ALL-CAPITAL CITY CONFERENCE: Catholic's Smith named girls POY
Catholic’s Hannah Smith was named the Capital City Conference Player of the Year for 2026. (File Photo)
By GRAHAM DUNN
Courtney Ward has coached and played with some of the better girls’ basketball players in the River Region over the last 25 years, but the Catholic coach hasn’t seen any like senior Hannah Smith.
Smith closed out her six-year career with the Knights by leading the team to its second-ever state tournament appearance, breaking the school record for scoring by Michelle Delongchamp in the process. And while Ward, a former standout at Jeff Davis, often points out players at the highest levels of high school competition, Smith’s performance at Class 4A Catholic was an eye opener as well.
“Everybody comes to me and tries to compare different teams I’ve had, especially taking two girls’ teams to the Final Four,” Ward said. “I definitely can admit, she’s the best girls’ player I’ve ever coached. And it’s just because of her hard work and dedication, wanting to be great. She’s very coachable, which is a plus.”
Smith earned recognition as the Capital City Conference Player of the Year and was joined on the all-CCC first team by four St. James players -- Natalie Barton, Morgan Lilly, Kaitlin Mitchell and Jordyn McRae.
Smith averaged 23.5 points and 10.7 rebounds per game, along with 3.6 assists and 5.0 steals. In her final game, a state semifinal loss to Good Hope, the Catholic senior closed her career with 16 points, giving her 2,687 points for her career to become the River Region’s all-time girls’ basketball scoring leader.
And while Ward only coached Smith for one season, the senior made quite an impression on her coach.
“I told her that me coaching her would be on a totally different level than coaching the team, just because of what she has already done, signing with Troy, and preparing her to get to that level,” Ward said. “I do think I was way harder on her, but it was something we had talked about and something she understood. But she’s that kid that is going to get in the gym before practice, after practice, weekends, whenever and do what it takes. She’s a ball player.”
The Knights reached the state tournament for the first time since 2002, but Ward told Smith the Knights would not be a contender until Smith learned how to get her teammates more involved.
“The biggest challenge was her being able to trust her teammates and not put everything on her,” Ward said. “I understand that it’s built into your head that you have to do this and that to help your team.It’s not that she’s selfish, she just wanted to do better things for herself and her teammates. I told her if you want to go really, really far and actually get a championship ring, you have no choice but to trust them.”
St. James understood the challenge, spreading the ball among all five starters and avenging last year’s loss to Lauderdale County in the 3A finals by blasting Mobile Christian to win the 3A title in 2026. The CCC coaches rewarded St. James coach Katie Barton by selecting her as the Capital City Conference Coach of the Year.
GIRLS ALL-CAPITAL CITY CONFERENCE BASKETBALL TEAM
PLAYER OF THE YEAR -- Hannah Smith, Catholic
COACH OF THE YEAR -- Katie Barton, St. James
First Team
Natalie Barton 5-8 G Jr. St. James
Morgan Lilly 5-8 G Fr. St. James
Kaitlin Mitchell 5-9 G So. St. James
Hannah Smith 6-0 G/F Sr. Catholic
Jordyn McRae 5-11 F Fr. St. James
Second Team
Jordan Robinson 5-7 PG So. Catholic
Lilly Smith 5-9 G So. Trinity
Ellie Causey 5-7 G Sr. Trinity
Sydney Johnston 5-6 G Sr. St. James
Kaden Fair 5-9 F So. St. James
Honorable mention -- Kaci Armistead, 5-5, PG, Jr., Montgomery Academy; Kaylin Corley, 5-8, G, Sr., St. James; Bailey Davis, 5-10, G, So., Montgomery Academy; Kierstyn Green, 5-9, G, Jr., Catholic; Addy Newkirk, 5-9, G, Fr., Alabama Christian; Lily Stanford, 5-7, G, Jr., St. James; Garland Thomas, 5-5, G, Fr., Montgomery Academy; Ajah Tuggle, 5-9, F, So., Catholic.