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Photo by Claire Johnson
Michael Gates during a Class 7A state semifinal game between Hoover and Fairhope on thursday, March 5, 2026, at Legacy Arena in Birmingham. Photo by Claire Johnson.
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Photo by Claire Johnson
Michael Glass during a Class 7A state semifinal game between Hoover and Fairhope on thursday, March 5, 2026, at Legacy Arena in Birmingham. Photo by Claire Johnson.
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Photo by Claire Johnson
Michael Gates during a Class 7A state semifinal game between Hoover and Fairhope on thursday, March 5, 2026, at Legacy Arena in Birmingham. Photo by Claire Johnson.
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Photo by Claire Johnson
Michael Glass during a Class 7A state semifinal game between Hoover and Fairhope on thursday, March 5, 2026, at Legacy Arena in Birmingham. Photo by Claire Johnson.
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Photo by Claire Johnson
Messiah Milinduring a Class 7A state semifinal game between Hoover and Fairhope on thursday, March 5, 2026, at Legacy Arena in Birmingham. Photo by Claire Johnson.
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Photo by Claire Johnson
Michael Gates during a Class 7A state semifinal game between Hoover and Fairhope on thursday, March 5, 2026, at Legacy Arena in Birmingham. Photo by Claire Johnson.
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Photo by Claire Johnson
Messiah Milin during a Class 7A state semifinal game between Hoover and Fairhope on thursday, March 5, 2026, at Legacy Arena in Birmingham. Photo by Claire Johnson.
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Photo by Claire Johnson
Messiah Milin during a Class 7A state semifinal game between Hoover and Fairhope on thursday, March 5, 2026, at Legacy Arena in Birmingham. Photo by Claire Johnson.
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Photo by Claire Johnson
Riley Kent during a Class 7A state semifinal game between Hoover and Fairhope on thursday, March 5, 2026, at Legacy Arena in Birmingham. Photo by Claire Johnson.
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Photo by David Leong
Hoover guard Messiah Millin (3) dribbles against Fairhope forward Knox Lawson (11) during the AHSAA Class 7A boys state semifinals between Hoover and Fairhope at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, AL on Thr, March 5, 2026. Photo by David Leong.
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Photo by David Leong
Hoover head coach Scott Ware directs his players during the AHSAA Class 7A boys state semifinals between Hoover and Fairhope at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, AL on Thr, March 5, 2026. Photo by David Leong.
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Photo by David Leong
Hoover forward Jackson Sheffield (35) guards Fairhope forward Trey Garner (4) during the AHSAA Class 7A boys state semifinals between Hoover and Fairhope at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, AL on Thr, March 5, 2026. Photo by David Leong.
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Photo by David Leong
Hoover guards Kane Burns (4) and Messiah Millin (3) double team Fairhope forward Knox Lawson (11) during the AHSAA Class 7A boys state semifinals between Hoover and Fairhope at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, AL on Thr, March 5, 2026. Photo by David Leong.
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Photo by David Leong
Hoover guard Michael Glass (5) shoots over Fairhope guard Marc Howard Jr. (12) during the AHSAA Class 7A boys state semifinals between Hoover and Fairhope at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, AL on Thr, March 5, 2026. Photo by David Leong.
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Photo by David Leong
Hoover forward Jackson Sheffield (35) rebounds over Fairhope guard Reece Olmstead (0) during the AHSAA Class 7A boys state semifinals between Hoover and Fairhope at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, AL on Thr, March 5, 2026. Photo by David Leong.
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Photo by David Leong
Hoover guard Michael Glass (5) dribbles past Fairhope guard Alex Markris (14) during the AHSAA Class 7A boys state semifinals between Hoover and Fairhope at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, AL on Thr, March 5, 2026. Photo by David Leong.
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Photo by David Leong
Hoover guard Kane Burns (4) dribbles against Fairhope guard Marc Howard Jr. (12) during the AHSAA Class 7A boys state semifinals between Hoover and Fairhope at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, AL on Thr, March 5, 2026. Photo by David Leong.
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Photo by David Leong
Hoover guard Michael Glass (5) dribbles past Fairhope guard Andres Hunt (3) during the AHSAA Class 7A boys state semifinals between Hoover and Fairhope at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, AL on Thr, March 5, 2026. Photo by David Leong.
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Photo by David Leong
Hoover guard Messiah Millin (3) dribbles against Fairhope guard Reece Olmstead (0) during the AHSAA Class 7A boys state semifinals between Hoover and Fairhope at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, AL on Thr, March 5, 2026. Photo by David Leong.
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Photo by David Leong
Hoover forward Jackson Sheffield (35) rebounds the ball over Fairhope guard Alex Markris (14) during the AHSAA Class 7A boys state semifinals between Hoover and Fairhope at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, AL on Thr, March 5, 2026. Photo by David Leong.
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Photo by David Leong
Hoover forward Jackson Sheffield (35) drives against Fairhope forward Knox Lawson (11) during the AHSAA Class 7A boys state semifinals between Hoover and Fairhope at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, AL on Thr, March 5, 2026. Photo by David Leong.
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Photo by David Leong
Hoover guard Michael Glass (5) dribbles against Fairhope guard Reece Olmstead (0) during the AHSAA Class 7A boys state semifinals between Hoover and Fairhope at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, AL on Thr, March 5, 2026. Photo by David Leong.
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Photo by David Leong
Fairhope guard Reece Olmstead (0) guards Hoover guard Messiah Millin (3) during the AHSAA Class 7A boys state semifinals between Hoover and Fairhope at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, AL on Thr, March 5, 2026. Photo by David Leong.
