If there’s one thing the Cullman County Basketball Tournament always brings to the table, it’s excitement.

Each and every year there’s often a gutsy performance (or seven), crazy finish or instant classic that can leave a lasting impact on those in attendance.

Sounds a lot like an Attitude Era Wrestlemania to me.

All joking aside, I know I’ve seen my fair share of those cool moments since covering my first one all the way back in 2013 with the venerable Rob Ketcham.

What we could get this time around, however — aside from too-cold-to-be-outside-temperatures — is parity, because there aren’t any shoo-in, bet-the-farm-on-them favorites on the varsity side.

So without further ado, let’s take a deeper dive into this year’s annual showdown at Wallace State.

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Varsity Boys

West Point may have won a tie-breaking coin toss to net a first-round bye, but one could argue the Warriors are interchangeable with Good Hope and Fairview as it pertains to a potential county champion.

Case in point: Fairview beat West Point, which beat the Raiders, who beat the Aggies.

Good Hope has garnered four county crowns in the past six seasons, while the Warriors (2012) and Fairview (2013) are searching for their first titles in more than a decade.

Could there be other contenders? Yes … but like trying to argue the best episode of “Seinfeld,” it often comes down to just a handful of top-tier options, so I would look no further than those three squads come Championship Saturday.

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Varsity Girls

For the first time in four years, I won’t be able to pick Good Hope to breeze to the title.

Though the Raiders have thus far completed a perfect run through county competition — they still haven’t dropped a clash to an in-county foe since the 2021 county tournament — there’s potential for chaos in this loaded bracket.

After all, I believe Vinemont, West Point, Holly Pond, Fairview and Cold Springs also have a shot at bringing home the hardware. Particularly, the Eagles — of the Red and White variety — who have their best team since I’ve been around these parts and the Warriors, who are as good a bet as any to cut down the nets if clicking on all cylinders.

Good Hope, however, has captured three straight county championships — and that can’t be overlooked.

And to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best … and there’s no doubting which program has been the best over the past three seasons.

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Players to Watch

Cullman County is usually rife with tremendous hoopsters — and this year is no different.

Shall we begin?

Ayden Black and Ethan Day (Cold Springs); Blake Rickard and Jac Dunn (Fairview); Tyler Cone, Tucker Malin and Jacob Haynes (Good Hope); Peyton Twilley and Drake Bentley (Hanceville); Cade Allbright and Sawyer Olinger (Holly Pond); Cheston Wilhite and Colton Gillis (Vinemont); and Jay Lamar, Jaxon Shelton and Maddox Chapman (West Point) are just a few names to watch for on the varsity boys side.

Ella Dickerson and Kenady Graves (Cold Springs); Whitney Quick and Darby Nichols (Fairview); Ava McSwain and Jolee McHan (Good Hope); Aaliyah Twitty and Alex Twitty (Hanceville); Ava Thomas and Madison Butts (Holly Pond); Reagan Robinson and Caroline Miller (Vinemont); and Laklin Shadix, Jaelyn Faulkner and Camryn Faulkner (West Point), meanwhile, can get all buckets for their respective teams as well.

No doubt I’m missing a name or two — my memory is about as effective as a screen door on a submarine — but it’s time to wrap up this column.

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Predictions

Varsity Boys

First Round: Holly Pond over Hanceville; Fairview over Vinemont: Good Hope over Cold Springs

Semifinals: West Point over Holly Pond; Good Hope over Fairview

Championship: Good Hope over West Point

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Varsity Girls

First Round: Holly Pond over Fairview; West Point over Cold Springs; Vinemont over Hanceville

Semifinals: Good Hope over Holly Pond; West Point over Vinemont

Championship: West Point over Good Hope

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Junior Varsity Boys

Championship: West Point over Good Hope

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Junior Varsity Girls

Championship: Cold Springs over Fairview