Hillcrest-Evergreen Knocks Off Geraldine Setting up AHSAA Class 3A Title Game Rematch With Midfield
By Josh Bean | For the AHSAA
BIRMINGHAM – Hillcrest-Evergreen High School boys’ basketball coach Tereance Pinkney made a bold prediction after his Jaguars lost to Midfield in the 2023 state semifinals: His team would be back this season.
He was right, and the Jaguars (27-3) are heading to the championship game this time.
Hillcrest defeated Geraldine 62-49 in Tuesday’s Class 3A state semifinals at the BJCC’s Legacy Arena, sending the Jaguars into Friday’s
AHSAA State Basketball Championship Class 3A title game against – you guessed it! – Midfield. The Patriots beat Sumter-Central in the other 3A semifinal Tuesday.
“We’re just ready to get the job done,” said Hillcrest senior Jermonte Stallworth, who scored 16 points. “It’s not over yet.”
Added Pinkney, “It won’t be over until we hoist that blue trophy.”
Hillcrest won its only state title in 2006 and finished runner-up to Plainview in 2018 falling in overtime.
Against Geraldine (24-8), J.T. Barlow scored 10 of his 13 points in the first half, and 6-foot-7 Trey Simpson scored 13 of his 17 points in the second half. He also had a game-high 11 rebounds, four steals and five blocked shots. Hillcrest took the lead in the second quarter and led the rest of the way.
Geraldine, coached by Jeremy Smith, was trying to win its first state basketball title since 1933.
“We turned it over 15 times and they beat us on the boards,” Smith said. “It’s going to be difficult for us to win when that’s the case.”
Jaxon Colvin led Geraldine with 15 points and eight rebounds and Connor Johnson added 13 points. Redick Smith had 10 points.
Click here to check out schedules and scores from the 2024 AHSAA State Basketball Finals.
Play continues Tuesday at the Legacy Arena with the remaining boys’ 3A semifinals and the Class 4A girls’ and boys’ semifinals. Classes 6A and 5A open their tourneys Wednesday, and Class 7A plays Thursday morning. Championship games will begin Thursday in Class 1A. Finals for Classes 2A, 3A and 4A will be Friday, and Classes 5A, 6A and 7A close out the 2024 state tourney on Saturday.
All semifinal games are being live streamed over the NFHS Network’s subscriber-based platform and live on the AHSAA TV Network. Check out the cable stations on the network at Television and will also be live streamed over the NFHS Network.
All 14 state championship games will be aired live over the Alabama Public Television Network and live streamed over the NFHS Network.
