CULLMAN COUNTY BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT (JUNIOR VARSITY GIRLS): West Point rides 2nd-half run to 53-43 championship win vs. Cold Springs

Published 4:04 pm Saturday, January 26, 2019

HANCEVILLE — West Point’s junior varsity girls closed the Cullman County Basketball Tournament championship — and the season — on the highest of notes Saturday at Wallace State’s Tom Drake Coliseum.

Sidney Smith piled on 20 points and Braelee Quinn kicked in 18, helping the top-seeded Warriors overcome a brief second-half deficit and storm to a 53-43 victory over No. 2 Cold Springs.

“It feels good,” said Smith with a mile-wide smile. “We really worked hard for this all season.”

A Brooke Crider free throw gave the Lady Eagles (13-4) a 27-26 lead early in the third quarter, but West Point (17-2) responded with a 16-2 tear — spearheaded by nine points from Smith — stretching into the fourth to seize control.

“We just kind of stayed calm,” Smith said. “We did what we had to do and worked as a team. Teamwork is always key.”

The Warriors’ cushion held until Cold Springs clawed to within three inside the final minute — only for Smith, Alexus Wells and Quinn to ice the title by combining on an unanswered 7-of-8 mark at the free-throw line.

West Point finished 10 of 17 from the gimme distance, while the Eagles were 14 of 26.

Wells was good for six points in the triumph. Nikki Tyree tacked on five, and Summer Mendoza added four.

Madison Bruer was a one-girl wrecking crew early on, accounting for Cold Springs’ first 16 points en route to an 18-point output. Crider chipped in 11, Emma Chambers and Lacey Rice each scored five, Emi Harbison had three, and Kyla Aaron made a free throw.

“Hats off to our girls,” said West Point coach Richie Penn. “They get all the credit. They deserve this win, because they have worked extremely hard this year. They’ve been a fun group to coach. They love the game of basketball.

“They’ve really stepped up their defense. Here in the heart of the season, when we’ve really needed it, we’ve been challenging them to play very good defense. To beat a team like Cold Springs in the championship, I thought we played one of our best defensive games of the year, and when it really mattered. I couldn’t be more proud for them.”

All-Tournament Team

Sidney Smith – West Point

Braelee Quinn – West Point

Madison Bruer – Cold Springs

Lacey Rice – Cold Springs

Kyla Aaron – Cold Springs

Kaylee Stallings – Holly Pond