Flash Facts from the AHSAA Basketball Final Four:
Local teams showing Cullman County pride at Legacy Arena:
Flash Facts from the AHSAA Basketball Final Four:
BIRMINGHAM: Three days of exciting AHSAA basketball has gone into the record books from the 2026 Final Four at Legacy Arena inside the BJCC.
Cullman County basketball has stood out with 3 winners from semifinal play to go for a state title in their respective class.
This is the most opportunities by the county in one year according to Gameday Weekly.
Up and down times for NW Regional winners:
1A: Marion Co (G) and Hubbertville to the finals.
2A: Cold Springs (G) playing for state title
3A: Mars Hill (G), Lauderdale Co eliminated in semis.
4A: Good Hope (G) in finals, Deshler loses in semis.
5A: Guntersville (G) in finals, Guntersville is out.
6A: Hazel Green (G) in finals, Cullman in the finals.
7A: Bob Jones (G) plays Thursday, Tuscaloosa County plays Thursday in the semifinals.
Eight teams that claimed a Northwest Regional title last week from Wallace State CC are now in the spotlight for a state championship this weekend.
Great season for Briarwood Christian Lady Lions:
Briarwood Christian returned to the Final Four for the first time since 1998 when they played Guntersville in a 5A girls' semifinal on Wednesday afternoon.
The Lady Lions are coached by former Cold Springs standout Lorie Graves Kerley. She has been in charge of Briarwood Christian since 2019. Briarwood reached the Elite Eight last season and now took it one step further into the 5A semifinals.
Briarwood unfortunately fell to Guntersville 53 to 43 that ends their season at 22 & 11.
It was also the last game for Kerley to coach her daughter Emma. Emma is a senior, making great strides in her Briarwood Christian career. She had 22 points in the battle with Guntersville.
Kerley told Gameday Weekly she plans to get her education by attending Auburn University.
The time for coach Kerley and her daughter was emotional in the postgame news conference.
Comebacks becoming coming in varsity games:
Showing character in coming from behind to claim victory during the Final Four has been well seen in three days by Gameday Weekly.
Four games turned with the eventual victor having to fight back from a deficit in the last period.
The huge comeback was by the Cullman Bearcats in erasing a 12 point deficit entering the 4th to knock off Calera 61 to 56 in OT.
Another one that turned on the strength of momentum was in 5A play with Sylacauga fighting back to send Guntersville home by the score of 59 to 50.
Fairfield had a thrilling comeback Tuesday night in the closing seconds against Deshler from Class 4A with a 61 to 57 triumph.
In 3A, Southside Selma shook off getting behind to Whitesburg Christian by 16 to grab a spot to the title game by a 62 to 60 comeback victory.
New coaches taking their teams to the finals:
Two well established girls' basketball programs are again playing in the AHSAA championship in their class, but with new head coaches.
Cold Springs Lady Eagles are now guided by former player Paige Parker Adams with the Lady Eagles to face North Sand Mountain for the 2A crown Friday morning. CS is 23 & 10 with this being their 5th visit to the Final Four since 2019.
Cold Springs last won the state title in 2019.
Hazel Green has Demeterius Miller as their conductor following the retirement from last season by legendary coach Tim Miller.
Hazel Green lost to Park Crossing in the 6A final a season ago. They have a hotly contested rematch with the Montgomery area school Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
Eliminating dominance by the Montgomery area:
Good Hope Lady Raiders very much had satisfaction on Tuesday night when the posted a 61 to 45 semifinal victory in 4A against Catholic of Montgomery.
It gave the Lady Raiders something to be proud of for they lost the state title in 2026 to Trinity Presbyterian from the Capitol City.
Montgomery area teams were doing well prior to the Catholic battle with Good Hope.
No. 1 St. James romped over Mars Hill Bible 76 to 56 Tuesday morning in 3A girls.
Montgomery Academy followed by defeating Lauderdale County 60 to 50.
Park Crossing's girls restored success for the Montgomery area Wednesday in a 6A semifinal with a hard fought 48 to 46 win over Fort Payne, getting a pair of FTs with less than a second remaining to prevent possible overtime.
This is how good it is for local basketball:
2A: Cold Springs (G) 23 & 10, 6 game winning streak.
4A: Good Hope (G) 29 & 5, 6 game winning streak.
6A: Cullman 27 & 5, 8 game winning streak.
Three locals playing for the state title in the same calendar year.
Photo of Good Hope's Sophie Konrad scoring a layup in the Lady Raiders' 61 to 45 semifinal victory over Catholic Montgomery March 3 at Legacy Arena.
Photo courtesy of the AHSAA.
