GDW Analysis:
HANCEVILLE: Returning to the AHSAA Northwest Regional after playing in the Central Regional the last 2 years, the Cold Springs maintained how they play in this segment of the playoffs.
Cold Springs had 6th ranked Sulligent down 20 to 0 after the opening period.
The Lady Eagles walked off Tom Drake Coliseum Tuesday afternoon with a 46 to 38 victory. That punches a ticket for the 2nd ranked team in 2A to the championship Monday at 9:00 a.m.
Cold Springs shot 47 percent in the first to get a huge lead on the Blue Devils.
Ella Dickerson had 3 FGs, Paizley Whitlow knocked down a pair of threes, Hollyn Bruer made a trey, Kenady Graves got a FG and FT, Maci Huffstutler added a FG.
A 20 to 0 shutout was well surprising, but Sulligent did throw up the surrender flag.
The Lady Eagles went to the locker room 25 to 8 at halftime. Sulligent shot 40 percent in the 2nd to start the quest of making a run in getting the deficit reduced.
After the 3rd, Tammy West's Lady Eagles were on top 34 to 21.
Sulligent fought back to get within 2 thanks to 8 in the period by Isabella Bozeman and 7 by senior Ella Wheeler.
The Lady Eagles stayed cool under pressure and would go 6 of 6 from the line to endure their 19th victory of the season.
FTs were made by Whitlow (2), Bruer (2) and Graves (2) in crunch time.
This is the biggest victory of the season for Cold Springs in knocking off a squad that has played in this regional four consecutive years.
Graves scored 14, Whitlow had 13, Dickerson netted 10, Bruer 5 and Huffstutler 4.
Sulligent, with 20 wins on the season in 26 games, had 15 by Bozeman and Wheeler. The duo rescued the Blue Devils with 15 of their 17 points in the last period.
Wheeler played her final game for she is a senior. She added 4 rebounds and 5 steals to the box score.
Cold Springs had a 28 to 24 edge on the boards with Huffstutler, Bruer and Dickerson collected 5 apiece.
Huffstutler delivered 5 assists, Cold Springs won that statistic 13 to 4.
Other NW regional scores (Girls):
2A: Decatur Heritage 57, Belgreen 34:
No. 1 Decatur Heritage turned a close 23 to 17 game at the half into a one sided affair in the final 16:00.
The Lady Eagles had a 23 to 10 surge on the scoreboard in the 3rd to go up 46 to 27.
Decatur Heritage is 23 & 7 and will meet Cold Springs in the championship Monday.
This will be No. 1 Decatur Heritage vs. No. 2 Cold Springs. Heritage was NW regional runner up last year. Cold Springs won the Central championship in Birmingham.
1A: Marion Co 66, Hubbertville 38
1A: Brilliant 49, Lynn 21
Marion Co vs. Brilliant Monday 12:30 p.m.
Photo of Cold Springs' Paizley Whitlow. The senior had 13 points, 2 of 2 FTs, 3 rebounds, 3 assists in 46 to 38 regional win over Sulligent.
Photo courtesy of Martha Needham.
