By Michael A. Cummings

VINEMONT — The news filtered down slowly around the gymnasium at Vinemont High — and it wasn’t good.

Madison Academy — the top-ranked team in Class 3A — had been upset at home by Elkmont.

The same Madison Academy that’s won the last three 3A state titles.

The same Madison Academy that before Monday hadn’t lost to anyone below the ranks of Class 5A in what seems like centuries.

The same Madison Academy that will now be visiting Cullman County this Friday.

Talk about tough luck. If this were poker, it would be the definition of a bad beat: Playing one of their biggest rivals for the fourth time this season, the Eagles pulled out an emotional win in what was the biggest game of their season.

Well, now they have to face Madison Academy in an even bigger game.

But before all the Vinemont fans go jumping off a cliff, remember this: In basketball, in any one game, just about anything can happen.

We saw it at last month’s Cullman County tournament, where the top two seeds in boys’ bracket both lost in the semifinals.

We saw it earlier this year when Hanceville shocked the county and downed Good Hope in the first game after Christmas break.

And we definitely saw it — or at least heard about it — Monday night when Elkmont pulled off the stunner in Huntsville.

But regardless of what happens on Friday, Monday’s game was a contest that won’t soon be forgotten.

It had it all: Coming into the game, Good Hope had won seven straight games and 12 of its last 13.

Vinemont, for its part, had won 9 of 10 — with the only loss during that spell coming to the Raiders at Tom Drake Coliseum.

Add to that the fact that the Eagles had lost on their home court just once all season — Dec. 9 against West Point — and this one was starting to look like a great matchup on paper.

Once they got there, the teams didn’t disappoint.

After a frantic first quarter, Vinemont — fueled by the best crowd the county has seen all season — was up 11-3. They lost it in the second quarter, and then raced neck-and-neck to the finish line.

When they got there, it was Vinemont by a nose.

Play the game again, and you might have a different winner. Play the game 10 more times, and you might just get an even split.

After four games between the teams, that’s exactly how it played out.

Each team one twice. Each team held serve on its home court. Each team had a close win and a double-digit victory.

And now, each team has a title.

“In the end, we won a county title, and they won an area title,” said Good Hope coach David Hulsey.

Which sounds about right for two of the best in Cullman County.

• Michael Cummings can be reached by e-mail at michaelc@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 258.