GDW Analysis:
BIRMINGHAM: Class 2A, 3A, 4A will be the highlight for championship play Friday in the AHSAA basketball state tournament.
Gameday Weekly takes a look at the matchups in seeing how each title game could possibly develop.
2A: Decatur Heritage vs. Pisgah 9:00 a.m.
DH: # 1, NW Regional champion 28 & 7.
Pisgah: # 7, NE Regional champion, 21 & 8
DH defeated Abbeville in semifinal
Pisgah defeated Ranburne in semifinal.
DH has been No. 1 ranked all season. The Lady Eagles are in the championship for the first time.
Johnny Jones has a solid unit with key players being F Genie McGhee, F Leslie Hames, PG Emma Eastman.
Pisgah is looking for the grand prize for the 1st time since 2022. The Lady Eagles won the state crown 5 consecutive years.
Carey Ellison is well known for the greatness he has in being the coach for Pisgah.
3A: Lauderdale Co vs. St. James 12:30 p.m.
LC: # 1, NW Regional champion 33 & 1
St. James: Central Regional champion 33 & 3
LC defeated TR Miller in semifinal.
St. James defeated Sylvania in semifinal.
Lauderdale County is back in the state championship battle for the first time since 2020.
Carla Clemons has performed well in taking over the Lady Tigers after Brent Llwellyn retired.
Lauderdale is a team with plenty of talent at different locations. SG Shila Marks has a solid trigger in scoring, SF Alaina Thomas gives the team speed, hard play comes from the backcourt in Meredith Newton and Ansley Shelton, plus Sarah Smith on the frontline.
St. James has two youngsters with great skills as 8th graders. They are PG Morgan Lilly and F Jordyn McRae. Natalie Barton stood out in the semifinal win, rotating at the PG spot.
4A: Good Hope vs. Trinity Presbyterian 4:00 p.m.
GH: # 4, NW Regional champion 27 & 5
Trinity: # 1, Central regional champion 19 & 2
GH defeated St. Michael Catholic in semifinal.
Trinity defeated Plainview in semifinal.
Good Hope has a return trip to the Final Four, but very much different this year in personnel.
SG Ava McSwain is the lone starter back from the 2024 state winner. The other four positions have been filled with Ella Gossett the PG, Lexi Marshall and Sophie Konrad at the wing position and Jolee McHan playing the post.
The Lady Raiders have won 12 straight and lost only once since January.
Trinity won the AHSAA 3A crown last season. A team that is well experienced with G Maddie Smith a catalyst for the Lady Wildcats.
GDW saw Trinity roll over 2A power Decatur Heritage on November 16 in Priceville thanks to superb shooting from long distance.
Trinity stormed out to a 16 to 0 lead on Plainview in its semifinal Tuesday night.
Good Hope fought off a strong upset bid by St. Michael Catholic.
Free throws from McHan and Konrad in the final minute preserved the victory.
In the last 2 years, Justin Aby has led the Lady Raiders to consecutive Final Four trips with the team 60 wins and 8 losses.
Photo of Good Hope's Ava McSwain in the AHSAA Final Four Tuesday vs. St. Michael Catholic at the BJCC.
Photo courtesy of Cullman Daily.
