GDW Analysis:
BIRMINGHAM: There is plenty of hope for Good Hope Lady Raider basketball.
In earning their 3rd consecutive visit to the AHSAA Class 4A Final Four, the Lady Raiders are looking to extend their season into the championship segment.
In order to do, Good Hope must handle Catholic of Montgomery at 3:99 p.m. Tuesday from Legacy Arena.
The Knights come from the Capitol City at 18 & 5 and winners of their last 6 games.
Catholic took down Pleasant Grove in the title game from Alabama State University February 24 in the Central Regional.
Good Hope is steady as she goes with 26 wins in 31 decisions.
From the Northwest Regional, Justin Aby's Lady Raiders sent Deshler home for the 3rd consecutive year, this time in the semifinal round of the regional 60 to 50.
Last Monday, the Lady Raiders prevailed over Wilson of Florence 58 to 38 as they have gone 5 & 0 in the postseason.
Balance is very much a strong item for Good Hope. Experience is divided between the play of Regional MVP Sophie Konrad to all tournament players Lexi Marshall at SG and Ella Gossett the PG.
Adding what she does well on the floor is F/C Lucie Adams.
The new edition that has blended in with the group is freshman Ella Davis.
Davis is solid on the boards in which she took down 13 shots during their semifinal victory against Deshler.
In the playoffs, the Lady Raiders have tallied 335 points, averaging 67 per playoff contest.
Deshler is the only one that has earned 50 points in a game. The rest of the opposition has scored 35, 43, 23 and 38.
In this being their 3rd year in a row of Final Four participation, Good Hope has gone 87 & 13, a total of 100 games in this span.
The hard work by this group puts them in a special group for three straight Final Fours, something that their nearby rival Cold Springs has not experienced in its long term history of success.
The semifinal from Legacy Arena will be live on WKUL FM (92.1).
Photo of Good Hope forward Ella Davis in a Northwest Regional semifinal game vs. Deshler February 18 at Wallace State.
Photo courtesy of Cathy McSwain.
