CULLMAN COUNTY – Having the best record in area play allows high school basketball teams an opportunity to get in extra games at home when the postseason format starts in early February.
From the first weekend of area basketball in the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA), half a dozen teams have a slight advantage, knowing the ones who were defeated, have much more work to do.
Area basketball consists of four teams per area, with some just having three teams. Each will play twice with games at home and on the road.
In Class 3A, Area 12, the Vinemont Eagles and Hanceville Bulldogs share the lead. Vinemont scored a basket at the buzzer to win at Carbon Hill 52-50, while not far away, Hanceville was involved in a shootout and outscored Oakman 76-63.
One of these teams will have sole possession of first place in the area after Tuesday night. The Eagles and Bulldogs meet at Lane Horton Gymnasium. A good start in the area overrides some tough times both teams experienced during the month of November.
The Fairview Lady Aggies and West Point Lady Warriors crushed their opponents to open play in 5A, Area 12. Fairview rolled by Hayden 57-13 with West Point taking down Curry 75-25.
The two swap out opponents next Friday as Fairview hosts Curry and Hayden comes to West Point. In less than two weeks, the Lady Aggies and Lady Warriors meet in West Point, hoping to be undefeated in the area when this showdown takes place.
The Good Hope Lady Raiders started 1-0 in 4A, Area 10 with a 58-27 rout of Cordova. The Lady Raiders are in a three-team area and will look to take control against their Walker County opposition when Dora comes to Good Hope next Friday.
The St. Bernard Lady Saints have a 1-1 record in 2A, Area 13. On Friday, the Lady Saints presented new coach Tiffany Hinkle-Pope her first victory, getting by Winston County 43-41 at the Fazi-Richard Athletic Center.
Both Cullman teams, the Fairview, West Point, Good Hope and St. Bernard varsity, along with the Hanceville and Vinemont girls will have to make amends after not starting well in their respective areas.
Cullman fell to Brewer at home in 6A, Area 14 with the Lady Bearcats going down 62-43 and the Bearcats struggling in a 53-24 setback.
Fairview was edged by Hayden at home 63-61 with West Point coming up short 62-58 at Curry. Good Hope ran into a tough Cordova team that was second in 4A last season, getting defeated by a final score of 66-40.
St. Bernard is 0-2 after the Saints lost at home to Winston County 65-52 for the second time in a span of two weeks.
The Hanceville girls got edged by Oakman 40-35 and the Vinemont girls fell to Carbon Hill 67-9.
Two other teams remain undefeated after winning county games on Friday evening.
The Cold Springs Lady Eagles turned back Holly Pond 59-43 with Holly Pond getting the best of the Eagles at a packed Jesse George Gymnasium 71-54.
Tammy West's Lady Eagles are 7-0 with Mitch Morris' Broncos 8-0. Both are looking to lock down the No. 1 seed for the upcoming Cullman County Tournament that will be held in late January at Wallace State's Tom Drake Coliseum.
Holly Pond goes into area play this week with games against Susan Moore and J.B. Pennington in 3A, Area 11. Cold Springs opens its quest of challenges in 2A, Area 13 when they visit Winston County at the end of the week.
Teams will continue to mix in area and non-area games for the next two weeks before they break for the Christmas holidays.
This week's local high school basketball schedule:
MONDAY:
Lawrence County @ West Point
TUESDAY:
Cold Springs @ West Point
Fairview @ Good Hope
Vinemont @ Hanceville
Addison @ St. Bernard
Cullman @ Boaz
Holly Pond @ Susan Moore
THURSDAY:
St. Bernard @ Vinemont
FRIDAY:
Dora @ Good Hope
Hayden @ West Point
Curry @ Fairview
J.B. Pennington @ Holly Pond
Hanceville @ Carbon Hill
Cold Springs @ Winston County
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