GDW Analysis:
BIRMINGHAM: Everywhere Allen Sharpe has been coaching college basketball, the results have been outstanding.
In 2023/24, Sharpe took over the Wallace State Lady Lions and directed them to 25 wins, finishing 2nd in the Alabama Community College Conference.
That drew attention by the University of Alabama Huntsville. The NCAA Division II program laid an offer down, too good to refuse.
Sharpe has led the Lady Chargers to 25 victories and a berth in the NCAA South Regional.
UAH claimed 2nd place in the Gulf South Conference tournament Sunday at the Pete Hanna Center at Samford University.
The Lady Chargers fought to the end, but fell to No. 1 seed Union University in the title game, 58 to 52.
Sharpe's leadership in the key position has enabled UAH to set a school record for victories in one season. This was just the 3rd time the Lady Chargers had worked their way to the championship bout in this well known conference in Division II hoops.
Gameday Weekly took in the opportunity to see the former Wallace State mentor as his coaching style was noticed from his days in the ACCC and the fine environment of coaching at Tom Drake Coliseum.
Sharpe spoke to GDW before game time, knowing this would be a challenge against a team that looked very similar to a long time foe for Wallace, that being Shelton State.
Union had defeated the Lady Chargers 93 to 58 on February 15 in Huntsville.
The squad from Tennessee would have a run in the 3rd of the championship that was the difference in the outcome.
Union was up 24 to 20 at halftime, going on a 10 to 0 run at the start of the 2nd half for a 34 to 20 advantage.
UAH didn't surrender. The Lady Chargers stayed calm and was in a position to make it a one possession game with less than 30 seconds to go.
A lane violation on a made FT was taken off the board. Instead of being down 54 to 51, UAH trailed 54 to 50. Union would score from the line four times and cut down the championship net.
One key statistic was UAH with 17 turnovers that led to 16 points being scored by Union.
Union went 6 of 8 from the line in the final period in comparison to the Lady Chargers making just two of six.
A member of this historic team is former Good Hope Lady Raider Ivey Maddox.
Maddox has played in every game for Sharpe, being a starter in 23 of them.
The hero with a steal in the closing seconds of a 51 to 48 semifinal victory vs. Lee University Saturday, Maddox was unable to deliver in scoring. She went to work playing sound defense in her assignment of coverage under a pressure setup with Union spreading the ball well over the floor in frontcourt.
Maddox was the AHSAA 4A player of the year in her final season for Good Hope.
Another player known to this area that has shown heart and determination is freshman Mia Hollingsworth from Jasper.
Hollingsworth originally signed a golf scholarship with Wallace and was to play basketball too.
Then when Sharpe took the position at UAH, Hollingsworth would go with him.
UAH was given the No. 6 seed for the South Regional to be hosted by Union.
The Lady Chargers will meet 3 seed Nova University Friday. Game time is to be announced.
In two years of leading a women's program collegiately, Sharpe has been a part of two programs with 25 wins, 6 losses and plenty of accolades for him and his personnel.
March Madness moves on and Allen Sharpe is still a part of it in 2025.
Photo of UAH Lady Chargers coach Allen Sharpe in the Gulf South Conference championship game Sunday at Pete Hanna Center at Samford University.
GDW photo by Johnny Thornton.
