If only.
If only Hoover would have hung on to its 30-24 halftime lead. If only the Buccaneers would have done just a few of the little things it has done during an otherwise perfect season. If only it wouldn’t have committed 30 turnovers.
Hoover's Meghan Dunn had big game against St. Mary's.
Photo by Jim Redman
But instead Hoover dropped an excruciatingly tough 50-44 to the nation’s current No. 1 team St. Mary’s in the championship game of the T-Mobile Invitational on Dec. 30.
If only the score had been reversed, the Buccanners might be No. 1 in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 instead of No. 13 where it is today.
Tyrese Tanner, an Auburn signee, and Meghan Dunn had 13 points for the Bucs that fateful night. Duke-bound Chelsea Gray had 15 points, six rebounds and four steals for St. Mary’s. Teammate Afure Jemerigbe, a Cal-signee, added 10 in 21 minutes.
“They’re two best players stepped up and made the steals, and made the baskets when they needed it,” Hoover coach Donnie Quinn told the Birmingham News that night. “We didn’t.”
All is not lost, of course, for the Bucs, who have responded well since the defeat.
Led by Tanner’s 17 points, Hoover continues to roll after a 40-point win last week, 73-33 over Mountain Brook. Nicole Tanner and Kayla Anderson combined for 25 for the Bucs, who have won by an average score of 65-30.
Besides the St. Mary’s game, Hoover has been involved in just three single-digit games all season, a 41-35 win over Jones on Nov. 30, 40-32 over Pelham on Dec. 1 and 47-38 over Midfield on Jan. 25.
PERFECT WEEK: Like the winter storms that have shut down and postponed numerous games throughout the Midwest and East, the Xcellent 25 rankings didn’t move a bit last week.
That’s because the elite bunch went a combined 35-0 during a very light schedule. {VIDEO_3b93f52e-f4fa-4a71-94d8-897c8c499d3b,floatRightWithBar}Weather had little to do with the few games. Most were resting up before the playoff drive.
XCELLENT MCDONALD’S PICKS: The McDonald’s All-American team was selected last week and five were picked from the teams on the Xcellent 25 teams – Gray and Jemerigbe, from St. Louis, Chiney Ogwunmike (Cy-Fair), Odyssey Sims (MacArthur) and Madison Williams (Detroit Country Day).
All five are playing on the West squad.
See the entire teams by CLICKING HERE..
Xcellent 25 National High School Girls Basketball Rankings
1. (1) St. Mary's (Stockton, Calif.), 24-1
Only team in country with two McDonald’s All-Americans. Celebrated with lopsided wins over McNair (82-40) and Lincoln (81-41). Jemerigbe had 27 points against Lincoln and Gray 13 points, nine assists and eight steals.
2. (2) Brea Olinda (Brea, Calif.), 24-2
Oh no. Not another one of these scores: Brea Olinda 82, Tustin 8. Also “squeaked out” 68-23 win over El Modena. Brea Olinda coach Jeff Sink is not into big wins – he’s won more state titles than anyone – but clearly a divide in talent in many leagues.
3. (3) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 24-1
Resting up, waiting for the postseason.
4. (4) Davis (Indianapolis, Ind.), 24-0
After another one of “those” wins – 66-6 over Manual, the Giants had good competitive playoff wins over Pike (55-43) and Brownsburg (60-42). All-American candidate Bria Goss had 25 points on 10 of 14 shooting and seven rebounds against Brownsburg.
5. (5) Poly (Long Beach, Calif.), 23-2
The biggest reason Poly has won four straight Division I state crowns is defense, as it showed in wins over Cabrillo (56-29) and Compton (88-22).
6. (6) Cy-Fair (Cypress, Texas), 27-1
Had little trouble with Cypress Ranch (77-30) as Chiney Ogwunmike and Cassie Peoples had 21 points each.
7. (7) Bolingbrook (Bolingbrook, Ill.), 22-1
The Suntimes.com is comparing Morgan Tuck to Candace Parker after the talented 6-2 sophomore made 11 of 14 from the floor and 5-for-5 from the free throw line en route to 27 points in 64-31 win over Joliet.
8. (8) Bergtraum (New York, N.Y.), 20-0
Two strong wins over Kennedy (60-43) and Central Dauphin (64-48). Doris Ortega had 23 against Central Dauphin to go over 1,000 points for her career, which includes 96 wins and just two losses.
