VINEMONT — It was a hard-fought battle of attrition from the opening tip Tuesday night when the Vinemont Eagles hosted the Good Hope Raiders. The action started out tight, with each team trying to establish control. Matt Cofer of Good Hope got his team going, nailing a deep three and adding a jumper in the opening stanza. Vinemont countered with a three-point bucket from Garrett Boland to keep the score close, Good Hope edging out a 9-5 lead after one.
Defense continued to play a large role in the game as the second quarter began. Both teams applied defensive pressure which kept the score low but Good Hope maintained a four-point advantage, taking a 16-12 lead to the locker room.
The second half was in stark contrast to the first as offense was the name of the game. Mowiz led the Good Hope charge with five points as Cofer and McDonald each added a three-point bucket. However, it was Vinemont who turned the tables and grabbed the advantage, scoring 18 in the quarter to take the slim 30-29 lead to the last stanza.
The fourth quarter was a back and forth affair. As soon as one team would grab an advantage the other would snatch it right back. Late in the frame, Good Hope jumped out to a four-point lead, forcing Vinemont to foul. Unfortunately, they fouled the wrong player in Cofer who went 4-6 at the line down the stretch to seal the 45-43 victory for the visiting Good Hope Raiders.
Good Hope 55 — Vinemont 18 (Girls)
Vinemont scored the first bucket of the game, but little else went right for the Lady Eagles as the Good Hope Lady Raiders took the game 55-18.
Good Hope took control early on in the first quarter with great inside play and a formidable defense, forcing turnovers from Vinemont's point guards and post players and converting them into points. Miriam Oldacre, Kate Kent, and Kelly Pickett led the way in the first, scoring five, five and four respectively.
Good Hope kept the pressure on, opening the quarter with a 12-0 run. Sydney Shields broke the Vinemont drought with a three from the corner, but the damage had been done and after 16 minutes of play, the Lady Raiders held a commanding 37-13 lead at the half.
Down but not a team to quit, Vinemont played great defense, holding Good Hope to just 10 points in the third but could only score five themselves and found themselves trailing 47-18 heading into the final quarter.
In the fourth, Good Hope quickly scored a bucket to put them ahead by 30, starting the running clock. Final score, 55-18 in favor of the Lady Raiders of Good Hope.
Other Scores
BOYS
Cullman 56 Brewer 44
Vinemont 43 Good Hope 45
Arab 59 Fairview 42
GIRLS
Cullman 39 Brewer 51
Vinemont 18 Good Hope 55
Arab 63 Fairview 37
