GDW Analysis:
In a week, the Cullman County basketball tournament will be active with plenty of excitement to come from Wallace State's Tom Drake Coliseum.
But in the upcoming week, a lot of importance will reign as teams are trying to set themselves up right for the postseason.
Gameday Weekly is reporting seven teams go into this week leading their respective area in AHSAA basketball.
Three weeks remain in the regular season with next week to be devoted to crowning champions in the county tournament.
Girls:
Cold Springs - Lady Eagles 3 & 0 in 2A, Area 11. Cold Springs finishes the area at home Friday vs. Falkville. Lady Eagles take a 5 game winning streak and No. 2 ranking in the 2A poll into this week. They are 12 & 6 for the season.
Good Hope - Lady Raiders stand on top of 4A, Area 13 play at 3 & 0. A busy week for the No. 1 team in 4A with area games at West Morgan Tuesday, at East Lawrence Thursday and at home with Danville on Friday.
Good Hope has 15 wins in 20 games.
Holly Pond - Lady Broncos share the top spot with Vinemont in 3A, Area 11 at 5 & 1.
That will be broken Tuesday when the Lady Broncos welcome Vinemont to Dwayne Adams' Court at Felton Easterwood Gymnasium.
Holly Pond finishes the area with a game at Hanceville Friday. Lady Broncos have a 15 & 5 record heading into this week.
Vinemont - Lady Eagles play at Holly Pond Tuesday and JB Pennington Thursday to conclude 3A, Area 11 assignments.
The Lady Eagles have been solid for new coach Emily Willoughby with 14 wins against 4 losses and a No. 7 ranking in 3A play.
West Point - Lady Warriors are out to wrap up the 5A, Area 15 title this week from Jim Boyd Gymnasium. West Point hosts Lawrence County Tuesday with Russellville to pay a visit on Friday.
West Point is 14 & 4 and ranked 5th in the latest poll of 5A teams across the state.
Varsity:
Cold Springs - Eagles have gone 3 & 0 in 2A, Area 11 for first year coach Adam McKinnon. The Eagles earned area wins last week vs. Winston County and at Falkville.
Falkville comes to Cold Springs Friday evening.
Good Hope - Raiders see a huge week of challenges from everyone else in 4A, Area 13.
Good Hope is at West Morgan Tuesday, visit East Lawrence Thursday and host Danville on Friday.
The Raiders have a 3 & 0 area record, but currently have lost 2 straight and are 15 & 5 for the entire season.
Hanceville and Holly Pond are out to finish 3rd in 3A, Area 11.
Hanceville is 3 & 3 with Holly Pond 2 & 4.
Hanceville heads to Locust Fork Tuesday to meet the leaders in the area. Holly Pond is home that evening to Vinemont.
Hanceville will welcome Holly Pond to Lane Horton Gym for homecoming Friday. The two then will tangle in the 1st round of the county tournament January 22.
AHSAA has announced the area playoff schedule will be held February 1st through the 5th.
Sub regional playoffs are February 7 for the girls and February 8 for varsity.
The Northwest Regional will get under way this year at Wallace State February 11. The tournament will run through the 16th from Drake Coliseum.
Photo of Good Hope's Tucker Malin vs. Cold Springs December 9 at Good Hope Gymnasium.
Malin is the latest to reach 1,000 points in his career. He did it January 9 scoring 32 against Madison Academy.
Photo courtesy of Martha Needham.
