Class 7A Girls’ Semifinal: Hoover 55, Auburn 36
BIRMINGHAM – Hoover High School’s Lady Bucs (31-1) relied on a tenacious defense to score 31 points as the result of turnovers and rolled into the AHSAA Class 7A state basketball finals beating Auburn 55-36 at UAB’s Bartow Arena Tuesday morning.
The victory for the Lady Bucs of Coach Krystle Johnson locked the Bucs into their ninth state championship game since 2009 – a stretch that resulted in state titles in 2018, 2017, 2013, 2012 and 2010. Hoover will meet the winner of the over 7A semifinal game to be played later Tuesday between Theodore and and Hewitt-Trussville in the 7A finals at 2 p.m., Wednesday.
Sophomore Reniya Kelly had 16 points, junior Aniya Hubbard added 12 points, a game-highs of 11 rebounds, seven steals and six assists. Layla Etchison chipped in 12 points, all coming on four 3-pointers, and five rebounds and point guard Jada Knight had seven points and four assists.
Auburn (17-6), coached by Courtney Pritchett, struggled with the Bucs’ pressure early but settled down to trail by just four after the first quarter, 19-15. Olivia Porter had 13 points and freshman Syriah Daniels finished with 10 despite missing more than a quarter of the game due to foul trouble.
Hoover won the rebound battle 34-23, finished with a 16-6 advantage in steals and a 23-16 advantage in turnovers caused. The Bucs also were 7-of-20 from the 3-point line and the Tigers, 1-of-10.
All semifinal and championship games are being live-streamed over the NFHS Network by AHSAA TV partner WOTM TV. All of Monday’s games at UAB’s Bartow Arena and Bill Harris Arena are also being televised live over the AHSAA TV Network and broadcast live over the AHSAA Radio Network.