Hoover Girls Advance, Boys Fall Short In Hoops Semis

BIRMINGHAM, AL - Hoover High School basketball had some highs and lows Thursday, as the girls team advanced to the championship game and the boys team came up short in a semifinal loss. The girls team will play Hewitt-Trussville Saturday.

The Lady Bucs defeated McGill-Toolen 57-49 in a tightly contested game that was decided late by a go-ahead basket by Reniya Kelly with just 42 seconds remaining in the game. Hoover’s Skyla Knight led top-ranked Hoover with 15 points.

Hoover will play No. 9 Hewitt-Trussville (21-10) in the championship game at 4 p.m. Saturday. The girls team will try to win its fifth state title this decade.

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The Hoover boys team faced Baker in the second semifinal game of the day. Although the Bucs trailed at the half, they were able to take the lead in the third quarter and held a one-point lead with under a minute to play. Baker hit clutch free throws in the last minute of the game to seal a 59-55 win.