NSM plays defense to take 2A state from CS Lady Eagles:
First title for NSM keyed by shutting down Cold Springs' weapons:
GDW Analysis:
BIRMINGHAM: North Sand Mountain's Lady Bison got defensive and their work was shown Friday morning to take the AHSAA 2A state championship from the Cold Springs Lady Eagles 41 to 28 at Legacy Arena.
Cold Springs, who had scored 55 points earlier in the week in its semifinal triumph against Lanett, could only produce 10 made shots out of 40 tries for 25 percent.
The Lady Eagles steady 3 point attack went down in flames by only 3 of 17 for 17 percent. The team hit 83 percent at the line, but only 5 out of 6 attempts.
"They (NSM) put a lot of pressure on us defensively," Cold Springs coach Paige Adams said.
"They did what they felt like to take Ella out of her game."
Dickerson managed just 7 points in her last game she would perform for her school. The Bill Shelton Award winner from the Cullman County Tournament and one of the top players all season in front of Gameday Weekly, was 2 of 6, hit 1 trey and 2 of 2 from the line.
Despite shooting 5 of 18 by halftime and 1 of 6 from long range, Cold Springs fought back in the 3rd to close from a 24 to 13 deficit to make it 28 to 23 at the end of the period.
It was Dickerson's lone trey that answered the call for the Lady Eagles in a 10 to 4 tally on the scoreboard in period three.
The Lady Eagles defense forced NSM to shot only 2 of 7 in the period and not score a three or from the foul line.
Unfortunately for Cold Springs, NSM senior point guard Kayden Reyes went to work immediately at the start of the 4th with three straight point conversions and the lead was back in double digits at 34 to 23.
"Kayden Reyes was the best player on the floor, "NSM coach Jeremiah Haynes replied in the news conference afterwards.
Reyes scored a FG to give the Lady Bison a 37 to 26 lead late. She then produced an assist that wrapped up the first ever state title for NSM with 1:30 remaining.
Reyes was named the Final Four MVP, having 15 points, 4 assists, 3 steals, 5 FGs and 5 FTs.
Dickerson placed her name on the all tournament team as did Paizley Whitlow.
No Lady Eagle reached double digits with no shooter hitting more than two in the contest.
It does not take away a great season for Adams in taking over at her alma mater once Tammy West resigned last spring and went to become head coach for the Cullman Lady Bearcats.
Cold Springs was 23 & 11 for the season, winning 5 in a row in the playoffs before the title game loss.
The Lady Eagles have been to the Final Four five time since 2019, the last time they won the state championship. This is the 3rd time since 2020 Cold Springs has been runner up in 2A hoops.
Photo of Cold Springs shooing guard Aleah Addison (2) in the Northwest Regional championship February 23 vs. Belgreen.
Photo courtesy of Martha Needham.
