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Scholar-Athlete: Vestavia Hills’ Jiang named Regional Bryant-Jordan winner Page 27

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Thursday, March 24, 2022 ❖ OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

OTMJ’S 2022 ALL-OTM HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL TEAMS

GIRLS PLAYER OF THE YEAR Coach on the Floor

Kelly Ran the Show for State Champion Lady Bucs

By RuBin E. GRant

Hoover girls basketball coach Krystle Johnson had no qualms about letting Reniya Kelly run the show for the Lady Bucs this season.

After all, Kelly was in her fourth season on the varsity and the 5-foot-7 junior point guard knew exactly what Johnson wanted her to do.

“Her basketball IQ is amazing,” Johnson said. “And it helps that our relationship is so good. We’re thinking the same thing, so she’s legitimately our coach on the floor. She always makes the right decisions for our team, whether that’s scoring for herself or getting the other players involved.”

Kelly averaged 14.0 points per game, 4.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists this season, helping Hoover repeat as Class 7A state champions with a 34-3

See KELLY, page 26

Journal photo by Jordan Wald

Members of the 2022 All-Over the Mountain Girls Basketball Team, front, from left: Reniya Kelly, Hoover; Sarah Passink, Mountain Brook; Ally Smith, Vestavia Hills; and Mary Beth Dicen, Briarwood. Middle: Coach of the Year, John David Smelser, Vestavia Hills; Francie Morris, Mountain Brook; Emma Smith, Vestavia Hills; Raegan Whitaker, Oak Mountain and Camille Chase, Spain Park. Back: Layla Etchison, Hoover; Aniya Hubbard, Hoover; Kristen McMillan, Hoover and Sarah Gordon, Vestavia Hills. Not pictured: Emma Stearns, Mountain Brook and Caiden Cannon, Homewood.

BOYS PLAYER OF THE YEAR Leaving a Mark

Turner Put His Stamp on Spain Park’s Boys Basketball Program

By RuBin E. GRant

When Colin Turner looks back on his high school basketball career at Spain Park, he focuses on how much he developed as a player.

“I’ve been reflecting on it quite a bit,” Turner said. “I think about how great this season was, and I think about last season and how much I’ve grown as a player and with this team.”

This season, the 6-foot-9 senior forward was dominant on the court, averaging 16.6 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, helping the Jaguars reach the Class 7A Final Four for the second consecutive year and post a 27-8 record.

He had a strong showing in the Jags’ 73-58 semifinal loss to Enterprise, scoring 17 points on 8 of 12 shooting from the field, pulling

Journal photo by Jordan Wald

Members of the 2022 All-Over the Mountain Boys Basketball Team, front, from left: Carson Huff, Indian Springs; Brady Dunn, Oak Mountain; Josh Harrington, Spain Park; Kyle Layton, Mountain Brook and Reese Gurner, Vestavia Hills. Middle: Wilder Evers, Oak Mountain; Salim London, Hoover; Miles Gilbert, Briarwood; Ty Davis, Mountain Brook and Win Miller, Vestavia Hills. Back: Coach of the Year, Chris Laatsch, Spain Park; Brodin Grady, Hoover; Colin Turner, Spain Park; Christian Thompson, Homewood and Donte Bacchus, Homewood.