McGill-Toolen started Wednesday’s Class 6A girls semifinal basketball game against Hazel Green with a plan to stop the Trojans potent inside game.

The Yellow Jackets packed its zone defense tightly around Alabama commit and Hazel Green leading scorer Leah Brooks, forcing the need for an outside game for the Trojans.

Sydney Steward obliged, leading the Trojans to a 49-22 victory over McGill at the BJCC Legacy Arena.

The 5-foot-9 junior guard scored a game-high 17 points, including making 4-of-7 from 3-point range, and her long-range shooting forced McGill to abandon its zone for man-to-man defense in the second half.

“Early on there was a lot of pressure and we just had to settle in and play how we play,” Steward said. “We were just trying to get some energy going for our team, speed up, play fast and knock down shots.”

Steward scored the final eight points of the second quarter, including a pair of 3-pointers, as part of Hazel Green’s 13-0 run, turning a 10-6 lead into a 23-6 advantage in the third quarter that put the game out of reach.

While Steward carried the offensive load, the Hazel Green defense was outstanding, holding fourth-ranked McGill (29-6) to only three baskets in the first half, nine for the game.

“They wouldn’t let us get into our offense,” McGill coach Carla Berry said. “We didn’t play well today and Hazel Green had a lot to do with that.”

Hazel Green coach Tim Miller chastised his team at halftime.

“I didn’t think we played very well the first half.” Miller said. “Ask them what I told them at halftime. I got on them pretty good. I told them we can play so much better.

“In the third quarter, you got to see how the girls can play.”

Outside shooting proved the difference for the Trojans.

“We anticipated, teams want to stop Leah, so our girls know they have to go shoot the basketball,” Miller said. “Sydney knows and she’s actually being more aggressive now than she ever has before because the players we lost (to injuries). All our guards have to shoot it more.”

The top-ranked Trojans (35-1) will try to win their sixth straight championship, something no other ASHAA team has done.

Star of the Game: Hazel Green’s Sydney Steward scored 17 points, making 5-of-9 field goals, including 4-of-7 from 3-point range. She made all three free throw attempts and grabbed six rebounds in 26 minutes of play.

Stat sheet: Hazel Green – Amiyah Redus seven points, three assists; Leah Brooks two points, five rebounds, four steals.

McGill – Lindsey Cox 11 points, two assists, two steals; Anna Reed McNeece seven points, eight rebounds, two steals.

By the numbers: Hazel Green – Shot 17-of-40 (42.5 percent) field goals, 9-of-22 3-pointers, 6-of-9 free throws, 28 rebounds, 11 assists, 5 steals.

McGill – Shot 9-of-38 (23.7 percent) field goals, 2-of-10-pointers, 2-of-4 free throws, 26 rebounds, five assists, six steals.

They said it: “We had a good season, but just came up short. They did a very good job of pressuring the ball.” – McGill’s Lindsey Cox.

Next up: Hazel Green plays the Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa/Huffman winner for the Class 6A girls championship on Saturday at 12:30 p.m.