GDW prep basketball report from Monday & Tuesday games:
Vinemont & Hanceville girls start new season with a victory:
GDW Analysis:
Success was earned by three local girls hoop teams in their season opener between Monday and Tuesday.
Vinemont started the Emily Willoughby era with a 52 to 51 victory in OT Monday at home against Madison County.
St. Bernard went into Northwest Alabama and came home by defeating Colbert Heights Monday
61 to 48.
The new season for Hanceville opened Tuesday evening at Lane Horton Gym against Randolph. The Lady Bulldogs romped over the visitors from Huntsville 54 to 28.
Vinemont (G):
Playing at home to begin Willoughby's career as an AHSAA coach, Vinemont and Madison County carried the battle into an extra period with the game tied at 43 to 43 to end regulation.
The Lady Eagles got a go ahead three by Morgan Flangan late in the OT and held on for the victory.
Flangan ripped the cords for 20 points with 15 being produced in the 2nd half.
Hanceville (G):
Hanceville has an experienced team and showed it Tuesday.
The Lady Bulldogs accounted for 52 points through three periods of play, knocking down 23 FGs, 19 from two point territory.
Hanceville was able to play the 4th stanza with a running clock for having a 52 to 20 advantage at the end of the 3rd.
Leading Christina Watson's Lady Bulldogs was Mckenzie Aaron with 13 points, hitting 3 FGs from three point range.
Aliyah Twitty tossed in 11 with her sister Alex scoring 8.
These three were on the squad last year and have matured in the opportunity for Hanceville to be a good ball club.
St. Bernard (G):
While St. Bernard prevailed Monday on the road against Colbert Heights, the Lady Saints began their schedule at the Fazi Richard Athletic Center Tuesday taking down Athens Bible 44 to 33.
The Lady Saints now look forward to facing Vinemont on the home floor Friday evening.
Elsewhere:
JB Pennington 67, Cullman Christian 27 (Tuesday)
Fairview 72, Tarrant 17 (Monday)
Fairview had no trouble with Tarrant visiting Joe Shults Gym to go 2 & 0 after getting a 59 to 49 victory in their Tip Off Classic Saturday vs. Susan Moore.
Cullman Christian was not able to hang with JB Pennington in Blountsville Tuesday and fell in its opener to the Lady Tigers.
Varsity report:
Madison County 77, Vinemont 54 (Monday)
Randolph 74, Hanceville 45 (Tuesday)
Athens Bible 62, St. Bernard 11 (Tuesday)
Cullman Christian at JB Pennington (Tuesday)
Fairview at Corner (Tuesday)
Vinemont was in business through the first half with Madison County, trailing 29 to 28 at the break.
But the Eagles got outscored by the Tigers 32 to 18 in the 3rd and trailed 61 to 46.
Madison County finished with a 16 to 8 run in the final period, going back to Gurley 1 & 0 on the season.
Hanceville dealt with an experienced Randolph Raider squad on Tuesday in its opener.
The Bulldogs were down 13 to 8 after the first and 34 to 18 at halftime.
Hanceville could not keep Randolph's Grant Enfinger from unloading long range shooting in the 3rd. He hit 5 threes to put the Raiders in a comfortable advantage for the rest of the way.
Enfinger accounted for 28 points, hitting 6 consecutive threes between the 2nd and 3rd period.
The bright spot for Hanceville was the shooting of senior Peyton Twilley. Twilley scored 15 with three shots accounting for three points each.
What's ahead for local hoops later this week:
Thursday:
Decatur Heritage at Cullman (G) 6:00
Fairview at Holly Pond 6:30/7:45
Good Hope at Guntersville (G) 6:00
Cullman at DAR 6:30
Cullman Christian at Brindlee Mtn 5:00/6:30
Friday:
Vinemont at St. Bernard 5:00/6:30
Hanceville at Cold Springs 6:00/7:15
West Point at Holly Pond 6:30/7:45
Photo of Hanceville's Aliyah Twitty as team caption before Lady Bulldogs game vs. Randolph Tuesday at Lane Horton Gym.
GDW photo by Johnny Thornton
