Which of our local high school basketball teams has the best overall season?

Another fine high school basketball season has come and gone in Conecuh County and all four of our local varsity teams posted seasons that they can be proud of.

Which of our local teams had the best overall season?

That’s a hard question to answer in just one sentence since there are a number of factors to consider.

Sparta Academy’s varsity girls had the best overall record in the county. They went 17-4 overall for a winning percentage of .810. Hillcrest High School’s varsity boys followed with a 15-14 overall record, a winning percentage of .536.

Sparta’s varsity boys went 11-13 overall for a winning percentage of .458. Hillcrest’s varsity girls finished with a 7-14 overall record, a winning percentage of .333.

It should be noted that Hillcrest’s varsity girls, under head coach Tommy Dukes, improved greatly over their showing last season, when they went 3-23 overall. They not only won more than twice as many games this year, but they also lost four other games by four or fewer points.

Hillcrest’s varsity boys had the most potent offense in the county. They led the county with 1,801 total points this season, an average of 62.1 points per game. Sparta’s varsity girls followed with 1,154 total points, an average of 54.9 points per game.

Sparta’s boys collected 1,137 total points, an average of 47.7 points per game. Hillcrest’s girls scored 769 total points, an average of 36.6 points per game.

Sparta’s girls appeared to have the best defense in the county this season. They allowed just 840 total points, an average of 40.0 points per game. Hillcrest’s girls followed with 863 total allowed points, an average of 41.1 points per game. (This is another example of how much the Lady Jags improved over last season, when they allowed 1,362 total points, an average of 52.4 points per game.)

Sparta’s varsity boys allowed 1,210 total points this season, an average of 50.4 points per game. Hillcrest’s boys allowed 1,750 total points, an average of 60.3 points per outing.

Sparta’s girls and Hillcrest’s boys both played very well at home this season. The Lady Warriors went 10-1 on their home court this season, losing by three in overtime to Marengo Academy on Nov. 22. The Jags went 9-1 in Evergreen, winning all their regular season home games before falling by two against Monroe County in the area tournament title game Monday of last week.

Hillcrest’s girls went 4-4 at home compared to a 1-8 showing in Evergreen last season. Sparta’s boys went 5-6 at home this season, a winning percentage of .455.

Sparta’s girls were the best road team in the county this year. They went 7-3 in away games, a winning percentage of .700. Sparta’s boys followed with a 6-7 road record.

Hillcrest’s boys went 7-12 on the road, and the Lady Jags posted a 3-10 record in road games this season.

Maybe the best performance mark of all is each team’s area record during the regular season.

Sparta’s girls went undefeated in area play, posting a 6-0 record against area foes. Hillcrest’s boys followed closely with a 7-1 area record. Sparta’s boys went 3-3 in area play, and Hillcrest’s girls posted a 3-5 overall record.

In the end, I’d have to say that Sparta’s girls had the best overall season of the county’s four varsity teams this year. Hillcrest’s boys were a close second, and I’d rank Sparta’s boys in third. The award for most improved team this year goes to Hillcrest’s varsity girls, and I look for the Lady Jags to be even better next year.