Important games in 3A Area 11 to be carried live on WKUL FM:
Vinemont at Hanceville with 1st place at stake in both area games:
Prep basketball Friday on 92.1 FM:
Vinemont at Hanceville (Lane Horton Gym)
Girls: 6:30 p.m.
Varsity: 8:00 p.m.
Tip times are approximate
Girls:
3A, Area 11 standings - Vinemont 5 & 1, Holly Pond 4 & 2, Locust Fork 3 & 3, Pennington 2 & 5, Hanceville 1 & 4.
Vinemont 12 & 8 overall, Hanceville 6 & 11
Varsity:
3A, Area 11 standings - Vinemont 5 & 1, Holly Pond 5 & 1, Hanceville 2 & 3, Locust Fork 2 & 4, Pennington 1 & 6.
Vinemont 12 & 7 overall, Hanceville 5 & 12.
GDW Analysis:
Both games have been on an increase of importance, especially for the Vinemont squads.
The Lady Eagles lost at Locust Fork Tuesday 53 to 48, their first area setback this season.
This will be the 3rd game for the Lady Eagles they are playing in the span of 8 days.
Vinemont was at Cullman Christian Monday, at Locust Fork Tuesday, visit Hanceville Friday then have games next week at home vs. Good Hope on January 12 and Holly Pond the 13th.
Emily Willoughby's Lady Eagles won the Area 11 regular season title last year, allowing them to host the playoff series.
A good start for the Lady Eagles this season that includes wins against Susan Moore, Madison Academy and Hartselle in the Encore Thanksgiving Classic has been followed by times of enjoyment and sadness.
Since their 60 to 37 win against Hanceville December 12, Vinemont has won 4 and lost 6. The Lady Eagles dropped a pair of close games last week in the West Morgan Classic to Wilson and Austin.
Two wins followed in romping over Pennington 66 to 40 and Cullman Christian 64 to 29.
But the setback hit them Tuesday in Blount County as Locust Fork is 3 & 0 in area games when they are playing at home.
Garrett Cone is in his first season with Hanceville. The Lady Bulldogs have experienced some success, but still working hard when they are lining up against some strong opposition.
Vinemont's Eagles are back on the winning side. In a 61 to 56 victory at Locust Fork Tuesday, the Eagles have won 3 in a row, 2 coming from Area 11 play.
Vinemont went into January on a 4 game losing streak.
The Eagles are displaying they are a mature team in James Brown's first season with consistency coming from a series of personnel.
Now the Eagles go back to Hanceville where they posted a 46 to 41 victory in the Bulldogs' Thanksgiving Tournament November 26, overcoming a 4th period deficit.
Vinemont got into a shootout with Stephen Chandler's Bulldogs December 12 at the Pinnacle and won 68 to 55.
Hanceville has gone in the phase of winning a low scoring affair as the Bulldogs did at home December 16 in upsetting Holly Pond 30 to 28.
The Bulldogs were off stride Tuesday in Blountsville, falling to Pennington 52 to 42.
Lane Horton Gym is a tough environment with Vinemont knowing that from last season with close losses when victory was well within their grasp.
After Friday, the Eagles host Holly Pond in area play Tuesday, Hanceville has a home game with Locust Fork next Tuesday then visits Holly Pond on January 16.
This is the time of the year in AHSAA basketball where games go to a serious level when it's area assignments such as for Vinemont & Hanceville, aside from the tradition of long time county rivals.
Photo of Vinemont Eagles Cheston Wilhite (14), Banks Borwick (3) and Colton Gillis (24) celebrating a 69 to 64 victory at Vinemont on December 9 vs. Locust Fork.
Photo courtesy of Cathy McSwain.