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Photo by David Leong
Fairhope forward Trey Garner (4) shoots over Hoover forward Mellow June (15) during the AHSAA Class 7A boys state semifinals between Hoover and Fairhope at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, AL on Thr, March 5, 2026. Photo by David Leong.
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Photo by David Leong
Hoover guard Kane Burns (4) dribbles against Fairhope guard Alex Markris (14) during the AHSAA Class 7A boys state semifinals between Hoover and Fairhope at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, AL on Thr, March 5, 2026. Photo by David Leong.
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Photo by David Leong
Fairhope forward Braeden Goodbody (24) and Hoover guard Michael Glass (5) jockey for position during the AHSAA Class 7A boys state semifinals between Hoover and Fairhope at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, AL on Thr, March 5, 2026. Photo by David Leong.
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Photo by David Leong
Hoover guard Michael Glass (5) drives against Fairhope guard Marc Howard Jr. (12) during the AHSAA Class 7A boys state semifinals between Hoover and Fairhope at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, AL on Thr, March 5, 2026. Photo by David Leong.
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Photo by David Leong
Fairhope guard Braden Bradley (23) guards Hoover guard Messiah Millin (3) during the AHSAA Class 7A boys state semifinals between Hoover and Fairhope at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, AL on Thr, March 5, 2026. Photo by David Leong.
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Photo by David Leong
Fairhope forward Gus Faulkner (2) guards Hoover guard Michael Glass (5) during the AHSAA Class 7A boys state semifinals between Hoover and Fairhope at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, AL on Thr, March 5, 2026. Photo by David Leong.
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Photo by David Leong
Hoover guard Kane Burns (4) and Fairhope guard Marc Howard Jr. (12) scramble for a loose ball during the AHSAA Class 7A boys state semifinals between Hoover and Fairhope at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, AL on Thr, March 5, 2026. Photo by David Leong.
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Photo by David Leong
Hoover fans react during the AHSAA Class 7A boys state semifinals between Hoover and Fairhope at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, AL on Thr, March 5, 2026. Photo by David Leong.
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Photo by David Leong
Hoover guard Kane Burns (4) shoots a free throw during the AHSAA Class 7A boys state semifinals between Hoover and Fairhope at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, AL on Thr, March 5, 2026. Photo by David Leong.
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Photo by David Leong
Hoover guard Michael Gates (10) dribbles the ball during the AHSAA Class 7A boys state semifinals between Hoover and Fairhope at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, AL on Thr, March 5, 2026. Photo by David Leong.
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Photo by David Leong
Hoover guard Michael Gates (10) shoots a free throw during the AHSAA Class 7A boys state semifinals between Hoover and Fairhope at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, AL on Thr, March 5, 2026. Photo by David Leong.
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Photo by David Leong
Hoover guard Michael Glass (5) dribbles the ball during the AHSAA Class 7A boys state semifinals between Hoover and Fairhope at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, AL on Thr, March 5, 2026. Photo by David Leong.
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Photo by David Leong
Hoover guard Messiah Millin (3) dribbles the ball during the AHSAA Class 7A boys state semifinals between Hoover and Fairhope at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, AL on Thr, March 5, 2026. Photo by David Leong.
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Photo by David Leong
Hoover guard Riley Kent (1) guards Fairhope guard Andres Hunt (3) during the AHSAA Class 7A boys state semifinals between Hoover and Fairhope at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, AL on Thr, March 5, 2026. Photo by David Leong.
BIRMINGHAM – They aren’t all pretty and none of them are easy, but the Hoover High School boys basketball team continues to win in the AHSAA State Finals.
The Bucs knocked off Fairhope 53-40 on Thursday afternoon in the Class 7A semifinals, allowing them to compete for a fourth straight state title this weekend at BJCC’s Legacy Arena.
Hoover will face Tuscaloosa County on Saturday at 5:45 p.m. in the state final.
The story has been repeated: the last three state titles have featured faces like Salim London and DeWayne Brown. They have both graduated, and the Bucs have lost 10 games this season.
It has not been an easy grind, but this year’s team has lived up to the standard established long before this season.
“We like our culture and the standards that we have,” Hoover head coach Scott Ware said following the game. “These seniors have done a great job of pulling the younger guys up with them.”
On Thursday, Hoover and Fairhope took a long time to get things rolling. The Bucs held a 9-8 lead after a quarter and took a 17-14 lead into halftime after another single-digit frame.
The Bucs earned their separation in the third quarter, pushing the lead to double digits and holding the Pirates at bay over the final period.
Jackson Sheffield was able to keep his cool as Fairhope focused its defensive efforts on him, and the Vanderbilt signee led the Bucs with 16 points and added eight rebounds.
Michael Glass joined him in double figures with 11 points. The Bucs had several other contributors, with Messiah Millin grabbing 10 rebounds, Riley Kent scoring eight points and adding six rebounds, Kane Burns scoring nine points and Mellow June going for five points and four steals.
“We worked all year for this, so we want to work and try to get another one,” Glass said.
“It doesn’t get old,” Ware said of the final four trip. “Any time you win these types of games, each one was different, each team was different and each team had different players on it. Those trophies [from past years] are not coming down, those are ours. But we’re playing for a new map and these guys have put themselves in position.”
Hoover’s girls will play at 4 p.m. Saturday, as the Lady Bucs are looking for a sixth straight title. Hoover has had a stranglehold on Class 7A, and will look to take home the final 7A trophy before reclassification takes place next season.
“We believe we should be here and we can almost taste it,” Sheffield said.
