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  • Good Hope’s Darcie Wilson (12) tries to drive past Holly Pond’s Taylor Rowell, right, and Taylor Terry, left, during the county championship game at the Tom Drake Coliseum. Amanda Shavers-Davis

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February 8, 2012

PREP BASKETBALL AREA PREVIEW (GIRLS): Only one goal

No. 1 Raiders, other coverage teams hopeful for deep playoff runs

By Rob Ketcham The Cullman Times

CULLMAN — The Good Hope girls basketball team has been Class 4A’s No. 1 squad all year long. They backed it up with a 28-1 regular season record and currently lay claim to a 23-game win streak.

That’s all well and good — if the regular season was what mattered most to the Raiders.

But it’s not.

Rather, coach Michael Oldacre and his group of athletic, sharp-shooting, defensive-minded girls have had their eyes on only one thing — bringing home a state title.

The path to fulfilling that goal will begin Thursday at home as the postseason kicks off with a slew of area tournaments all over the state.

After sporting a perfect 6-0 area record, Good Hope will host the Class 4A, Area 13 tournament, pitting them against No. 4 East Lawrence in the opening round.

 The Raiders defeated the Eagles 65-42 at home in December and took care of them 57-47 on the road in January.

The winner of that contest, which will begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, will go on to play the victor of the semifinal matchup between Fairview and Priceville.

The Bulldogs came away with wins both times they faced the Aggies this season.

The Fairview-Priceville game will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, and the area championship game will be Saturday at 7 p.m.



Class 5A, Area 13

Host: Brewer

For all the hard work they’ve put in as giant killers this season, beating top teams like Good Hope, Cold Springs, Northridge, Brewer and Holly Pond, among others, No. 4 Cullman’s early road to what could be a deep postseason run won’t be an easy one.

Arch-rival Hartselle, the last squad to beat the Bearcats (53-41 in early January), will be Cullman’s first-round opponent Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

The Bearcats took down the Tigers 64-44 Dec. 6 on the road.

The winner of that game will face the victor of the other semifinal contest between host No. 5 Brewer and West Point, which will tip-off Thursday at 7 p.m.

The Patriots beat the Warriors 75-33 in both regular season meetings.

The area championship game will be Saturday at 7 p.m.



Class 3A, Area 12

Host: Holly Pond

No. 6 Holly Pond is looking to once again make an impact in the postseason after earning a trip to the Final 48 two years ago. It appears that isn’t too high of an expectation, as Taylor Terry, Courtney Deese and Natasha Holcombe have played large parts in the Broncos’ latest successful regular season.

As the No. 1 seed in the area, Holly Pond will face Hanceville in the opening round. The game will be Friday at 5:15 p.m.

The Broncos handled the Bulldogs 67-20 Dec. 2 and 80-22 in early January.

The winner of that game will advance to play the victor of a battle between Vinemont and Winston County. That contest will tip-off at 4 p.m. Friday.

The Eagles defeated the Yellow Jackets 50-43 Dec. 2 and 60-48 in mid-January.

The area championship will be next Monday at 6 p.m.



Class 2A, Area 11

Host: Cold Springs

Through all of its ups and downs, one thing has remained clear for Cold Springs this season — the Eagles know how to compete at the 2A level.

They played higher-classed opponents like Cullman (5A), Good Hope (4A), Holly Pond (3A) throughout the year, which should pay off as they begin the postseason by hosting the area tournament.

Cold Springs will square off with Oakman Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

The Eagles came out on top 62-12 Dec. 9 and again 69-18 only 10 days later.

The winner will go on to play the victor of the other semifinal matchup between American Christian Academy and Sumiton Christian.

The area championship will be next Monday at 5:30 p.m.



Class 1A, Area 12

Host: Lynn

Addison is the only squad in The Times’ coverage area in an area consisting of five teams.

The Bulldogs will play Marion County in the first round Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

Addison won a Dec. 6 matchup with the Red Raiders by a 42-37 decision, but the tables were turned with a 45-33 result in late January.

The winner will go on to play the victor of a semifinal contest between Lynn and Brilliant/Meek.

The area championship will be Saturday at 6 p.m.



Class 1A, Area 11

Host: Gaston

St. Bernard was eliminated after a 40-23 loss to Coosa Christian Monday night.



Rob Ketcham can be reached at 256-734-2131, ext. 257 or at robk@cullmantimes.com.

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