GDW Analysis:
Cullman Bearcats experienced a valuable lesson in AHSAA basketball Wednesday night.
It's never easy to beat a very good hoops team 3 times in one season.
Jasper Vikings made sure of that.
The Vikings stormed to an 18 point lead early in the 2nd period in the 6A, Area 13 championship from Bearcat Arena.
Cullman took the theory from the Marvel comics superhero, Daredevil. They played without fear and pulled off an astounding 66 to 61 victory.
That allows the Bearcats to be at Bearcat Arena Saturday in the sub regional vs. Clay Chalkville.
Jasper now has to take a trip to Pinson and play Pinson Valley in its sub regional contest.
Jasper was a team with confidence in hitting 9 FGs, 4 treys in the opening period, going up on the stunned Bearcats 23 to 8.
A three from Jon Michael Brown early in the 2nd gave them their largest advantage of the night at 26 to 8.
After that, Stu Stuedeman's Bearcats worked themselves back into contention, going on a 23 to 10 run the rest of the period.
With the Dorough brothers of Sam and Jake combining for 16 in the 2nd, Cullman went into the locker room trailing 36 to 31. They made 8 FGs in the 2nd and kept the Vikings to scoring once from three point range.
Jasper had the lead until the closing seconds of the 3rd when Jake Dorough nailed a trey from across half court to tie the score at 50 to 50.
A steal and layup by Preston Gay put the 'Cats ahead 54 to 53. They never trailed in this entertaining game in front of a packed crowd Wednesday evening.
Cullman would go up by 9 inside the final minute when a FT from Evan Wilson made it 66 to 57.
The Vikings tallied 2 FGs late to close the final margin to 5. Cullman outscored Jasper 58 to 38 in the game's final 24:00.
Sam Dorough delivered 19 with his brother Jake scoring 18. Gay added 13, Brooks Loftin 11, Wilson had 7.
The Bearcats have won 5 in a row and are 26 & 4 going into the sub regional. Their record at Bearcat Arena is 11 & 1.
For Jasper, Clayton Thorne scored 14, Brown and Miller Moody displayed 13 points each.
The Vikings are now 21 & 9.
The Dorough brothers, plus Wilson, Loftin, Gray Hopper and Gay were selected to the All Area team.
Jake Dorough was named the area tournament MVP.
Photo of Cullman Bearcats All Area team from left, Gray Hopper, Brooks Loftin, Sam Dorough, Evan Wilson, Preston Gay and Jake Dorough.
GDW photo by Johnny Thornton.
