Local girls basketball a winning formula in AHSAA playoffs:
Two teams have punched their ticket to the AHSAA Final Four:
GDW Analysis:
There's no doubt girls' basketball in Cullman County has made a name for itself.
Five teams from the county system reached the Sweet 16 in the AHSAA playoffs.
Two of them were able to conquer the opposition and now are heading to the Final Four next week in Birmingham.
Cold Springs' Lady Eagles were the first to accomplish the feat when they outlasted Belgreen 45 to 42 on February 23 in the 2A Northwest Regional from Wallace State's Tom Drake Coliseum.
Getting back to the Final Four is a common item for the smallest school in the county system.
The difference is in 2026 they are led by a new commander.
Paige Adams took over after Tammy West retired from Cold Springs following 33 years and became the head coach at Cullman High School.
Cold Springs 22 wins in Adams' inaugural season at her alma mater. The Lady Eagles take a 6 game winning streak to Legacy Arena for a 2A semifinal Monday vs. Lanett.
Good Hope's Lady Raiders have claimed 3 straight Northwest Regional championships from Class 4A.
The Lady Raiders wore down Wilson of Florence Monday evening 58 to 38. This came 5 days after the Lady Raiders had defeated their playoff rival Deshler High School 60 to 50.
Deshler's season for the last 3 years has ended in the NW Regional by losing to Good Hope.
Justin Aby's Lady Raiders take 28 wins out of 34 games to the Final Four and a 5 game winning streak.
West Point's Lady Warriors had the longest winning streak locally of 28 games. It unfortunately ended February 23 when Guntersville took down the best from Cullman County this season in a final of 57 to 42 in the 5A title bout.
The Lady Warriors' 28 & 2 record is the best for the program under John Welborn in a single season winning percentage of .933.
This squad equaled the 28 win total from 2019. That group lost 6 games in reaching the sub regional round of the 5A playoffs.
Vinemont's Lady Eagles entered the regional round for the first time since 2005 as they matched their victory tally of 22 wins from the 2024/25 season.
Vinemont was edged 48 to 45 in the 3A regional semifinal by Lauderdale County.
In 2 seasons coaching the Lady Eagles, Emily Willoughby has raised the squad to being a solid playoff contender with 2 regular season area championships, one area tournament crown, a victory in the sub regional round as well.
At Cullman, the first year for Tammy West ended with 21 wins against 9 losses, 2nd place in AHSAA 6A Area 13 to Mortimer Jordan.
Cullman's win total was a plus 5 this season after the Lady 'Cats had 16 victories the year before.
Five local ball clubs have earned recognition of 20 wins or better, all five winning the regular season area title and four being a champion in area tournament play.
The four teams from the county system and Holly Pond set a point of a 5 & 0 record in the sub regional round on February 13. Holly Pond was the only team that had to accomplish the task playing on the road in which they did by whipping Winfield 60 to 34.
Everyone else earned a sub regional victory in runaway fashion playing on campus.
Now Cold Springs and Good Hope take the Cullman County schools' banner with them to the Final Four where more opportunities await the two storied programs.
Photo of Good Hope F Sophie Konrad in a Northwest Regional game February 17 vs. Deshler at Wallace State, Konrad would be named the Class 4A regional MVP.
Photo courtesy of Cathy McSwain.
