Hunter named 1st team all-state

By KYLE PARMLEY

Following a standout 2022-23 campaign, Hewitt-Trussville High School guard Jordan Hunter was named to the Class 7A all-state first team, as voted on by the Alabama Sports Writers Association.

The 5-foot-10 junior helped lead the Lady Huskies to a 26-7 record and an appearance in the Class 7A Northeast Regional final.

Hunter, an Auburn University commit, was joined on the first team by Auburn’s Syriah Daniels, Hoover’s Reniya Kelly, Sparkman’s Kennedy Langham and Central-Phenix City’s Jabria Lindsey.

Hunter regularly filled up the stat sheet for Hewitt-Trussville throughout the season. She led the team with 15.4 points per game, while contributing 4.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds per contest as well.

Hunter has played on varsity since seventh grade and now sits with 1,474 points, 502 rebounds and 548 assists for her career, with one year remaining.

In the Lady Huskies’ regional final loss to Sparkman, they led by as many as 10 points midway through the second quarter. But Sparkman turned the game around, taking a seven-point lead into the final quarter.

In that final quarter, Hewitt responded with an 8-0 run to reclaim the lead. Sparkman wrested the lead away again, however, and held on for the win.

Hewitt-Trussville won the regular season and tournament titles from Area 6. Following a three-game skid against three stout teams before Christmas, the Lady Huskies ripped off 16 straight wins before their final defeat.

Audre Benson, April Hooks, DeAndrea Powell and Lilly Gray were the team’s seniors this season.

the infield,” Burt said. “She’s done an incredible job with it.” Dorsett has even taken her bat to the next level this season, too. She’s a near-lock to reach base multiple times each game and has even hit the first few over-the-fence home runs of her varsity career.

“She’s the most selfless, just hard-working, ultimate teammate. She never gets the credit but deserves it,” Burt said.

Seniors Gracie Reeves and Rubie Simon have held down starting spots, and junior Division I commits Chaney Peters (Illinois) and Olivia Faggard (ULM) have provided plenty of run production in the middle of the order. Burt also pointed to the contributions of Tucker lately as well, solidifying the second spot in the order.

Burt also praised sophomore Ryleigh Wood for her play at second base and production in the ninth spot in the lineup. Others like AhKeela Honeycutt, Sarah Beth Golden and Lexie Kelly have come up in big spots as well in the bottom half of the order.

Getting consistent production out of that pitching staff and the rest of the lineup will be needed, as the Huskies attempt to navigate undoubtedly the toughest postseason road in 7A. An area with Spain Park, Chelsea and Oak Mountain, along with a potential regional featuring two of Vestavia Hills, Hoover, Thompson and Tuscaloosa County, will not be easy. The regional tournament is set for May 11 in Albertville and the state tournament for 7A is May 19-20 in Oxford.

HewittTrussville’s Jordan Hunter (2) dribbles the ball downcourt during the girls Class 7A Northeast Regional final against the Senators at Pete Mathews Coliseum at Jacksonville State University on Feb. 21.