GDW Analysis:
HANCEVILLE: Class 7A got Valentine's Day started Friday with loveable games from the Northwest Regional at Wallace State Community College.
Two girls teams came to Tom Drake Coliseum with lofty impressions.
Hillcrest Tuscaloosa is No. 1 in the final state ranking.
Bob Jones earned a No. 4 recognition.
Hillcrest is in the Northwest regional after the last two years playing in the Central from Bill Harris Arena in Birmingham.
Bob Jones is eager to get back to the championship round and try to offset losing in the 2024 title game to Hoover.
Bob Jones moved from the Sweet 16 to the Elite 8 in running away from Thompson 79 to 42. The Lady Patriots improved to 21 & 8 as they accounted for 48 points between the 2nd and 3rd period.
Thompson, just 11 & 13 and a young team, took it to Bob Jones and had the battle even at 16 to 16 after 8:00.
Bob Jones unloaded with a 25 to 8 run in the 2nd and led at the break 41 to 25.
The Lady Patriots took a 64 to 32 lead into the 4th and enjoyed finishing the game with a running clock.
Ja'kyah Smith stormed Thompson with 27 points on 10 of 13 FGs, 4 of 7 treys. Ella Watts contributed 14 to the tally.
Kaylee Henderson and Kayla Russell both delivered 13 to the Thompson side of the scoreboard.
Hillcrest Tuscaloosa 72, Florence 47:
The game experienced a delay when a fire alarm sounded off during halftime. Hillcrest led Florence 37 to 25 at the break.
The alarm caused the Coliseum to be evacuated for safety purposes.
The game resumed at 1:25 p.m. according to Gameday Weekly. Hillcrest had a 35 to 22 scoring edge in the final half, earning a berth to the regional final with their No. 1 state ranking and 29 wins out of 2 games.
Sky Latham led a balanced Hillcrest group with 18, Trinity Braggs had 12, Kyree Patrick 11, Blakely Nixon 13 and Jareah Branch 12.
Florence ends the year 15 & 13.
Cassidy Thomas topped the Lady Falcons with 15, Journee Hawkins scored 12.
The 7A championship will be Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. from the Coliseum and live on the NFHS Network.
Photo of No. 1 Hillcrest Tuscaloosa Lady Patriots in pregame before playing Florence in the NW Regional at Wallace State Friday afternoon.
GDW photo by Johnny Thornton.
