#TerryTalks: AHSAA Class 7A Championship Game Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">The class 7A Championship game is set, and here is a dive into Hoover vs Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Hoover</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1208102,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"none","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/PGH-Kristen-Winston-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-1208102" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Average Joe Sports / Deedra Pike, Average Joe Sports / Deedra Pike</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1207417' first='Kristen' last='Winston']</strong> (5'10/CG/'29/Hoover)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: kristen_winston_2029</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @kristenw_2029</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Kristen has come on the scene this year and has, at times, been one of the top five players in the state. She has displayed her talent and potential, and it is safe to say if she stays on her current trajectory, she could one day be the best player in the state. However, for now, look for her to show up huge in the championship game because she has shown that the bright lights do not bother her despite only being an 8th-grader. She plays beyond her years and has a high level scoring prowess, and if Hoover wins the blue map, she will be a key piece to the puzzle.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1208103,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"none","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/PGH-Aaliyah-Jayne-Blanchard-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-1208103" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Average Joe Sports / Deedra Pike, Average Joe Sports / Deedra Pike</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Aaliyah Jayne Blanchard</strong> (5'10/CG/'26/Hoover) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: liyah_.b13</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @LiyahB_13</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Aaliyah is Ms. Do-It-All for the Lady Bucs. She brings toughness on both ends of the floor, provides multi-level scoring, crashes the boards, and defends. She competes at a high level and will be a tough match-up for Hillcrest's frontline. There is nothing flashy about her game, but she is highly productive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='328859' first='Kaitlyn' last='Gipson']</strong> (5'5/CG/'25/Hoover)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: k_.kaitlynn</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Kaitlyn is going to be crucial to the Lady Bucs winning. It will not only be her performance on the court but her leadership and experience will play a huge part for the Lady Bucs, a young team overall. Her steadiness as a facilitator and production as a multi-level scorer will be highly needed.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1208104,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/PGH-Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa-Group-C.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1208104" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Average Joe Sports, Average Joe Sports</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='323426' first='Jareah' last='Branch'] </strong>(6'0/G|F/2025/Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Punkin2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @2025Branch</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jareah has been a steady source of production for her team all year, which is why many are saying they will have a chance to pull off the upset. However, if you ask anyone in the Hillcrest Tuscaloosa program, they come into this game not feeling like they are the underdogs, and Jareah is a primary reason with her versatility and scoring ability.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Skylynn Latham </strong>(5'4/SG/2027/Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Skytoraw</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Sky could be an issue for Hoover's backcourt as she is a hard-nosed, aggressive player who plays with an edge. She constantly puts pressure on the rim and scores well off the bounce. She makes hustle plays and doesn't mind giving up her body for a 50/50 ball. She can go for huge numbers, secure double-digit rebounds, and be a disruptive defender. Look for Sky to make a huge impact in the championship game, which could solely determine the outcome.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1106612' first='Trinity' last='Braggs'] </strong>(5'2/CG/2025/Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: dakidtrin._</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @TrinityBraggs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Trinity is an aggressive lead guard who is really good at balancing scoring and facilitating. The backcourt match-up in this game is going to be a key to a lot of the underlying aspects that could determine this game, such as who wins the turnover battle, who can score it with efficiency from behind the arc, who can play with more paint touches, just to name a few. Trinity will make her presence felt in not just the things I just mentioned but many aspects of the game that will determine the winner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">It will be hard to go against a Coach Krystle led team as she has built a Goliath of a program that can call the BJCC their second home during this time of the year. She will have her young squad ready to compete on the big stage in the year's biggest game. Look for a heavy dose of [player_tooltip player_id='1207417' first='Kristen' last='Winston'] and [player_tooltip player_id='371482' first='Aaliyah' last='Blanchard'] for the Lady Bucs today.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Coach Browder has been waiting for this moment for several years. He heads into this game extremely confident and feels like he has the team to win it all this year. If his team can stay true to who they have become, he feels very good about his team's chances.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Class 7A Championship Game</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Saturday, March 1, 2025, at 4:00pm</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->