HANCEVILLE — Good Hope’s varsity boys had just one thing to say on Saturday night.

The champs are here.

One could argue, though, they never left.

The Class 4A No. 8 Raiders blitzed West Point 86-68 at the Cullman County Basketball Tournament to secure their second straight title, improving to 22-3 this season and 27-1 against county opponents since the 2018-19 campaign.

Cole Maddox claimed a game-high 25 points for Good Hope. He was all smiles following the outcome — one he’s grown accustomed to enjoying.

“We always play pretty well at Wallace,” Maddox said. “We always shoot pretty well. We just came out and played pretty well.”

The Raiders amassed an 11-point advantage late in the second quarter.

West Point, however, responded with a 9-2 run — punctuated by a Tyler White 3-pointer — to cut its deficit to just four points.

But the Red and White answered with a superb flurry of their own, scoring the final eight points of the first half to seize a 12-point lead heading into intermission.

Drew Maddox and Michael Lowe each knocked down treys, and Tanner Malin notched a layup during the crucial stretch.

“We put ourselves in a bad spot with Cole and Drew (Maddox) getting two fouls early,” coach Drew Adams said. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t sweating when they cut it to four. But we preach to our guys that in big-time games players have to make big-time plays. Those were some big-time plays those guys made. They had momentum. Real proud of those guys.”

Added Lowe: “It was an important stretch. We just needed to work the ball and find open shots. We just had to play ball like we know how to play.”

Good Hope didn’t let the momentum slip in the second half.

Adams’ squad dominated the final 16 minutes, leading by as many as 26 points and never allowing the Warriors the thought of a potential comeback at Tom Drake Coliseum.

“Once we get going, once we start playing unselfishly, once we get the ball moving … I feel we’re one of the best teams in the state,” Cole Maddox said.

Lowe (14), Dawson Turner (11) and Tanner Malin (11) reached double figures as well. Drew Maddox (nine), Eli Phares (seven), Lawton Farr (five), Colton Williams (two) and Max Bavar (two) rounded out Good Hope’s scoring.

“This group knows how to play,” Adams said. “We work a lot on our half-court and full-court defense. For the most part, we just turn them loose (on offense); we let them play. They have high basketball IQs and are an incredibly special group. They’ve been together since they’ve been in the third grade. I’ll forever cherish them.”

Kobe Bowers (15), Aubry Cleghorn (11) and Will Cochran (10) were the top scorers for the Warriors, who fell to 13-14.

Mason Walls (eight), Jonathan Fell (seven), Tyler Thompson (six), Tyler White (five), Brannon Bright (two), Sam Wheeler (two) and Logan Selby (two) also scored.

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ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

Brodie Malcom — Hanceville

Owen Yarbrough — Fairview

Adam Hill — Cold Springs

Will Cochran — West Point

Cole Maddox — Good Hope

Kobe Bowers — West Point

Raiden Morgan — Hanceville

Brody Peppers — Cold Springs

Michael Lowe — Good Hope

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ALL-COUNTY TEAM

Cole Maddox — Good Hope

Drew Maddox — Good Hope

Michael Lowe — Good Hope

Tyler White — West Point

Will Cochran — West Point

Brody Peppers — Cold Springs

Adam Hill — Cold Springs

Tyson Bellmon — Hanceville

Raiden Morgan — Hanceville

Austin Turner — Fairview

Dow Nichols — Fairview

Kyler Chaney — Holly Pond

Katch Johnson — Vinemont

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JOE SHULTS AWARD

Kyler Chaney — Holly Pond

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ELI THOMAS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Teague Whatley — Vinemont