HANCEVILLE — The only way for Cold Springs to go was up.

The Lady Eagles didn’t crack the scoring column until 2:50 to go in the first quarter but picked up the production considerably the next three to scoot by West Point 41-28 Friday at Wallace State.

Third-seeded Cold Springs became the first team to beat a lower-seeded squad at the Cullman County Basketball Tournament, topping the No. 2 Warriors for the first time in three tries this season.

The Blue and Gold advance to play top-seeded Fairview for the junior varsity girls title Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

“It took them awhile to get going, but they did,” Cold Springs coach Tammy West said. “I was proud of them for going out there tonight and believing they could win. You never know after you’ve lost twice already.”

The Eagles had four players score at least seven points, but Zoe Strawbridge and Aubrey Negron were the true stars of Friday’s show.

Strawbridge helped Cold Springs dig out of a 3-2, first-quarter hole by hauling off for seven of her 10 points in the second stanza. Her offensive awakening was a big reason the Blue and Gold were able to carry a 15-11 advantage into halftime.

“We really wanted it,” a giddy Strawbridge said. “We hustled our hearts out tonight.”

Negron did her part as a force in the paint, collecting a game-high 12 points and hefty assortment of rebounds and blocks.

As all good children do, the center credited her dear ol’ dad and mentor, Matt Negron, for her productive performance.

“All I try to do is go to the goal as much as I can, as fast as I can, as hard as I can, just to see if I can at least get a shot off,” Negron said. “But I’m just trying to hit the square and get some points.”

And get the win, too, which ironically came in the same fashion — down at first but never out en route to a fairly comfortable victory — as Cold Springs’ varsity girls the previous night.

The similarity wasn’t lost on West.

“The faster we go, I feel like the better we play,” she said. “And that little JV I’ve got, they’re fast.”

Kasey Johnson chipped in a pair of treys and eight points, while Kinley Campbell recorded seven points. Kelsey Johnson and Prisca McAnnally rounded out the Eagles’ scoring with two points apiece.

Lexi Farley ended West Point’s first-quarter scoring drought with a 3 inside the final 30 seconds and steadily increased her output along the way to a team-high 11 points. The Warriors, who trailed just 27-26 after the third quarter, also received nine points from Meredith Calvert.

Other West Point contributors were Meghin Clowers, three points; Taylor Willingham and Victoria Bell, both two; and Carley Colburn, one.

The championship clash will give Cold Springs a second straight opportunity to take down an opponent it has yet to defeat this season. Fairview won the winter’s first meeting with ease but only edged the Eagles by one in a recent matchup, leading West and Co. to feel confident about their outlook Saturday afternoon.

“Maybe we can keep it close and have a chance tomorrow,” the coach said. “That’s what we’re hoping for.”

Added Negron: “I think we have a better chance of winning now because we’ve got it in our minds we can do it. Now that we’ve seen that we’ve got a chance, we’re going to go even harder next time we play them.”