Hartselle throttles Cullman to return to Elite Eight
By Caleb Suggs
For the Enquirer
HANCEVILLE — For the Hartselle girls, there’s plenty of unfinished business.
On Thursday in the Northwest Regional semifinals, the Tigers dominated Cullman 56-25. Now the team is back in the Class 6A Regional finals also known as the Elite Eight.
Being in the Elite Eight is nothing new for Hartselle. The Tigers have been in this spot plenty of times, including last season. But it has been nine years since Hartselle last reached the Final Four, and that’s a streak the Tigers would like to end.
Hartselle’s Elsie Boyd (20) goes for the basket past the defense of Cullman’s Zoe Snider during the Class 6A Northwest Regional semifinal at Wallace State Community College on Thursday. Photo by Jeronimo Nisa.
“I’m ready for Tuesday, that’s for sure,” said senior Mary Frances Itsede, referring to Hartselle’s impending region final.
Thursday’s game offered little challenge to Hartselle’s quest to return to the Elite Eight. While the Tigers led just 6-4 at the end of the first quarter, they exploded in the second to take a 25-10 halftime lead before cruising to victory in the second half.
“We suspected they might have a different defense for us today, and they did. We started slow, but once we saw a few shots go in the net, we picked it up,” said Hartselle head coach Amber Deline.
Itsede led Hartselle with 17 points and 12 rebounds, while Hannah Burks also had 17 points. Elsie Boyd finished with 12 points.
Hartselle’s Mary Frances Itsede eyes the basket under pressure from Cullman’s Molly Wilson during the Class 6A Northwest Regional semifinal at Wallace State Community College on Thursday. Photo by Jeronimo Nisa.
Hartselle will get a tougher matchup in the regional final — potentially Hazel Green, which has been a thorn in the Tigers’ side. The six-time defending state champion has eliminated Hartselle in the postseason five times in the past eight seasons.
“I know a lot of people see our path to Birmingham as difficult and unfortunate, but I think it’s a great challenge,” Itsede said. “We’re all pretty excited, and I have all the confidence in the world that we have what it takes.”
