GDW Analysis:
Before Saturday's AHSAA 6A, Area 13 semifinal, three Cullman Lady Bearcats and three Jasper Lady Vikings were honored for regular season play, being named to the All Area team.
Four of them stepped on to the floor and delivered great performances.
Molly Wilson and Molly Dorough of Cullman was huge with the two Molly's combining for 38 points in the Lady 'Cats winning at Bearcat Arena 61 to 53.
Cullman defeats Jasper for the 2nd time in the span of 5 days. The Lady 'Cats won on January 27 by the final of 38 to 28 to force a coin flip to determine the No. 2 seed in the area behind Mortimer Jordan.
Cullman won the toss, got the game at home and now has momentum with three wins in a row. They will play Mortimer Jordan for the area title Tuesday in Morris with 14 wins and 14 losses on the season.
Dorough had a pair of consecutive FGs that put Cullman on top 11 to 7 in the first. The period ended with the Lady 'Cats leading 13 to 9.
Wilson accounted for 7 points in the 2nd and the Ladt 'Cats had a 31 to 22 advantage at halftime.
Dorough delivered 8 by halftime and a steal and layup from Kadence Hanback with time running out sent the Lady 'Cats to a 9 point cushion.
With 4:00 left in the 3rd, Cullman enjoyed a 37 to 22 lead, the largest of the afternoon.
Jasper then went to work with all area standout Marianna Rigsby. Scoreless in the 1st, Rigsby had 7 in the 2nd and 8 in the 3rd. She was 10 of 10 from the line leading her club to a comeback as they trailed 43 to 40 when the period closed out.
Dorough gave Cullman a huge FG with 5:00 to go to make it 49 to 42.
Back came Jasper on a 3 from the top by Rigsby and they were down 50 to 47 with less than 4:00 to play.
What was huge for Jessica McBrayer's Lady 'Cats in the 4th was scoring by players for the first time in the game.
Rachel Hofffman, bothered by foul trouble, got a FG and 2 FTs. PG Zoe Snider went 5 of 6 from the line in the period, Ak Granger scored on a jumper.
Cullman was 11 of 16 from the line in the 4th with Snider 5 of 6, Hoffman 2 of 2, Wilson 3 of 6.
Wilson was sharp in the semifinal, scoring a team high 25 points. Dorough had 13, Kentley White 7, Snider 5, Hoffman and Hanback 4 and Granger 2.
This was the most points scored by Cullman in 3 meetings with Jasper this season.
Rigsby stood out for Jasper, ending the season at 15 & 10. The junior had 26 and was effective from the line making 12 of 13.
She scored 11 points in the 4th and tallied a pair of long range FGs.
Game time for the Lady 'Cats and Mortimer Jordan Tuesday is 6:00 p.m.
The game will be live on 98.3 FM.
Photo of Jasper guard Marianna Rigsby vs. Cullman guard Kentley White in game at Jasper January 27.
Photo courtesy of the Daily Mountain Eagle.
