Cullman girls’ coach Josh Hembree talks with the Lady Bearcats in a June 22 play-day game at Hartselle. / Johnny Thornton
Editor's note: This is the second in a 2-part series written by Tribune Sports Editor Johnny Thornton from his coverage of girls’ high school basketball play days during the month of June. See part one at http://qrne.ws/basketball. Read part one here.
CULLMAN COUNTY – Plenty of storylines were developed during the month of June for high school girls’ basketball programs across the county.
As is routine, each is going through the process of putting together a new starting lineup, mixing in returning personnel and giving others the opportunity to step into vacant positions.
The Tribune spent three weeks of the month touring plenty of play-day assignments, seeing games in West Point, Cullman, Falkville, Hartselle, West Morgan, Brewer and Winston County.
Everyone wants success, but what each coach is looking for is a good lineup on the floor and to develop depth at all positions.
COLD SPRINGS – Plenty of good talent is still here for veteran coach Tammy West. But she must find a leader after All-State standout Emme Willoughby graduated in May and is now at UAH.
All-County performer Elizabeth Hill is back for her sophomore season, sharing the scoring duties with sharpshooting guard Camryn Crider, a junior. Freshman guard Toni West played well in the play days and will share the backcourt with Crider as both are capable of ball handling and scoring.
Hard workers such as Neely Ellison, Aubrey Negron, Kinley Campbell, Kylon Hamby, Zoe Strawbridge and Prisca McAnnally will blend in, helping the Lady Eagles with another quest for greatness in Class 2A, Area 13 and across the county.
CULLMAN – Injuries to Anna Evans and Kennedy Wren changed the culture of the club for the summer. Coach Josh Hembree relied on experience in Anna Bowden and A.K. Eastman to lead them in June and had others such as Olivia Neal, Lauren Grace Evans, Alexandria Barker, Anna Grace Murphy and Sadie Young raise their level of play.
Cullman played hard with several good defensive stops in games against Lawrence County, Hartselle, Cold Springs and Good Hope and will need to display consistency on offense to take pressure off the hard work by the defense.
FAIRVIEW – It was a change of pace for the defending Cullman County champions in June. Fairview was without the services of center Abbi Taylor, recovering from foot surgery. Taylor should be ready to go when fall workouts take place.
The team is small without her in the middle. But that allowed coach Mary Hartline to inject her tempo game with quickness, aggressive pressure defense and the ability to score in transition.
Point guard Taylor Yeager committed to UAH earlier in the month, then went out and showed her normal play of scoring numerous times, handling the ball effectively and showing good leadership.
The team is not just built for Yeager. Abby Schnittker, Katie Ball, McKinna Yearwood, Peyton Golden and Daylia Dean provided support, with Fairview having success from a small lineup with a 5-1 record at Jacksonville State and a 66-35 runaway victory over Colbert County, a very good 3A team, in Hartselle.
GOOD HOPE – Making a strong and surprising run in the playoffs last year inspired Amanda Swann's Lady Raiders. Now that they have had a taste of winning, they seek more of it in Swann's second season at her alma mater.
Center Kate Kent is the primary weapon on offense for her ability to produce around the basket. The Lady Raiders have experience returning in PG Savanna Derrick, G Ericka Woodall, F Leyton Seal, F Amber Sterling and F Abby Neighbors off the bench.
The Lady Raiders will look to be a balanced team scoring-wise, with defenses determined to shut down Kent in the post. Scoring in transition, plus the perimeter, and a hard-working attitude will be the key to carry this squad throughout next season.
HANCEVILLE – A ball club that can present challenges to the opposition is the tale of the tape for Hanceville. Christina Watson got a new floor leader in PG Kelly Pickett, allowing her to move Candice Campbell to wing guard and place Kierra Merriweather on the opposite wing.
That gives Hanceville speed, agility and the ability to attack the basket. Carmen Johnson in the post is another positive for this team, along with Lauren Robertson and Malia Howell, who give hard effort when they come off the bench.
Consistency, especially at the foul line, is a must for Hanceville to challenge in 3A, Area 13 and vs. county competition.
HOLLY POND – Changes occurred when Paige Adams resigned on June 13, a day after her team went 2-1 in a play day at Falkville. The Lady Broncos opted out of two play-day assignments at Cullman the 19th and 21st.
No word has come from the school on a replacement for Adams, who was coming off her first season coaching the varsity.
ST. BERNARD – Second-year coach Tiffany Hinkle-Pope sent her squad out to a series of play days, seeking consistency. The Lady Saints will rely on good guard play by Traci Loyd and Makenna Klein for handling the ball and point guard scoring.
Emily Tafazoli plays hard in the post and they will need that from her regularly. Claire Sanders, Macy Whaley and Ashley Duke have experience and will be asked to contribute in all phases of the game.
VINEMONT – Youth will be served for Vinemont with coach Lance Lay having a squad that seeks valuable experience every time they take to the floor.
Bailey Preiss, Sadie Stanley, Kanasta Daniel, Madison Hacker and Kinley Puckett started when the Lady Eagles played a tripleheader at Winston County June 15. Bench play consisted of Valeria Cofer, Lexi Helton, Mackenzie Lawrence, Lexi Holmes and Maddie Harbison.
Vinemont will have to reduce unforced mistakes, score when they have good looking opportunities from the field and foul line and not allow the opposition to dictate the tempo.
WEST POINT – John Welborn’s team has experience, but they are still a young unit. Forward Olivia Ball enters her junior season as a two-year starter.
Freshman Lexi Shadix stood out in June. The wing player put up 18 second-half points on eight field goals in the period against a press-happy Hazel Green team. She took punishment well and left an impact that had the Hazel Green coaching staff up in arms and unable to slow her down.
Shadix got a summer-high 35 points vs. Danville in a Falkville play day, ripping the cords for 27 in the first half.
West Point spent June without guard Miriam Oldacre, who is recovering from a late-season ankle injury. Her twin sister, Micah, showed steady play handling the ball and was consistent from the free throw area.
Makenzie Carter comes back to the frontline for her sophomore season. Brooke Brownfield got plenty of reps running the point, and eighth-graders Sydney Smith and Riley Jones made valuable contributions as well.
West Point will welcome the addition of forward Kyler Hembree, transferring from Good Hope.
The experience the Lady Warriors possess, along with confidence they achieved in the summer, will go a very long way after they posted 22 victories last season and got to the sub-regional round in the 5A playoffs.
FINAL ANALYSIS – Fairview, Cold Springs and West Point are again at the top of the ladder for county girls’ teams. Good Hope and Hanceville want to show they can challenge, while Holly Pond and Vinemont want to develop a formula for success.
Cullman and St. Bernard will be well-coached and will need to perform hard and to keep mistakes to a minimum in order to win games.
The county has good talent at different positions and also talent from seniors, juniors, sophomores and freshmen. The quality of play has progressed tremendously, and it will be fun to see these young ladies go out when the season begins in early November and see teams down at Wallace State for the regionals in late February.
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