The last ride

For the Enquirer

For four Hartselle seniors, it’s hard to believe it’s coming to an end.

Mary Frances Itsede, Anna Hampton Burroughs, Gabriella Springer and Halle Ransom have played a lot of basketball for the Hartselle Tigers over the years. On Monday, they will embark on their final postseason together.

It’s a bittersweet moment for sure.

“People have talked about it, but I think it’s now starting to really hit that this is it, this is the last one,” Itsede said. “As sad as it is though, I think it gives us a different mindset. Knowing that this is our last postseason, we feel more motivated and locked in.” The chemistry between the four seniors has the Tigers, who finished the regular season 23-5, excited for this postseason. While it is sad that they will soon say goodbye to four seniors that have been around a long time, the experience the players have had together has Hartselle thinking big.

“I think we have a lot of confidence going into the postseason, and a lot of that comes from how much we’ve played together,” Burroughs said. “We have a strong bond, and you see that on the court. We know when each other is cutting, we know how each other plays. We feel like our experience gives us what it takes to reach the Final Four.” It’s been nine years since Hartselle last made the Final Four, but it hasn’t been for lack of great seasons. In that span the Tigers have reached the Northwest Regional tournament five times, advancing to the Elite Eight three times.

So what’s been the hold up? Well as great as the Tigers have been the last nine years, they’ve also had to share a regional with Hazel Green. Hazel Green just so happens to be the six-time defending state champions in Class 6A and has been a constant roadblock for the Tigers, eliminating them from the postseason five times in the last eight seasons, including twice in the Elite Eight.

All dynasties come to an end at some point, however, and while there’s no way to know if that year will be this year, the Tigers believe they could be the David to Hazel Green’s Goliath.

“There was a comment from Coach (Amber) Deline here recently where she said the only team that can really beat us is ourselves. That really resonated with us because we know that we’re a top team in 6A, so we put a lot of pressure on ourselves,” Itsede said. “We’re girls and we stress, so dumbing it down and keeping it simple is big for us because whenever we play big teams like Hazel Green or Muscle Shoals, there’s definitely a lot of tension that builds up.” “I don’t know what the future holds this postseason, but with our potential, we know we have what it takes to beat any team. I feel like we realize that more this year than anytime before,” Itsede added.

Hartselle will play Decatur at home on Monday at 5:30 p.m. in the first round of the Class 6A, Area 15 tournament. A win there could potentially set up a rematch in the championship on Wednesday against Muscle Shoals, a team the Tigers split with in the regular season and who they also narrowly defeated last year in the Sweet 16.

But no matter if Hartselle’s season ends in Birmingham at the state tournament or on Monday at home, the seniors, their teammates and coaches are going to enjoy however long they have remaining together.

“When I was younger and coached really good teams, I didn’t take the time to realize how special they were. Now that I’m older, I’ve realized those are rare and this is certainly a special group,” Hartselle head coach Amber Deline said. “Usually what makes a group special is when you have kids of high character. These girls do everything the right way. They’re not selfish, they bring the young girls along and they want to win.” “When I first came to Hartselle, these seniors were freshmen and the last four years have been incredible. I’m very thankful,” Deline added.