Destinee Nelson has been here before.

The Huffman senior guard was a member of Carver-Birmingham’s 2021 Class 5A title team, scoring 19 points in the championship win over Mae Jemison.

It wasn’t the kind of start Nelson envisioned against Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa in Wednesday’s Class 6A girls state semifinal basketball game, missing shots and playing poorly through much of the game.

Crunch time came, Nelson stepped up, nailing a 3-pointer to tie the game and giving the Vikings a lead they wouldn’t lose on a running 6-footer in the 56-50 win.

“At that moment my team needed me,” Nelson said of her only 3-point basket of the game. “Coach (Lin Slater) kept telling me ‘I need you.’ I knew I had to make that 3 to help my team.”

Third-ranked Hillcrest (27-6) led throughout after a 9-0 start, but sixth-ranked Huffman (29-4) continued to rally behind sisters Tamiria and Jamiria Jones, who combined for 37 points.

“We don’t’ quit,” Slater said. “We were down by at least 11 at one time and could have gone in an awful direction. I’ve taught my girls since Day 1 not to quit.”

It was a layup by Hillcrest’s Blakeley Nixon with 41 seconds left in the third quarter that gave the Patriots the 43-32 lead. That’s when Huffman started its slow climb back into the game.

After Nelson’s go-ahead basket, 51-49 with 1:40 left in the game, Hillcrest converted 1-of-2 free throws, but the Huffman defense allowed nothing more.

“Them being a little tougher down the stretch, I think, was the difference,” said Hillcrest coach Nick Browder.

The Vikings made 5-of-6 free throws in the final 29 seconds to preserve the victory.

Star of the Game: Tamiria Jones scored 21 points on 7-of-17 shooting and 7of-8 free throws, adding five rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Stat sheet: Huffman – Jamiria Jones 16 points, six rebounds, two assists, three steals; Destinee Nelson 10 points, five rebounds, two steals.

Hillcrest – Blakeley Nixon 21 points, six rebounds; Nyeishia Davis 11 points; Jareah Branch nine points, nine rebounds.

By the numbers: Huffman – Shot 18-of-58 (31 percent) field goals, 5-of-16 3-pointers, 15-of-27 free throws, 41 rebounds, six assists, eight steals.

Hillcrest – Shot 17-of-45 (37.8 percent) field goals, 4-of-13 3-pointers, 12-of-17 free throws, 36 rebounds, eight assists, foursteals.

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