WEST POINT, Ala. – It’s been 55 years since West Point last held the Cullman County Tournament title, but that drought ended Tuesday night when this year’s Lady Warriors squad defeated the top-seeded Fairview Lady Aggies to win the county crown. West Point actually swept Fairview twice during day two of the tournament, once earlier in the winner’s bracket and then again in the final match.
Lady Warriors Head Coach Regina Jones was proud of the way her team competed throughout the tournament and maintained their level of play for both days.
“Those girls played hard the entire time. They played together and every one of them picked their play up and did whatever it took to win,” Jones said. “They just wanted it so bad. It was on their home floor and we hadn’t won one, so they wanted it bad. They never got down no matter what the score was because we were behind in the Cold Springs match, but they believed the entire time they could win it and just got one point at a time and kept playing.”
West Point jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first set of the title match and managed to stretch that lead to 7-2. The Lady Aggies were able to trim the lead to 9-7 but a 6-0 run from the Lady Warriors quickly made it 15-7. West Point built a 19-13 lead as the set progressed as was able to pull away and start the match 1-0 with a 25-19 win.
The second set of Tuesday night’s final match may have been the tightest of the tournament. The score was knotted at 3 early and both teams traded leads until tying each other again at 10 apiece. Fairview took a 12-10 lead after that, but the Lady Warriors bounced back to tie it up at 14. The set stayed tied at 16 before West Point began to create a little bit of separation to close out the match. The Lady Warriors took a 21-18 lead late in the set and even though Fairview was able to cut it to 23-21, West Point scored the final two points to win the set 25-21 and claim its first county championship in over 50 years.
Lexi Shadix racked up 24 kills, three blocks and a dig in the wins over Fairview and Molly Pendley added 17 kills, seven digs, a block and an assist for the Lady Warriors. Gracie Thompson finished with 36 assists to go with six digs and an ace, Braelee Quinn posted 11 kills and Kyla Kilpatrick finished with 14 assists, two aces and two digs.
After the final match, this year’s All-Tournament and All-County teams were presented as well as this year’s Samantha Purdue Award winner.
2019 Cullman County All-Tournament Team
Morgan Harris, Cold Springs
Lexi Shadix, West Point (MVP)
Makenna Folds, Holly Pond
Daisy Manasco, Fairview
Katie Ball, Fairview
Olivia Johnson, Vinemont
Molly Pendley, West Point
2019 Cullman All-County Team
AK Voce, Cold Springs
Kylon Hamby, Cold Springs
Katie Ball, Fairview
Micah Means, Fairview
Daisy Manasco, Fairview
Abi Orton, Good Hope
Emi Harbison, Cold Springs
Molly Pendley, West Point
Lexi Shadix, West Point
Braelee Quinn, West Point
Olivia Johnson, Vinemont
Makenna Folds, Holly Pond
Sarah Finley, Holly Pond
Kyndell Hays, Holly Pond
2019 Samantha Purdue Award – Recognizes a player who displays excellence in athletics, academics, character and leadership
Kylon Hamby, Cold Springs
Other Tuesday scores
Vinemont swept Cold Springs (25-20, 25-23) and Holly Pond edged Good Hope (21-25, 25-19, 17-15) to get day two started. The Lady Eagles and Lady Broncos squared off after that and Holly Pond swept Good Hope (25-16, 25-17) to advance. After Fairview fell to West Point in the winner’s bracket, the Lady Aggies swept the Lady Broncos (25-18, 25-23) to work their back into a title match with the Lady Warriors.
Vinemont 2 – Cold Springs 0 (25-20, 25-23)
Holly Pond 2 – Good Hope 1 (21-25, 25-19, 17-15)
West Point 2 – Fairview 0 (25-16, 25-20)
Fairview 2 – Holly Pond 0 (25-18, 25-23)
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