These two teams – Hoover and Vestavia Hills – know each other well.

Three times they battled previously this season with Vestavia Hills earning two wins, including the area tournament title. The largest margin of victory was eight points.

The expected nail-biter rematch never happened.

Second-ranked Hoover blitzed top-ranked Vestavia Hills 58-26 during Tuesday’s Northwest Regional Class 7A boys championship at Wallace-Hanceville’s Tom Drake Coliseum.

“It was our fourth time to play them and we thought we might see them again so we held some things back,” said Hoover coach Scott Ware.

The Bucs decided to lock in on Vestavia’s Win Miller and Jackson Weaver.

“We played them straight up the first three times and we wanted to key in on a few guys,” Ware said. “Win Miller is an outstanding basketball player and we felt like if we could limit him and Weaver we had an excellent shot. We did a good job with that.”

Vestavia Hills made only 10-of-38 shots in the game and missed all 12 from 3-point range. Weaver scored eight points on 2-of-9 shooting and missed his only 3-point attempt while Miller had four points on 2-of-12 shooting and missed six 3-pointers.

“Four single-digit quarters won’t win a regional final,” said Vestavia Hills coach Patrick Davis. “We didn’t guard well, we didn’t do anything well today.”

An early 2-all game turned into a 15-6 Hoover first quarter advantage as the Bucs converted 6-of-12 shots while the Rebels made only 2 of 11 from the field.

Hoover stretched it to 18-7 on 6-foot-9 sophomore DeWayne Brown’s dunk with 6:18 left in the half and maintained the lead with Jonathan Caicedo’s contested 10-footer in the lane at the halftime buzzer for a 25-14 advantage.

The Rebels’ shooting woes continued into the third quarter while the Bucs opened the quarter with consecutive 3-pointers and stretched the lead to 39-18 on Elijah Thomas’ 3-pointer with 1:57 left in the third.

“The first three minutes of the third quarter, that sets the tone for the rest of the ballgame,” Ware said.

Vestavia Hills scored the final three points of the quarter and trailed 39-21 heading into the fourth.

Hoover finished putting it out of reach by scoring the first eight points of the fourth quarter, including consecutive 3-pointers by Seneca Robinson and Elijah Herron for a 47-21 lead with 6:27 left.

The Rebels never threatened thereafter.

Star of the Game: Hoover’s DeWayne Brown earned MVP, scoring 10 points in the balanced Bucs offense and grabbing 10 rebounds. He also blocked four shots.

Stat sheet: Hoover – Jarett Fairley 11 points on 3-of-7 shooting, 4-of-4 free throws, two assists and two steals; Elijah Herron nine points on 3-of-3 shooting, all 3-pointers.

Vestavia Hills – Jackson Weaver eight points on 2-of-9 shooting; Keown Richardson six points on 3-of-7 shooting.

By the numbers: Hoover – 20-of-34 shooting (58.8 percent), 10-of-19 3-pointers (52.6 percent), 27-19 rebounding advantage, 16 assists.

Vestavia Hills – 19 rebounds, 18 points in the paint

They said it: “We knew they wanted to get to the basket so we had to crowd the lane.” – Hoover’s DeWayne Brown.

“They did a good job and combined with us playing as poorly as we have in 31 games …” – Vestavia Hills coach Patrick Davis.

Next up: Hoover advances to the state semifinals at Birmingham’s BJCC on March 2 against Dothan.