BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The 2022 AHSAA State semifinals continued on Wednesday at the BJCC. High School basketball teams only need two more wins to claim a blue map.
Class 6A Girls’ Semifinals Hazel Green 74, Park Crossing 54
Hazel Green High School senior Samiya Steele poured in 30 points Wednesday to lead the Lady Trojans to a 74-54 victory over Park Crossing as the 100th AHSAA State Basketball Championships continued Day 3 at the BJCC Legacy Arena. The triumph keeps Hazel Green’s quest for a fifth straight AHSAA girls’ state basketball title alive. The Trojans (34-0) of Coach Tim Miller came into the 2022 state tourney riding a streak of four consecutive state crowns. Hazel Green also extended its current winning streak to 58 with the semifinal win. The Trojans will face Oxford in the Class 6A gills’ championship game at Legacy Arena Saturday at 12:30 p.m. Steele was 11-of-16 from the field, 8-of-9 at the foul line, had eight rebounds and five assists. Nyla Collier added 18 points including nailing 4-of-5 3-point attempts. Leah Brooks also had 12 points, 10 rebounds and three blocked shots. Park Crossing (30-5), coached by Freeah Smith, was in the state tourney for the first time in the school’s short eight-year history. Alexis Andrews had 24 points and five rebounds to lead the Thunderbirds. She also sank 11-of-12 free throws. Saniya Jackson contributed 13 points and eight rebounds, and Kamore Smith added 11 points. Park Crossing’s 54 points are the most points Hazel Green has allowed during is four-state championship run. The Trojans came in averaging just over 30 points allowed per game.
Class 5A Girls’ Semifinals Guntersville 68, Charles Henderson 60
Guntersville High School junior guard Olivia Vandergriff score 21 points and sophomore guard Ivey Marsh had 20 Wednesday to lead the Wildcats past Charles Henderson 68-60 in the AHSAA 100th AHSAA State Basketball Championships Class 5A girls’ semifinals being held at the BJCC Legacy Arena.
Vandergriff also had five assists and Marsh canned four treys to help the Wildcats build a 20-point lead by halftime. Guntersville (29-5), coached by Kenny Hill, had to overcome a strong second-half comeback by the Trojans (17-10) of Coach Dyneshia Jones-Elder to secure their spot in Saturday’s Class 5A state finals. Charles Henderson guards Makayla Hobdy and Madison Ousley scored 26 and 21 points respectively, as the Trojans outscored the Wildcats 44-32 in the final two quarters. Hobdy also had seven rebounds, six assists and five steals while sinking 9-of-12 at the foul line. Ousley sank four 3-pointers. Ravin Williams also chipped in 11 points.
Class 5A Girls’ Semifinals Lee-Huntsville 53, St. Paul’s Episcopal 34
BIRMINGHAM – Lee-Huntsville High School’s girls’ basketball team made history Wednesday night. The Generals down St. Paul’s Episcopal 53-34 in the Class 5A semifinals as the AHSAA 100th AHSAA State Basketball Championships continued at BJCC Legacy Arena. The victory sends the rising program of Coach J. Silas into Saturday morning's state championship game at Legacy Arena for the first time in school history. And it comes one year after Lee-Huntsville’s boys won their second state title. The boys also reached the 2022 state tourney and was scheduled to play UMS-Wright in the Class 5A boys’ semifinals Wednesday night. Je’Niyah Silas, the daughter of Lee’s head coach, scored 20 points to led the Generals Wednesday. She was 5-of-6 at the free-throw line and made four 3-pointers. Defensively, she had a team high three steals. Limaya Batimba had nine points and Jayla Turner had eight points and two assists.
St. Paul’s (19-12), coached by Amanda Niehoff, reached the state semifinals for the first time since 2007. Ella Vallas had an exceptional game with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Rachel Bell had three assists and scored three points, all on four free-throw attempts.