgin, is probably going to get even better. With only one senior departing, the Lady Bucs will add some impressive newcomers to its varsity roster.Barring an unprecedented rash of injuries or bad luck, Hoover will probably enjoy another 30-plus win season in 2012, with the only question being whether the team can get the job done in March.Incidentally, the Hoover-Bob Jones rivalry in girls’ basketball just might be the best one going in Alabama high school athletics these days. The Lady Bucs and Lady Patriots have played for the state 6A title for the past two seasons, with each winning once.Hoover and Bob Jones also squared off four times this season. They split the series, but of course, the Lady Patriots won the one that meant the most.Don’t shed any tears for Hoover, however. Despite Saturday’s setback, Quinn’s Orange Powerhouse will likely keep rolling on.
