By Charles Prince

The North Jefferson News



The trophy case in the hallway leading into the gym at Tabernacle Christian School in Gardendale is filled to the walls with souvenirs of past state title triumphs. Five of those state title trophies share one common bond—senior Meghan Hallice.

Hallice has been the part of five state championships during her days on the Tabernacle campus. Hallice wasn’t just part of the team, she was most often the focal point of the clubs. Of the five state tournaments Hallice was a part of winning, she was named the state’s MVP three times.

She’s arguably the most successful athlete to ever put on a Tabernacle uniform.

“That would be an honor for someone to think so,” Hallice said. “But if I was, it was because of the teams I played on. I had great teammates who really pushed me and who wanted to be the best.”

Hallice admits to feeling some pressure before taking the court last Saturday in her final high school game. Part of the pressure came from reaching the state title game, but the rest of the uneasiness she felt came from being the only senior on this year’s Lady Torches team.

“I was nervous,” she said. “I had talked to my older sister before the game and she told me to play my hardest. I knew I had to give it everything I had. It was my last high school game and I was the only senior. I felt pressure on myself, because if I had played bad and we had lost, it would fall on me.”

Hallice played Saturday against Northside-Dothan the same way she’d played the entire 2007-08 season— in dominating style.

The senior racked up 33 points and 13 rebounds. Hallice actually had a hand in 47 Lady Torches points, as she kicked the ball to the wings when she was triple-teamed. By the end of the title game, she had handed out a team-high seven assists.

“She was just awesome,” Tabernacle head coach Phillip

Coleman said. “She not only dominated inside, but she also made the smart plays and found the open shooter.”

She easily won the tournament’s MVP award after helping her club to a second state crown in three seasons.

“I had a lot of mixed emotions in the final seconds of the game,” she said. “I was happy that we were going to win, but I was sad that I wouldn’t play high school ball anymore. My teammates made it special for me. I enjoyed playing with this team so much. It was a great way to go out with a win, but it was even more special to win it with this team.”

Besides her faith, the important things to Hallice are family and team. Just minutes after winning the state title, Hallice cheered on her younger brother T.J., as he and the Torches won the boy’s title.

“I was the proudest older sister ever,” Hallice said. “I was so happy to see him win his own state title. He wore jersey number 33 this year to honor me. It made this year very special for me. I love my brother so much, I’ll always remember that he did that for me.”

Hallice said the MVP award she won Saturday means more to her than the two state MVP awards she won in 2006 and 2007 at the state volleyball tournament.

“Winning MVP at the basketball state tournament means more to me, because basketball is my favorite sport,” Hallice said.

Hallice will likely play basketball in college. She’s been contacted by a school in Florida and may soon sign a scholarship with them.