Will positive play continue for local hoops in NW Regional?:
Local flavor a huge part of title games in 2026 NW Regional:
GDW Analysis:
HANCEVILLE: Championship play for the 2026 AHSAA Northwest basketball regional will consist of a local flavor.
Five teams out of Cullman County have earned this opportunity in the quest of seeing the season extended into the Elite Eight and very much the Final Four.
A first time of 8 regional finals will take the place in one day from Tom Drake Coliseum at Wallace State.
Four championships are up for grabs by very good local programs from the 2025/26 season.
Cold Springs Lady Eagles:
Vs. Belgreen Monday 9:00 in Class 2A. The Lady Eagles are in their 4th consecutive regional final, the first with new coach Paige Adams.
Cold Springs has a 4 game winning streak in being dominant so far in the playoffs. The Lady Eagles romped over Decatur Heritage 57 to 14 in the regional semifinal.
Steady play all season by Ella Dickerson sets the tone. Others who have laid out solid performances recently include Aleah Addison, Paizley Whitlow, Hollyn Bruer and Kaydance Williams.
Belgreen is 23 & 9 coming off a low scoring 31 to 20 defeat of Sulligent. The Lady Bulldogs have been a winner in 5 consecutive assignments,
Cold Springs Eagles:
Vs. Red Bay Monday 10:45 in Class 2A.
Greatness is back on the hardwood at Cold Springs from the 1st season with Drew Adams who built success in 9 years at Good Hope prior to his arrival in Southwest Cullman County.
The Eagles have been battle tested in the playoffs with all out efforts in the area final vs. Falkville, the sub regional vs. Lamar County and the regional semi with Decatur Heritage.
At 29 & 4, the Eagles will encounter another solid 2A school for the top position in the regional up for grabs.
Red Bay has 21 wins out of 26 games. The Tigers are No. 3 in the final ranking with the Eagles rated 6th best in this class.
West Point Lady Warriors:
Vs. Guntersville Monday 4:00 in Class 5A. Now further into the playoffs this season than in 2025 feels great for West Point.
Unfinished business still has to be taken care and this segment will be the tougher test for John Welborn's squad this season.
A Guntersville group that is 30 & 4 with a No. 2 state ranking will try to end the great run for the No. 4 Lady Warriors.
West Point has the longest winning streak of local hoops at 28 in a row.
The Lady Warriors utilized teamplay and experience to eliminate upset minded Priceville 65 to 32 in the regional semifinal. WP went from a 33 to 24 halftime lead to a runaway victory by a 32 to 8 scoring surge in the final half.
A starting group of experience with PG Jaelyn Faulkner, SG Camryn Faulkner, WG Caitlee Simmons, WF Kealie Harbison and C Laklin Shadix see the opportunity to continue their season with a Guntersville that starts an 8th grader and a pair of freshmen that play like veterans aside from their current grade in school.
Good Hope Lady Raiders:
Vs Wilson Monday 7:30 in Class 4A.
For Good Hope, the playoff success is at a similar position for the 3rd consecutive season.
The Lady Raiders got the best of their playoff foe Deshler once more, this time by a 60 to 50 final in the semifinal game last week.
With 28 wins against 6 losses, Justin Aby's Lady Raiders seek another regional championship as another opponent from the Northwest corner tries to put a stop on their success.
Wilson from the Florence area has become a sudden rise in this classification. A 23 & 8 record for the Lady Warriors who sent West Morgan home in the semifinal round 53 to 38.
Wilson faces a Good Hope squad that carries an edge on being in this position before. Experience comes for the Lady Raiders from PG Ella Gossett, WG Lexi Marshall, WF Sophie Konrad and C Lucie Adams.
The addition of Ella Davis has provided them another scorer and a solid rebounder on the defensive side.
Good Hope has won 4 straight and brings a No. 4 ranking into the game with Wilson No. 9 in Class 4A.
Cullman Bearcats:
Vs Lee Huntsville Tuesday 2:15 in Class 6A.
Getting back to the Elite Eight is huge for Cullman following last season when the campaign got stopped by Clay Chalkville in the sub regional.
Cullman got its revenge with Clay in a 53 to 41 triumph from the semifinal round.
The Bearcats have 25 wins in 30 games as Stu Stuedeman's group created the pace they are more accustomed too in the 2nd half with Clay. After it was 18 to 18 at the half, Cullman managed to speed the game faster and Clay could not stay with them from possession to possession.
Cullman claimed victory by a 35 to 23 advantage in the last 16:00.
This group thrives on team play and also going deep into the bench. Providing them the spark they needed against Clay was SG Sam Dorough, PG Gray Hopper, C Brooks Loftin, WG Emory Bonds and WG Jon Luke Witcher.
Lee is athletic and also a team that can overcome an early deficit and create positive play as the game moves along. The Generals rallied to knock off Muscle Shoals 63 to 57 after being down in the first half by as many as 8.
Cullman tangles with another athletic unit seeking to get back to the Final Four for the first time since 2022 when the Bearcats would get a first time AHSAA hoops title.
All games Monday will be carried live on WKUL FM (92.1).
The Cullman game will be available on cullmanbearcats.com
Photo of Good Hope's Lucie Adams (11) and Ella Gossett in the 4th period of the Lady Raiders' 60 to 50 victory over Deshler from the Northwest Regional at Wallace State February 18.
Photo courtesy of Cathy McSwain.
