GDW Analysis:
HANCEVILLE: For the 2nd consecutive year, the best girls basketball team in Class 4A from the Northwest region is the Good Hope Lady Raiders.
A different group than what they were a year ago, the Lady Raiders great journey will continue next week on to the AHSAA Final Four.
Good Hope repeated as regional champion Tuesday at Wallace State in whipping the Deshler Lady Tigers 70 to 50.
These two teams have met in the playoffs for five consecutive seasons.
Good Hope has beaten Deshler in back to back seasons, the first time the Lady Raiders have prevailed in a region championship.
Justin Aby's team engaged an 11 to 0 run after failing behind early 6 to 2. They did this while leading scorer Ava McSwain was on the bench with 2 personal fouls.
Fueling the fire for the Lady Raiders offensively was shooting guard Lexi Marshall with two treys and a FG in the first.
Handling the scoring responsibility was good for Marshall with Good Hope taking a 15 to 9 lead into the 2nd.
Both teams then struck for a lot of offense. Good Hope would get on a 25 point surge while Deshler managed 19.
The Lady Raiders had 10 points in the period from 8th grader Sophie Konrad, six by McSwain who stayed out of further foul trouble.
Lucie Adams delivered 7 to help Good Hope to a 40 to 28 advantage at halftime.
By the end of the 3rd, the Lady Raiders led 50 to 35 and had three in double figures with Adams waiting to add to this tally in the final frame.
Konrad accounted for 16, McSwain scored 15, Adams 12, Marshall 11, Jolee McHan 9 and Ella Gossett 8.
One thing Good Hope did well Tuesday was at the line in making 22 of 26 for 84 percent.
Konrad knocked down 7 of 9, McSwain 4 of 6, Adams 4 of 4, Gossett 4 of 4 and Marshall 2 of 2.
Adams and Konrad earned a spot on the all tournament team. McSwain was named the regional tournament MVP.
Good Hope is 26 & 5 and has an 11 game winning streak going to Birmingham next week for the Final Four.
Aby's team was 5 & 0 in playing at Wallace State this season.
Up next for Good Hope: Vs. St. Michael Catholic Tuesday at Legacy Arena 3:00 p.m.
The game will be carried live on WKUL FM (92.1).
Photo of a happy group of Good Hope Lady Raiders racing to get the Northwest Regional championship trophy Tuesday at Wallace State's Tom Drake Coliseum.
Photo courtesy of Cullman Daily.
