GDW Analysis:
BIRMINGHAM: Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) is ready to start this year's basketball Final Four from Legacy Arena at the BJCC.
Regional play is now done with the winners from the NW, NE, Central and South ready to take the next step in the postseason adventure.
Gameday Weekly is looking at each classification, putting a lot of focus on the champions of the Northwest Regional from Wallace State.
This is how the schedule will be for each class as the odd divisions will begin the setup each day and the even classes will take over in the late afternoon and evening time.
Class 1A:
Brilliant is a newcomer to the Final Four. The NW Region champs got a buzzer beater victory over No. 7 Marion County.
The best team in this class once again is Spring Garden. No. 1 in the class and solid again, led by Ace Austin, SG should be able to handle No. 5 RC Hatch.
Unranked Brilliant is up against No. 9 McIntosh to getting the Monday schedule under way.
Class 2A:
Decatur Heritage has been on top of this poll all season. The Lady Eagles have 27 wins in 34 games. Their opponent is No. 5 Abbeville.
Another team rich in championship tradition is 7th ranked Pisgah. The Lady Eagles face unranked Highland Home in the evening semifinal Monday.
Class 3A:
Lauderdale County returns after a 2 year absence with new coach Carla Clemons and No. 1 in this class with 31 wins and a loss.
TR Miller is the opponent. A team that dropped from 4A last season, they are 4th with 18 wins in 19 games. TR Miller was the school who lost to Good Hope in the 2024 state title game in 4A.
Second ranked St. James from Montgomery battles unranked Sylvania. Sylvania is only 16 & 14, getting in a late season groove by winning the NE Regional.
Class 4A:
Good Hope Lady Raiders are back as the best from the Northwest Regional with a different lineup. The Lady Raiders were 4th in the final poll and have compiled 26 wins against 5 losses.
The Lady Raiders encounter St. Michael Catholic, 8th in Class 4A.
No. 1 Trinity Presbyterian, last year's 3A winner, meets No. 6 Plainview, the champion from the Northeast.
Good Hope has been sharp with 11 consecutive victories, a 5 & 0 mark in the current postseason.
They will play first in the 4A semis Tuesday at 3:00 p.m.
Class 5A:
Scottsboro was the runner up in 5A play a season ago. Many think the No. 2 team in the poll are good enough to take home the state title.
Scottsboro meets unranked Vigor Wednesday. No. 1 Ramsay will play unranked Marbury in the other semifinal.
Class 6A:
Defending state champion Hazel Green overcame Hartselle's slow down tactic and won the NW Regionak 25 to 15 at Wallace State.
No. 2 Hazel Green has No. 1 Park Crossing for the first semifinal in this class.
Park Crossing has 28 wins out of 29 decisions, Hazel Green is 25 & 6.
The other semi is No. 5 Mountain Brook vs. No. 6 Chelsea.
Class 7A:
Hoover returns from capturing the NE Regional Thursday at Jax State against upstart Albertville.
Hoover was 3rd in the final 7A poll. The Lady Bucs meet No. 6 Daphne in semifinal play Thursday.
No. 1 Hillcrest Tuscaloosa, winners of the NW, get 10th ranked Central Phenix City in the opening semifinal.
Hillcrest has 28 wins out of 30 games and a team loaded with talent in every position.
Photo of the Good Hope Lady Raiders accepting the Northwest Regional title trophy at Wallace State February 18.
Photo courtesy of Cullman Daily.
