GDW Analysis:
BIRMINGHAM: Local girls basketball was an enjoyment for Gameday Weekly and WKUL FM during the 2024/25 season.
Good Hope Lady Raiders had a wonderful journey of reaching the AHSAA championship once again. This time it was a superb feat for having to replace four starters that graduated following the previous year that ended with the blue trophy being brought back to Cullman County.
Good Hope is the runner up from Class 4A in the climax of very good basketball that started on Veterans' Day weekend and ended on the last day of February.
Of the 7 schools in the Cullman County system, six finish 2024/25 with a winning record. Four eclipsed 20 wins or better, one was close at 19 and another improved their win total from 7 the year before to 16 this season.
Five received recognition of being ranked in the state basketball poll in Class 2A, 3A, 4A and 5A.
Four teams hosted a sub regional playoff game and would go on to participate in the Northwest Regional at Wallace State.
Good Hope's greatness on the hardwood resulted in 27 victories out of 33 decisions.
From January to the end of February, Justin Aby's Lady Raiders went 14 & 2, winning 12 consecutive games.
The Lady Raiders played a strong schedule with the losses coming to No. 1 ranked Decatur Heritage in 2A, No. 1 Lauderdale County in 3A, No. 1 Trinity Presbyterian in 4A and No. 2 Madison Academy in 4A.
Victories over ranked opponents consisted of defeating Cold Springs, Holly Pond, Vinemont, West Point, Deshler, Mortimer Jordan, St. Michael Catholic.
Other notable wins were vs. schools like Dora, Danville who had 20 win campaigns and Arab, a finalist in the 5A regional championship.
Consistency has been a theme for the Lady Raiders with Aby running the program.
Good Hope has had five consecutive years of 25 victories or more. Three straight years of at least 30 wins or better in one season.
In getting to the Final Four for the last two seasons, the Lady Raiders have earned 60 victories and lost just 9 times.
That two year winning percentage is .869.
On the airwaves, the Lady Raiders were 6 & 1 when the games were on 92.1 FM.
With Gameday Weekly in person, Good Hope prevailed in 15 of 17 decisions.
The Lady Raiders have won four consecutive Cullman County championships, posted 21 wins out of 24 games in postseason play since 2021.
They were No. 1 in the state poll last season and begin 2024/25 as the top before coming out No. 4 in the final ranking prior to the start of the playoffs.
Last season the starting lineup consisted of Ivey Maddox, Heather Tetro, Bailey Tetro, Charley Johnson and Ava McSwain. Maddox would be named 4A player of the year, Bailey Tetro the 4A Final Four MVP.
In 2024/25, McSwain was the lone returnee with new starters coming in Jolee McHan, Ella Gossett, Sophie Konrad and Lexi Marshall.
McSwain won the Bill Shelton award from the county tournament and will play in the Alabama vs. Mississippi All Star game next weekend.
McSwain earned MVP honors at the NW Regional with Konrad on the all tournament team.
From the Final Four, McSwain and McHan stood out to be all tournament selections.
Cullman County girls basketball has become well known to many others around North Alabama in facing these teams from regular season to the playoffs.
Good Hope, Cold Springs, West Point, Holly Pond have shown steady play with several runs of reaching the Sweet 16 in recent years.
Vinemont had a school record 22 victories and hosted an area tournament for the first time in over two decades.
Pride is very much shown by Good Hope along with positive results for two straight seasons.
This program gave us wonderful memories in 2024/25. Thanks for making that happen to those who love this sport so much.
Photo of Good Hope's Jolee McHan (25) and Sophie Konrad (15) in the AHSAA Final Four vs. St. Michael February 25 in Birmingham. In the background is Ella Gossett (24).
Photo courtesy of Martha Needham.
