CULLMAN COUNTY BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT (VARSITY GIRLS): West Point holds off Cold Springs 68-58 to advance

Published 11:03 pm Thursday, January 24, 2019

HANCEVILLE — Miriam Oldacre scored a team-high 24 points, Lexi Shadix chipped in 21, and West Point’s varsity girls outlasted Cold Springs for a 68-58 win at the Cullman County Basketball Tournament on Thursday.

It didn’t, however, come easy in the slightest for the top-seeded Maroon and White (21-4).

The No. 4 Lady Eagles (20-6) made several runs in the second half, trimming as high as a 15-point deficit down to just four late in the fourth quarter.

Coach John Welborn’s squad always came up with an answer, though.

Whether it was making key free throws, hitting big 3-pointers or pulling down critical offensive rebounds.

No matter what Cold Springs threw at the Lady Warriors, they matched it moment for moment down the stretch.

And Welborn could only describe a performance like that with a single word.

“Poise,” he said. “We were pretty poised tonight. We turned it over a couple of times late, but we were pretty good with that overall. Like I told the girls … big-time players step up in big-time games. Our girls did that. We stepped up. But give Cold Springs credit. (Elizabeth) Hill there in the fourth quarter just took it to us. We fought through it. We battled through everything. I told them in the locker room (at halftime) they (Cold Springs) were going to make a run. They’re too good.”

Camryn Crider gave the Lady Eagles a quick 3-2 lead following a 3-pointer, but West Point responded with a 16-5 spurt that carried over into the second quarter to secure an 18-8 advantage.

Hill, though, answered with a personal 5-0 attack to bring Cold Springs back to within five points.

But the Lady Warriors closed out the first half admirably behind terrific offensive contributions from Oldacre, Shadix and Mackenzie Carter to possess a 29-19 cushion at intermission.

Carter’s basket sent the Maroon and White in front by 15 points (41-26) midway through the third frame.

Cold Springs, however, wasn’t interested in folding up its tent.

The Lady Eagles put forth a 9-0 run — Hill, Toni West and Aubrey Negron all contributed — to pull to within six points.

But West Point was able to bounce right back with a 6-0 spurt to go up 12 entering the fourth quarter.

Coach Tammy West’s squad put together another strong sequence, though, scoring 17 of the first 26 points in the decisive frame to bridge the gap to 56-52 with less than four minutes remaining.

Unfortunately for the Blue and Gold, Oldacre had — you guessed it — an answer.

The junior knocked down a much-needed 3-pointer shortly afterward, slowing the opposition’s momentum and sending West Point back in front by seven.

The shot brought with it a realization from the talented playmaker.

“It felt good,” she said. “I knew then we were going to pull it out. We just had to keep the pressure on them.”

And that’s exactly what the Lady Warriors did.

Despite Hill’s gargantuan fourth quarter — she netted 17 of her game-high 26 points in the stanza — Oldacre and Co. made enough stops and hit enough free throws in the closing minutes to punch their ticket to the championship game.

West Point, which is looking for its first county title since 2006, will play No. 2 Fairview on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

As for nerves, Oldacre doesn’t know if she’ll have any come opening tip.

In fact, she’s not sure what to expect.

“I really don’t know … we’ve never made it this far (laughs),” she said. “It sure does feel good, though. We worked as a team and had multiple players score. It was good teamwork tonight.”

Molly Pendley, who also sank a pivotal 3-pointer late, finished with eight points for the Lady Warriors.

Micah Oldacre and Carter corralled six apiece.

Crider (14) and West (13) pitched in double-digit efforts for Cold Springs.

For Welborn, the win was a product of his team’s willingness to get better each day.

“These girls work hard,” he said. “We’ve battled through injuries and had others step up. That’s what happened. Even the girls who didn’t play are just as instrumental to us. It’s not just the first five, it’s all of them. I’m proud of them tonight.”