Here's to our basketball winners from Gameday Weekly:
Three teams to the Final 4, others that did well in 2025/26 hoops:
Flash Thoughts:
A song from one my legendary artists is the best way to describe the 2025/26 local prep basketball season.
The song is from old blue eyes, Frank Sinatra. "It's titled, "Here's to the winners."
The final week of the AHSAA hoops season is here and we have three schools that have earned their one shining moment to be a part of the Final Four this week from Legacy Arena at the BJCC.
Great accomplishments by the Cold Springs Lady Eagles, Good Hope Lady Raiders and Cullman Bearcats in a step closer of bringing home a state championship for Class 2A, 4A and 6A.
The following is Gameday Weekly's way of saluting these teams and others for it has been a very good postseason to follow from the role of reporting it for GDW and also broadcasting on WKUL FM and the NFHS Network.
Cold Springs Lady Eagles:
Coach Paige Adams, Regional MVP Ella Dickerson, Regional All Tournament Paizley Whitlow. Cold Springs has a fine season in Adams' debut after 33 years the team was directed by Tammy West.
Dickerson has made herself a name for being the best player in the regional and also the Bill Shelton winner from the Cullman County Tournament.
Whitlow knows about being on state winners as she has enjoyed success in her role with Cold Springs cross country and track.
Good Hope Lady Raiders:
Coach Justin Aby, Regional MVP Sophie Konrad, Regional all tournament winners PG Ella Gossett and SG Lexi Marshall and SF Ella Davis.
A team that plays team basketball has earned a 3rd straight journey to the Final Four in Class 4A. Aby utilizes team play and gets it from the experience of Konrad, Gossett and Marshall. Davis in her first year at Good Hope has added another scoring weapon and a solid rebounder on the defensive side.
Cullman Bearcats:
Coach Stu Stuedeman, Regional MVP Sam Dorough, Regional All Tournament C Brooks Loftin, SG Gray Hopper.
Cullman put away the bad taste of being ousted in the 2025 sub regional by going through quality 6A programs from Hazel Green, Clay Chalkville and Lee Huntsville to be back in Birmingham for the first time since the Bearcats won the state title in 2022.
Dorough is a sound player from both ends, Loftin uses his size to create mismatches and Hopper is a veteran player that includes great efforts by reserves with the squad going on an average of 4 to 5 deep into their bench.
Cold Springs Eagles:
Coach Drew Adams, PG Ayden Black, C Breydon Hallman, F Cash Dickerson.
Adams resurrected Cold Springs hoops to a record setting 29 wins in his inaugural year and to the Elite 8 in Class 2A.
Black ran the floor very well with Hallman being a solid force in the later run of the season as was Dickerson, who is only an 8th grader and eager to continue his good work on the hardwood.
Vinemont Lady Eagles:
Coach Emily Willoughby, PG Reagan Robinson.
Willoughby's leadership at the 3A school for 2 years has resulted in 44 wins and 20 losses, a winning percentage of .687.
Vinemont was in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2005 with Robinson the catalyst for the Lady Eagles. Robinson leaves as Vinemont's all time leading scorer with 1,950 points, scoring at least 500 in her final season and well deserving of being the top point guard locally according to GDW.
West Point Lady Warriors:
Coach John Welborn, PG Jaelyn Faulkner, SG Camryn Faulkner, C Laklin Shadix, WF Kealie Harbison.
In having the best single season winning percentage for West Point Lady Warriors at .933 from 28 victories in 30 games, this team endured a school record setting winning streak of 28 games and to the 5A regional championship.
The Faulkner sisters gave West Point strength from the backcourt, Shadix stood her ground consistently in the middle and Harbison showed speed, hustle and desire to make the team much better.
West Point Warriors:
Coach Mason Voce, C Maddox Chapman, F Jaxson Shelton, WG Nolan Franklin.
West Point claimed the school's 1st county title since 2012 by producing 23 wins and a 2nd consecutive berth to the sub regional in 5A play.
Chapman and Shelton were the "Twin Towers" that gave opponents fits all season long. Franklin was their best weapon from the perimeter.
WKUL FM:
Program Director Ron Mosley Jr, 92.1 FM announcers Johnny "Flash" Thornton, Rich Jesse, Steven Sutter.
The local station raised their performance for it being a prosperous 2026 postseason in having 5 county girls team go undefeated in the sub regional plus the success by Cold Springs and Cullman in the sub regional and regional.
Mosley Jr orchestrates the group from the WKUL FM studio. Thornton, Jesse and Sutter carried out their work in great style from two quality events presented by 92.1 FM, the Cullman County tournament and the AHSAA playoffs.
Thornton's voice was sound with the NFHS Network on February 23 in calling 8 games from the role of play by play announcer.
No other person has ever dealt with this in the sport of basketball and for Thornton to pass the test while not 100 percent healthy is a blessing as well as what he displays for this game has so much special meaning to him.
Jesse and Sutter enjoyed success via longevity for doing 4 regional championships for WKUL FM the 23rd with victory being claimed by the Cold Springs Lady Eagles and Good Hope Lady Raiders and hard fought battles from the Cold Springs Eagles and West Point Lady Warriors in their title bouts.
Again, here's to all of these winners from the 2026 AHSAA basketball postseason.
Each is well deserving of being honored and recognized by GDW.
Photo of Cold Springs Lady Eagles coach Paige Adams and her team in the AHSAA Northwest Regional 2A championship vs. Belgreen February 23 from Wallace State CC.
Photo courtesy of Martha Needham.
