Playday season very productive for Bearcats:
GDW Analysis:
Choas is a word best to describe Cullman Bearcat basketball.
The Bearcats employ an intense up tempo style with the results of this being 78 wins in 96 games after three years with Stu Stuedeman operating the structure.
Cullman earned an AHSAA championship in his inaugural season of 2021/22 and have been a qualifier for the Northwest Regional in Class 6A all three years, finishing 2nd in 2023/24 to Buckhorn.
Now the Bearcats are in the process of hard work in the summer time to set them in the direction of more wins and another good run in the AHSAA playoffs.
Going into the last week of the playday schedule, Cullman was engaged in 16 games. The total record was 11 & 5, but the team was sound when everyone was available as 10 wins were recorded in 11 decisions.
On the weekend of June 13/14, Stuedeman had the Bearcats at the Auburn playday adventure. Four wins in six assignments with the Bearcats able to play at Neville Arena twice, facing Spainish Fort on the 13th and Theodore on the 14th.
In the weekend that has now finished for his team, Cullman was a participant in the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) scholastic state camp at Hoover High School.
Cullman was given an opportunity to tangle with Gadsden City and Hueytown on the 22nd.
Six players left last year's team by graduation with quality personnel finishing their career such as Sam Duskin, Kase Nixon, Brodie Banister and Colton Echols.
The cover is not bare for the 'Cats in year four of the Stuedeman era.
Sharp shooting guard Jake Dorough will be looked to maintain what he does as a scorer. Dorough will get to be involved in the AHSAA All Star game July 16 in Montgomery, playing for the North squad.
Gray Hopper and Sam Dorough contributed well in the backcourt as sophomores. Evan Wilson is sound for the team from the high point and working his way to the goal.
Six-foot, six-inch Brooks Lofton gave Cullman a huge player for physical play. Lofton is just a freshman and continues to mature. Preston Gay presents the unit depth in the backcourt with Gay now in his senior season.
The experience of the squad and those moving upward from the junior varsity makes the upcoming season with plenty of optimism in order to produce a 4th straight year of 20 victories and much more.
Cullman has been relocated to a different area by the AHSAA. Instead of clashing with Hartselle and Decatur, the Bearcats are in Area 13 and have Jasper and Mortimer Jordan to fight it out with.
Japser is up from Class 5A and has been sound thanks to the leadership of coach Heath Burns. Mortimer Jordan has worked hard on improving in every phase as both will be determined not to let Cullman take down an area title for the fourth consecutive season.
Cullman's first week of the June schedule had the Bearcats at Tom Drake Coliseum on the Wallace State campus.
Cullman was matched up on June 7 with Decatur, Fairview and West Morgan. The West Morgan game drew a lot of interest for the 'Cats took on a regional champion that is now being led by former Cullman coach Bobby Meyer.
It is for sure, the 'Cats want to get back to Wallace when it is at an impact time in the season schedule. That would be in mid February for the Northwest Regional.
Photo of the Cullman Bearcats at Wallace State playday June 7.
Photo courtesy of Cullman basketball.
