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Photo by Erin Nelson
Hewitt-Trussville’s Amiya Payne (32) dribbles the ball towards the goal guarded by Theodore’s Jalia Williams (12) during the AHSAA girls Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Huskies defeated Theodore 73-39 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game against Hoover. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
The Hewitt-Trussville student section celebrates after the Huskies won the AHSAA girls Class 7A state semi-final game against Theodore at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Huskies defeated Theodore 73-39 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game against Hoover. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Hewitt-Trussville’s Audre Benson (1) shoots a layup as she’s fouled by Theodore’s Asia Thompson (2) during the AHSAA girls Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Huskies defeated Theodore 73-39 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game against Hoover. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Hewitt-Trussville’s Amber Newman (45) battles for possession of the ball against the Theodore defense during the AHSAA girls Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Huskies defeated Theodore 73-39 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game against Hoover. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Hewitt-Trussville’s Abbie Kate Monski (23) shoots for 3-points during the AHSAA girls Class 7A state semi-final game against Theodore at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Huskies defeated Theodore 73-39 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game against Hoover. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Hewitt-Trussville’s Lily Burford (12) dribbles the ball towards the goal guarded by Theodore’s Fatou Bane (10) during the AHSAA girls Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Huskies defeated Theodore 73-39 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game against Hoover. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Hewitt-Trussville’s Audre Benson (1) shoots for 3-points during the AHSAA girls Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Huskies defeated Theodore 73-39 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game against Hoover. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Hewitt-Trussville’s Amiya Payne (32) shoots for 3-points during the AHSAA girls Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Huskies defeated Theodore 73-39 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game against Hoover. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Hewitt-Trussville’s Amiya Payne (32) shoots for 3-points during the AHSAA girls Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Huskies defeated Theodore 73-39 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game against Hoover. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Hewitt-Trussville’s April Hooks (4) shoots a free-throw during the AHSAA girls Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Huskies defeated Theodore 73-39 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game against Hoover. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Hewitt-Trussville’s Sara Phillips (15) shoots for 3-points guarded by Theodore’s Jalia Williams (12) during the AHSAA girls Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Huskies defeated Theodore 73-39 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game against Hoover. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Hewitt-Trussville’s Amiya Payne (32) drives the ball towards the goal during the AHSAA girls Class 7A state semi-final game against Theodore at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Monday, March 2, 2021. The Huskies defeated Theodore 73-39 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game against Hoover. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Hewitt-Trussville’s Jordan Hunter (2) shoots for 2-points during the AHSAA girls Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Huskies defeated Theodore 73-39 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game against Hoover. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Hewitt-Trussville’s Jordan Hunter (2) dribbles the ball guarded by Theodore’s Jalia Williams (12) during the AHSAA girls Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Huskies defeated Theodore 73-39 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game against Hoover. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Hewitt-Trussville’s April Hooks (4) dribbles the ball guarded by Theodore’s Tekeyah Weatherly (14) during the AHSAA girls Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Huskies defeated Theodore 73-39 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game against Hoover. Photo by Erin Nelson.
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Photo by Erin Nelson
Hewitt-Trussville head coach Tonya Hunter reacts on the sideline as the Huskies continue to lead in the fourth quarter against Theodore during the AHSAA girls Class 7A state semi-final game at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The Huskies defeated Theodore 73-39 to advance to the Class 7A state championship game against Hoover. Photo by Erin Nelson.
BIRMINGHAM – The Lady Huskies looked like they had been there before.
That’s because many of them had been.
In its second trip to the state final four in the last three years, the Hewitt-Trussville High School girls basketball team blasted Theodore 73-39 in the Class 7A state semifinals on Tuesday afternoon at Bartow Arena.
Hewitt-Trussville (29-4) started fast and never relented. The Lady Huskies began the game on a 13-2 run, thanks to a flood of 3-pointers that never stopped. In the game, Hewitt drained 12 3s and shot 42% overall from the floor.
“We wanted to be razor sharp and focused,” Hewitt-Trussville head coach Tonya Hunter said following the game.
The Lady Huskies held a 16-8 lead after a quarter of play, then began the second quarter with a 9-0 spurt. They would take a 36-14 advantage into halftime and were not threatened in the second half.
Six players hit a 3 in the game for the Lady Huskies. Amiya Payne knocked down four of them and led the way for her team with 25 points and seven rebounds in a dominant performance.
“My team is one of the reasons I could do all that,” Payne said. “They believe in me and that allows me to play to the best of my potential.”
Audre Benson hit three of them and scored 12 points, while April Hooks hit two, Jordan Hunter nailed one and Londyn Johnson-Yates knocked one in as well. Abbie Kate Monski got in on the action late, nailing a 3 of her own.
Hooks and Hunter, two of the young guards on the team, each scored 11 points and combined for nine rebounds.
“It’s so amazing to see her grow into April Hooks,” Hunter said. “I’ve seen her mature in her game, her pull-up jumpers, her rebounding. Her confidence is so high right now and I’m so proud of her.”
Amir Brown had a solid game as well, getting four points, four rebounds and four steals. Hunter and Payne also contributed four steals, and the Lady Huskies outscored Theodore 28-6 in points off turnovers.
Hewitt-Trussville advances to play Hoover in the state championship game for the second time in three years. The game will be played Wednesday at 2 p.m. Earlier this year, Hoover beat Hewitt-Trussville 60-58 on a buzzer-beating shot.
“We’re just up for the challenge,” Hunter said.
