BIRMINGHAM — Hillcrest girls basketball saw its season come to an end Wednesday morning in the AHSAA Final Four at Legacy Arena.

The Lady Patriots fell 52-38 to six-time defending state champions Hazel Green despite holding the lead for the entire first half. Hillcrest shot 71.4% from 3-point range and 41.2% from the field in the first half compared to Hazel Green, which shot 43.8% from the field and did not convert on a 3-point basket.

Hazel Green took its first lead of the game at the 5:27 mark of the third quarter and held a three-point lead at the end of the period. The fourth quarter saw Hazel Green pull away with the lead, outscoring Hillcrest 19-10. The Lady Patriots were held to 26.1% shooting from the field and 23.1% from 3 in the second half, while Hazel Green went 50% from the field and 16.7% from 3.

Hazel Green advances to the state championship game where it will face the winner between Huffman and Park Crossing at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

Hillcrest was led by Jareah Branch, who scored 15 points to go with three rebounds and two steals. Blakely Nixon and Trinity Braggs each added eight points for the Lady Patriots in the loss.

It marks the end of another successful season for the Lady Patriots, who made their second-straight appearance in the Final Four and were the 6A-Area 6 regular season and tournament champions for the second-straight season.

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Anna Snyder covers high school sports and University of Alabama softball and football recruiting for The Tuscaloosa News. Reach her at asnyder@gannett.com. Follow her on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, @annaesnyder2

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: AHSAA Final Four: Hillcrest girls basketball falls to Hazel Green