Hard work being put in by local girls basketball teams in June:
GDW Analysis:
Prep basketball playdays are now done for the 2024 edition.
The month of June is allowed by the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) for teams to go to as many events they set on the schedule for a timeframe of three weeks.
Gameday Weekly took a close look at the local girls' programs in seeing teams perform at playdays from Hartselle, Danville, Hartselle, Good Hope, Cullman, the scholastic camp in Hoover and close it out on June 19 at Cullman.
The 2023/24 season is in memory of how great the year was with Good Hope winning the 4A state championship, Cold Springs in the Final Four of Class 2A, West Point earning a Sweet 16 bid in Class 5A. The three teams combined for 82 wins, plus three area championships and three victories in the sub regional round of the postseason.
Also, the Lady Raiders, Lady Eagles and Lady Warriors combined to lose 10 seniors, all starters. Their lineups will be very different when the new season becomes official on the night of November 7 across the state.
Competitive play was shown from last season by Cullman, Fairview, Holly Pond, Hanceville and Vinemont. Cullman Christian School put out a great 2nd year in the AHSAA with 15 victories in 24 games. They are now eligible for postseason play after serving their 2 year probation of being accepted by the AHSAA and will be a 1A athletic program.
Unfortunately, several players were not able to get in June workouts due to injuries.
Good Hope had to go the month with a new lineup while All Star selection Ava McSwain missed the playdays after an ankle injury early in the month. Senior Jolee McHan is recovering from ACL surgery and should be ready once fall workouts begin.
Cold Springs kept Ella Dickerson on the sidelines as she is dealing with an ACL injury she suffered back in January in the Cullman County tournament semifinals.
Holly Pond point guard Madison Butts has a rare condition with her legs as she did play some in the June schedule and was out for a few games too.
Hanceville's sister combo of Aaliyah and Alex Twitty dealt with bumps and bruises.
Cullman, West Point, Vinemont and Fairview managed to go through the process of staying healthy and getting good time on the floor to set themselves up for strong efforts when the new season comes around.
Each have experience returning and all should be mature in looking at solid competition through area play. Cullman has a new area with 5A state champion Jasper and a solid Mortimer Jordan team to face them in 6A, Area 13.
Vinemont is under command of new coach Emily Willoughby and a loaded 3A, Area13 with county schools Hanceville and Holly Pond, plus Blount County teams JB Pennington and Locust Fork.
West Point will be looking for a third consecutive 5A, Area 15 championship as its a 3 team area. The Lady Warriors will match up with ling time foes Lawrence County and Russellville.
Fairview will see its 2nd year under Chris Nichols as the Lady Aggies have good experience returning in Darby Nichols, Davi Stidham, Lexi Golden, Peyton Defoor and Kailyn Redding.
The Lady Aggies have added to their roster with shooting guard Whitney Quick coming in after making an impact in the last two seasons for Vinemont.
Fairview finished its playday schedule over the weekend at Auburn University. Enjoying the atmosphere of being on the plains, the Lady Eagles compiled a 3 & 0 record. That provides them with momentum and confidence going into 2024/25.
GDW ranks outstanding performances in the June playdays:
Best local performance - Cullman 53 to 46 over Ardmore June 13 at Cullman. Lady Bearcats went on 8 to 0 run in final 2:00 of a highly competitive game with a 5A school from Limestone County.
Total dominance of their opponent - Good Hope 59 to 31 vs. Dora June 12 at Good Hope. Lady Raiders had a hot 1st half with a 36 to 13 advantage vs. a solid 4A program from Walker County.
Doing it right the way they know how - Cold Springs in defeating Westminster Christian 57 to 38 June 19 at Cullman. Lady Eagles put on a typical 3 point attack led by Paizley Whitlow, Kenady Graves and Hollyn Bruer.
Best 1st half seen by GDW - 2A power Decatur Heritage and 4A power Deshler went on a scoring spree in the opening half at Hartselle June 11. Deshler was up 34 to 32 at intermission. Deshler would be much stronger in the final half, pulling away from Heritage by the final of 64 to 43.
They have the potential to enjoy a lot of success - Albertville. The Lady Aggies made a move in hiring Susan Moore coach Natasha Smallwood and with her ability, plus the addition of her youngest daughter Lani, Albertville should move up in wins and the quest to compete in the North part of 7A hoops.
At the scholastic camp June 14, Albertville was seen by GDW in taking down Minor from Birmingham 60 to 45. The Lady Aggies led 28 to 23 at the half and went on a strong 3rd period outing to get control of the game.
Best 1st half by a local team - That would go to Fairview in its 1st game June 19 at Cullman. Lady Aggies battled Northridge from Tuscaloosa County. Their first 4 shots made were threes and they led the Lady Jags at the break 24 to 23.
Fairview would get a 54 to 41 victory, thanks to good free throw shooting in crunch time, an item that been on inconsistent display in their previous assignment, at the scholastic state camp vs. Homewood and Marbury from the Finley Center.
A work in progress - Vinemont took to four different playdays, from Danville to Good Hope, Cullman and West Point and did not experience a loss. GDW saw the Lady Eagles and new coach Emily Willoughby June 7 with wins over Westminster Christian and Brewer at Danville.
Vinemont played Danville and West Morgan in the Good Hope series, doing enough to be a winner.
The Lady Eagles outlasted Ardmore 51 to 48 and blew past Phillips 61 to 17 in Cullman. They finished up with wins in West Point on the 14th vs. Oakwood and Hatton.
Vinemont has three starters back in Reagan Robinson, Caroline Miller and Carly Stephens as this team seeks their 3rd consecutive winning season, something that has not gone on in Vinemont for a long period of time.
Photo of the Fairview Lady Aggies at the Auburn University playday June 22.
Photo courtesy of Fairview Lady Aggie basketball.
