Two assignments so far by GDW on the prep hardwood this week:
GDW Analysis:
Everyone is well aware it will be a different Good Hope Lady Raider basketball team in the new season.
An incredible run by the Lady Raiders in 2023/24 that ended with a first time AHSAA championship. It will never be forgotten, but coach Justin Aby and his 2024/25 squad have to move onward with many changes for this team to encounter.
The month of June is set with a series of playdays. It got under way Thursday in Hartselle for Good Hope against Ardmore and Buckhorn.
What Aby was not anticipating was getting the schedule going while standout Ava McSwain was not in uniform. McSwain suffered an ankle injury and was seen by GDW on the bench in the medical boot after getting examined by a local doctor earlier this week.
Good Hope does have personnel that contributed in the late run of the team's success last season. Most of these were JV players and then promoted to the varsity as the Lady Raiders were dealt with injuries to four starters while they were in the area and sub regional round of the 4A postseason.
Now they are the ones to replace the graduated Ivey Maddox, Heather Tetro, Bailey Tetro, Charly Johnson, Lillie McCluskey and Emma Thompson.
They got to do it Thursday in running by Ardmore 65 to 36 and by mid-day, pulling out a 56 to 54 victory over Buckhorn.
Ella Gossett is the apparent point guard for next year and will rotate that position with Lexi Marshall. Both have had some playing time in the past and understand their role with the Lady Raiders eager to maintain the success they have built under four years with Aby in command.
Lucie Adams and Jordan Sanders stepped into the starting role in the playday opener while another young lady showed a lot of effort in her first time in a Good Hope uniform.
Eighth grader Sophie Konrad can play at least three positions and was very valuable to the team going 2 & 0 vs. a 5A and 6A school from Limestone and Madison County.
The Lady Raiders had a good stroke in the opening half with Ardmore, jumping to a 34 to 21 lead at the half thanks to plenty of scoring from the perimeter.
Good Hope's tempo was steady in the final half, accounting for 31 points in creating a one sided victory.
Against Buckhorn, the Lady Raiders got challenged immediately and were able to jump on top, leading 25 to 19 at halftime.
A very good 2nd half was on display between the two. Buckhorn began to make a series of outside shoots and Good Hope needed good team play in crunch time to avoid losing to the Lady Bucks.
Lexi Collins tallied a huge field goal late and big plays were provided from the backcourt of Gossett and Marshall.
Konrad knocked down two from the line with 0:12 to play, breaking a 54 to 54 deadlock. The Good Hope defense stepped it up in the final seconds, not allowing Buckhorn a good look when they inbounded near its bench.
Good Hope understands it has to be consistent, especially without McSwain for an undisclosed period of time.
The Lady Raiders will be in a playday Friday at Shelton State Community College. Good Hope will have one on Wednesday between the main gymnasium and the middle school gym.
Aby's team is scheduled to play in the AHSAA scholastic state camp next weekend at the Finley Center in Hoover.
Other results covered by GDW Thursday in Hartselle playday:
Hartselle 57, Ardmore 37
Buckhorn 57, Priceville 55 in OT
Priceville 36, Elkmont 26
Hartselle 53, Elkmont 20
Photo of Good Hope coach Justin Aby and his Lady Raiders before playday game Thursday vs. Ardmore at Hartselle HS.
GDW photo by Johnny Thornton
