Patriots defeated Hillcrest 63-49 in Class 7A Northwest Region Final
HANCEVILLE – Bob Jones has won three state titles in girls basketball, the last of which came in 2011 and was followed by a state runner-up finish in the ensuing season.
Coming off an Area Championship and a fifth straight Elite 8 berth, there are signs for yet another championship run.
The Patriots (25-6) are coming off back-to-back decisive victories in the Class 7A Northwest Region tournament at Wallace State Community College. Following a 64-47 win over Prattville, they defeated Hillcrest 63-49 in what marked a second straight region final appearance.
Those results advanced Bob Jones to the State Final Four with the team scheduled to take on Auburn, a 62-60 region final winner over Central, in a state semifinal on March 5. That game, along with the entire state tourney, is being played at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex’s Legacy Arena.
“I definitely think we have a serious shot at winning those games,” said second-year Bob Jones coach Sherrell Robertson, a former player for Auburn University.
The Patriots, who also beat Hillcrest 49-43 in their season opener, took a 36-24 lead over Hillcrest in the postseason rematch and never looked back. Hillcrest made a small charge with a 15-13 scoring advantage in the third quarter but Bob Jones outscored the opposition 14-10 in the final frame to clinch it.
That outcome avenged last year’s region final loss to Hillcrest in what ended up as a 22win season for Bob Jones.
The Patriots were led by Ja’Kaya Smith, a senior shooting guard who is considered as the team leader and scored a game-high 25 points. The Tulane signee added five rebounds, went 6-for-8 at the free-throw line and made 2-of-3 3-point shots.
“As a senior she took the team on her back and led like she’s supposed to,” Roberston said of her star player who she considers among the best guards in the state.
Two other Bob Jones players scored in double figures in the region final.
Ella Watts had 11 points to go along with 11 rebounds. The standout sophomore, who also excels on the volleyball court, was coming off a region semifinal in which she scored a game-leading 20 points to go along with nine rebounds.
Elise McClain, a senior, also scored 11 against Hillcrest with senior Jael Robinson and sophomore Asia Robinson each adding five rebounds to the winning effort.