9. (9) MacArthur (Irving, Texas), 33-1
Odyssey Sims leads all 5A scorers at 22.5 per game to go along with 4.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game. Alexis Jones averages 17.2, 7.2 and 6.4 per game and Karmyn Jackson is at 9.5, 5.8 and 1.1.
10. (10) Young (Chicago, Ill.), 22-2
The Dolphins licking wounds and resting up for a strong playoff drive after 0-2 California swing.
11. (11) Redan (Stone Mountain, Ga.), 23-0
The Raiders, winners of 50 straight overall, haven’t lost a beat with first-year coach Jerry Jackson.
12. (12) Mt. Lebanon (Pittsburgh, Pa.), 20-2
Has won 15 straight after 69-43 victory over Upper St. Clair.
13. (13) Hoover (Hoover, Ala.), 29-1
Auburn-bound Tyrese Tanner has kept Hoover on course.
Photo by Jim Redman
Tyrese Tanner had 17 points and eight rebounds in 73-33 win over Mountain Brook
Nicole Tanner and
Kayla Anderson combined for 25 points.
14. (14) Mansfield Timberview (Arlington, Texas), 31-2
Most impressive statistic in 90-38 win over Eastern Hills was 29 assists, 11 from Keena Mays, six by Alysse Barlow and five from Kristin Askew. As usually, Maegan Conwright (18 points) was chief beneficiary.
15. (15) Oregon City (Oregon City, Ore.), 20-0
As usual, beautiful balance from the Pioneers in a 67-27 win over Milwaukie as Taylor Ward and Ashleigh Anderson had 13 points apiece. Taylor Belmont added seven points, 10 assists and six steals.
16. (16) Detroit Country Day (Beverly Hills, Mich.), 15-0
Played an unusually high-scoring game while defeating Waite 72-56.
17. (17) Midwest City (Midwest City, Okla.), 17-2
The Bombers defeated 4-13 Southmoore squad 58-28 on Friday. Take on 3-14 Moore in two days.
18. (18) Neptune (Neptune, N.J.), 18-1
Big win over Peddie 58-51 as Scarlet Fliers used 19 points by Sehmonyeh Allen and 16 from Syessence Davis to win very tough and entertaining game. Neptune has more than doubled its opponents score this year, 1,232 to 552.
19. (19) Incarnate Word Academy (St. Louis, Mo.), 22-1
Jazmin Hitchens is 12th in the St. Louis area in scoring at 17.7 per game and eighth in steals (4.63 pg). Teammate Julia Kohnen is second in free throw percentage (89.5). Hitchens had 27 in 56-34 win over Notre Dame de Sion.
20. (20) North Little Rock (North Little Rock, Ark.), 24-0
Got good test in wins over Conway (53-40) and Cabot (62-44). Lexus Williams, a 6-1 sophomore, led the team in scoring (combined 29 points) in both games.
21. (21) Auburn Riverside (Auburn, Wash.), 21-0
Kathleen Cooper, a 5-10 junior, had 16 and Mercedes Wetmore, a 5-8 senior, added 14 in a 59-27 win over Bethel. Cooper is averaging 14.0 points per game this season and Wetmore is at 17.1.
22. (22) Lake Taylor (Norfolk, Va.), 23-0
After 62-32 win over Washington, the Titans received one of their severest tests of the season with 56-47 win over Wilson on Thursday. The two teams will tangle again tonight in Norfolk.
23. (23) Lakeville North (Lakeville, Minn.), 22-0
Truly one of the more amazingly consistent squads. The Panthers scored wins of 70-39 over Rosemount and 72-38 over Chanhassen, following six straight games with these winning totals: 65, 60, 65, 69, 67 and 67. Cassie Rochel had 24 against Chanhassen and Hannah Hughes led four girls in double figures with 15 against Rosemount.
24. (24) Shabazz (Newark, N.J.), 21-1
Used 22-3 run in the third quarter to blow out West Orange 58-34. Aliyyah Handford had 13 points and Alyesha Lovett 12 for the winners, who also defeated 1-17 Orange squad 56-24. Handford had 16 in that one.
25. (25) Vincent (Milwaukee, Wis.), 16-1
The Vikings, fighting off winter conditions, got one game in last week, a 72-11 romp over Hamilton. Vincent is led by 6-6 center Nicole Griffin, an Oklahoma-signee.
Dropped out: none.
