Four assignments Thursday are impact games in area play:
GDW Analysis: Thursday evening local basketball has 5 teams Gameday Weekly reports on regularly to be taking to the hardwood. Four assignments stand out for the importance in area play of the AHSAA. Two teams are on the verge of winning a regular season area title. One is looking to stay at the top of the area leaderboard and end a 3 game losing streak. Another is playing out the area schedule, coming close to near perfection.
Good Hope at East Lawrence (G): Lady Raiders enter this 4A, Area 13 game 4 & 0 after a 42 to 31 win Tuesday at West Morgan. East Lawrence is 3 & 1 in area play and has an 8 & 1 record in home games. The Lady Raiders get the No. 1 seed for the area playoffs with a win in the town of Caddo in Lawrence County. Good Hope is 16 & 5 overall. Tip time is 5:15 p.m. Addison at St. Bernard (G): Class 1A, Area 14 playfrom the Fazi Richard Athletic Center at 5:30. Addison leads the area with a 4 & 0 record. St. Bernard is 2nd at 2 & 2. The Lady Saints defeated Meek 35 to 27 Tuesday. Two matchups for the Lady Saints with Addison is Thursday in a makeup game and next Monday at Addison. Addison wins the regular season title if they are to defeat Tim Burleson's Lady Saints on the road. St. Bernard has only played 8 games so far and is 5 & 3. The Lady Saints have 5 games currently left on the regular season setup. Good Hope at East Lawrence: Losing in OT Tuesday at West Morgan 87 to 82 has Good Hope and West Morgan in a first place tie in 4A, Area 13. The Raiders are in their longest slump of the season, three consecutive losses. West Morgan is 4 & 1 in the area with Good Hope 3 & 1. The Raiders end area play with the Thursday visit to East Lawrence and a Friday game at home against Danville. Drew Adams' Raiders will have to win out and see what happens with West Morgan playing host to East Lawrence on Friday evening. The Raiders are 15 & 6. Tip time is 6:30 at East Lawrence. Vinemont at JB Pennington (G): All Vinemont is looking to accomplish Thursday in Blountsville, to finish 7 & 1 in the 5 team 3A Area 11 standings. Vinemont got the No. 1 seed for the upcoming playoffs Tuesday in winning at Holly Pond 36 to 34. The Lady Eagles are 6 & 1 and swept the season series from Holly Pond. Pennington is looking to cool down the momentum of Vinemont. The Lady Tigers are 3rd in the area at 3 & 4. First year coach Emily Willoughby has the Lady Eagles 7th in the 3A poll and 15 & 4 for the season. Tip time is 6:00 p.m. in Blountsville.
Photo of the St. Bernard Lady Saints in a huddle at Cullman Christian School January 13. GDW photo by Johnny Thornton
