0313 Hoover championships track basketball
Students and staff of the Hoover Varsity Boys Track and Girls Basketball teams pose March 13 with their recently awarded championship trophies.
Hoover High paid tribute to its most recent champions Wednesday, March 13 with a presentation at the school.
During the event, Ron Ingram, director of communications for the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA), awarded State Championship trophies to both the Varsity Boys Indoor Track Team and the Varsity Girls Basketball Team for their accomplishments.
The Lady Bucs claimed their second straight AHSAA 6A state title on March 2 with a 66-55 win over Blount. Following the presentation, Coach Tiffany Frederick put the spotlight on Senior Marqu’es Webb.
“Thank God for Webb,” Frederick said, a sentiment followed by cheers and applause from the hundreds of students, teachers and supporters in attendance. “… that was some of the best post play I’ve seen in the (Birmingham Jefferson) Civic Center in my time. We’re talking about 29 points and 21 rebounds. She totally carried us.”
Ingram said Webb set state records in the AHSAA tournament with 118 points and 118 rebounds. She and teammates Kara Rawls and Breigha Wilder-Cochran were named to the AHSAA All-Tournament team.
Webb and Wilder-Cochran will also represent the state in the he 23rd Annual Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Basketball Game at Alabama State University’s Dunn-Oliver Acadome on Friday, March 15 at 5 p.m.
“We just wanted to say thank you, and we hope to have you guys’ support when we go to college and throughout the rest of our careers,” Webb said.
Frederick told the audience five members of the team are heading to college with plan to continue playing basketball. She said she feels the program at Hoover prepared them not only for the in-game experience at the next level, but also for the more important aspects of their lives.
“It’s ruly about who they’re going to become after basketball is over and done,” she said. “What we’re trying to instill is to ultimately become productive citizens.”
Ingram also presented the boys track team with its State Championship trophy, celebrating a jaw-dropping win by the Bucs on Feb. 2.
Marlon Humphrey came from behind in the 4 x 400-meter boys Class 6A relay to overcome Mountain Brook High School’s lead with a split time of 47.02. Humphrey’s 48.11 time in the open 400-meter dash is listed as the second fastest in the nation. Coach Devon Hinds recognized him and the rest of the team during the presentation.
“It was unbelievable,” he said. “One of most incredible finishes ever been a part of as a coach. And if you haven’t seen it yet, you should look it up.”
Ingram announced that the addition of these two trophies raises Hoover High’s total state championship total to 84.
Also during the ceremony, Ingram recognized Hoover junior Alec Shunnarah for claiming the top spot in the 6A 195-pound weight class during the state tournament in February.
