BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Buckhorn & Hazel Green scored come-from-behind victories in their respective Class 6A semifinal games. The Lady Trojans & Bucks will defend their titles on Saturday.
Hazel Green beats Hillcrest, will play for 7th Straight State Title
Hazel Green High School's powerful girls' basketball team ran into a speedbump on its highway to seven, but not a roadblock.
Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (27-8), coached by Nick Browder, jumped out to a 16-4 lead and made five first-half 3-pointers to build a halftime lead against the six-time defending Class 6A champion Trojans in Wednesday's state semifinals at the BJCC's Legacy Arena.
Hazel Green (29-4) regrouped at halftime and turned up the defensive pressure in the second half to earn a 52-38 victory and keep its drive for a seventh straight state championship alive.
"It was not our best first half, but Hillcrest played really well in the first half," Hazel Green coach Tim Miller said. "They really shot it well. It's what a final four game is supposed to be like."
What was the halftime message from Miller? "He was just saying the second half is our half and just to keep playing," Hazel Green senior Leah Brooks said.
Hazel Green, playing in its 10th straight state semifinal, advances to Saturday's championship game. Tip-off is set for Saturday at 12:30 p.m., against Huffman (24-8) or Park Crossing (29-1), which play later today in the other Class 6A state semifinal.
It will the Trojans' eight straight trip to the championship game, having lost to Homewood in 2017 before reeling off an AHSAA-record six straight state titles.
Zyriah Price and Kristen Johnson led Hazel Green with 13 points apiece, and Brooks, an Alabama signee, added 12 points, 14 rebounds and three assists.
Jareah Branch paced Hillcrest with 15 points, 12 coming on four 3-pointers, and Blakeley Nixon added eight points, six rebounds and three assists.
Hazel Green extended its perimeter defense in the second half to take away Hillcrest's effective 3-point shooting, leading to the Trojans taking their first lead, at 24-23 on Price's only 3-point goal midway through the third quarter. Johnson's 3-pointer with 6:11 remaining gave the Trojans a four-point lead at 36-32. Hazel Green ended the game on a 19-7 run.
"We got a little lax defensively (in the second half) and I really think that was the difference," Browder said. "You've got to tip your hat to Hazel Green for making adjustments."
Buckhorn's Caleb Holt leads Bucks past Helena in Class 6A semifinals
When Buckhorn High School's basketball team needed someone to make a play, sophomore Caleb Holt delivered repeatedly in Wednesday's
AHSAA State Basketball Championships Class 6A semifinal game versus Helena.
Holt gave Buckhorn its first lead over tenacious Helena by making a buzzer-beating, left-handed layup at the third-quarter buzzer. Then, in the first three minutes of the fourth quarter, Holt blocked a shot, took a charge, dished an assist, grabbed a steal and made two free throws to build an eight-point lead.
The Bucks (27-5) pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 60-47 victory over the Huskies (24-8). "Once again, it was win or go home," Holt said. "I hate to lose. I do whatever it takes to win. I don't want to let my team down." Holt finished with 37 points, seven rebounds, six steals, four assists and three blocked shots. He scored 26 points in the second half.
"Caleb again had another special performance," Buckhorn coach Patrick Harding said.
Defending Class 6A state champion Buckhorn advances to Saturday's championship game. Holt was named the tournament MVP last year and took a big step toward winning the award again should his team emerge as the state champion again with Wednesday's performance.
"We had a hard time staying in front of him in the second half," Helena coach Lucas McDonald said. "He's so good."
Fred Derrick added 10 points, four rebounds and three steals for Buckhorn. Josh Williams led Helena (24-8) with 17 points, seven rebounds, five steals and three assists. Ian Johnigan added 12 points, and Joseph King scored nine points.
Helena made its first trip to the state tournament. "Nobody expected us to be sitting at the final four at the beginning of the year," McDonald said. "This group accomplished so much and surprised a lot of people by getting here."
Buckhorn advances to play in Saturday's title game against Mountain Brook (27-7), Tip-off for Saturday's championship game is set for 2:15 p.m.