West Point vs. Mars Hill girls game lives up to GDW hype:
Very entertaining playday game between the two teams Thursday:
GDW Analysis:
WEST POINT: As anticipated by Gameday Weekly, the West Point Lady Warriors playday game Thursday vs. Mars Hill Bible lived up to the hype of an entertaining matchup.
Two successful programs put on a well fought encounter that was decided in the final seconds by Mars Hill for a 55 to 51 victory.
Mars Hill is led by sophomore to be Belle Hill, the 2025 Class 3A player of the year.
Hill's skills on the offensive side are very tremendous and make it difficult for the opposition to slow her down.
Hill faced a very experienced West Point squad with junior to be Laklin Shadix assigned to battle her from the defensive perspective.
These two laid it on the line as did both teams with the game even through 20 minutes of play tied at 26 to 26.
As the 2nd half began, so did a series of lead changes.
Hill scored from close range to put Mars Hill ahead 35 to 34.
Then two key passes from Hill to open teammates gave them two scores and they never trailed the rest of the way.
West Point got a three by Camryn Faulkner to close the gap to 53 to 51 with 0:12 left. Hill then made FTs and Mars Hill finished the playday with two wins out of two decisions.
West Point is experienced for coach John Welborn as the Faulkner sisters, Jaelyn and Camryn, are back for solid guard play.
Caitlee Simmons returns too for another wing guard while Kealie Harbison is a wing forward and Shadix to spend time in the post.
But West Point had an uncommon case of mistakes with six turnovers in their final eight possessions when the game went down to the wire.
Thursday scoreboard from West Point:
Cold Springs 35, Vinemont 25
West Point 54, St. John Paul 29
Mars Hill 38, Cold Springs 29
Vinemont 55, St. John Paul 25
Mars Hill 55, West Point 51
Cold Springs is now led by former Lady Eagle standout Paige Parker Adams.
Cold Springs had a better time converting FGs than Vinemont.
Adams' team follows the Cold Springs trend of outside shooting and has it with Ella Dickerson, Paizley Whitlow, Maci Huffstutler and Aleah Addison displaying long range ability.
West Point stormed to a 16 to 0 lead on St. John Paul in having control of this one vs. the Catholic school from Huntsville.
Mars Hill led 21 to 16 on Cold Springs at the half and used a 7 to 0 run at the start of the 2nd period to break open a close encounter.
Vinemont showed better shooting and scoring in dominating SJP. Addison Holcomb gave the Lady Eagles a solid performance in her forward position as a scorer and defender.
Vinemont has balance in attacking the opposition from the guard tandem of Reagan Robinson and Caroline Miller, plus wing forward Vayda Yarbrough.
Photo of coach John Welborn and the West Point Lady Warriors in a playday game Thursday from Jim Boyd Gymnasium vs. St. John Paul.
GDW photo by Johnny Thornton.
