Northwest Regional

At Wallace State-Hanceville

Class 6A

Austin vs. Hoover Wednesday at 9 a.m.

Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa vs. Sparkman, Wednesday at noon

AUSTIN BLACK BEARS

Coach: Bruce Hamilton

Record: 23-7

ASWA ranking: No. 10

Regional appearances: 4

Regional titles: 1 (1994)

Players to watch: Takisha Jordan, Tyra Johnson, Meagan Hamilton

The skinny: The Black Bears start two freshmen and a sophomore, but the team appears to be peaking. With a strong post presence and a talented collection of guards, Austin enters the regional with momentum. The key question is how Austin’s young players will handle the big stage at Wallace State.

HOOVER BUCCANEERS

Coach: Tiffany Frederick

Record: 24-4

ASWA ranking: 3

Regional appearances: 16

Regional titles: 8 (1995, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)

Players to watch: Marques Webb, Breigha Wilder-Cochran

The skinny: The defending Class 6A state champion has a team built to contend again. Averaging 14 points per game, Webb is a contender for the state’s Miss Basketball award.

SPARKMAN SENATORS

Coach: Patrick Delay

Record: 21-10

ASWA ranking: 1

Regional appearances: 9

Regional titles: 4 (2002, 2003, 2006, 2007)

Players to watch: Alexis Jennings

The skinny: With a new coach, Sparkman is making its 10th straight appearance at the Northwest Regional. Jennings leads this undefeated team in scoring and rebounding. Everything the Senators do revolves around the talented post player.

HILLCREST PATRIOTS

Coach: Jerome Elliott

Record: 32-0

ASWA ranking: None

Regional appearances: 10

Regional titles: None

Players to watch: Ambrica Johnson

The skinny: Hillcrest is making its first regional appearance since 2010. Johnson averages more than 14 points per game for the Patriots.

Class 5A

Lawrence County vs. Wenonah, Tuesday at 9 a.m.

Athens vs. Fairfield, Tuesday at noon

LAWRENCE COUNTY RED DEVILS

Coach: Kenny Coffey

Record: 26-6

ASWA ranking: None

Regional appearances: 13

Regional titles: 6 (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000)

Players to watch: Rachel Childress, Adrien Coffey

The skinny: The Red Devils enter the regional with a 13-game winning streak. Averaging more than 15 points per game, Childress is one of the area’s leading scorers.

WENONAH DRAGONS

Coach: Emanuel Bell

Record: 26-6

ASWA ranking: 4

Regional appearances: 12

Regional titles: 3 (2002, 2004, 2008)

Players to watch: Shauntece Catlin, Kaitlyn Rogers, Aja Cumbie

The skinny: The Dragons are making their first regional appearance since 2010. Caitlin, Rogers and Cumbie are all averaging more than 10 points per game.

ATHENS GOLDEN EAGLES

Coach: Eddie Murphree

Record: 15-13

ASWA ranking: None

Regional appearances: 10

Regional titles: 6 (1994, 1996, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003)

Players to watch: Alliyah Smith, Destiney Bailey

The skinny: Making its second straight regional appearance, Athens has played some of its best basketball in the second half of the season. Smith is one of the area’s top post players.

FAIRFIELD TIGERS

Coach: Tamara Gills

Record: 21-8

ASWA ranking: 7

Regional appearances: 13

Regional titles: 5 (1997, 1998, 2000, 2010, 2011)

Players to watch: Ashley Rodgers, Kyla Rooks

The skinny: Fairfield enters the regional with a five-game winning streak. Averaging 15.8 points per game, Rodgers leads the Tigers in scoring.

Class 4A

West Limestone vs. J.O. Johnson, Thursday at 9 a.m.

Oneonta vs. Brooks, Thursday at noon

WEST LIMESTONE WILDCATS

Coach: Ben Campbell

Record: 23-9

ASWA ranking: None

Regional appearances: 7

Regional titles: None

Players to watch: Autumn Bates

The skinny: West Limestone is making its second straight appearance in the Northwest Regional. With a balanced, senior-laden lineup, the Wildcats have a team capable of advancing.

J.O. JOHNSON JAGUARS

Coach: Chris Sims

Record: 16-12

ASWA ranking: None

Regional appearances: 6

Regional titles: None

Players to watch: Rayven Pearson

The skinny: Johnson is coming off back-to-back Northwest Regional tournament appearances, but this is the Jaguars’ first as a Class 4A team.

ONEONTA REDSKINS

Coach: Amber Deline

Record: 28-4

ASWA ranking: 1

Regional appearances: 3

Regional titles: None

Players to watch: Destiney Elliott

The skinny: The Redskins have been ranked No. 1 for most of the season. Oneonta advanced to the Northeast Regional final last season.

BROOKS LIONS

Coach: Danielle Hill

Record: 17-13

ASWA ranking: None

Regional appearances: 3

Regional titles: None

Players to watch: Erin Jewell, K’Maya Roach

The skinny: Jewell averages 11.4 points per game, while Roach, an athletic point guard, is averaging 8.8 with six assists.

Class 3A

Lauderdale County vs. Winfield, Thursday at 3 p .m.

Danville vs. Madison Academy, Thursday at 6 p.m.

DANVILLE HAWKS

Coach: Paul Wilson

Record: 25-8

ASWA ranking: 10

Regional appearances: 4

Regional titles: 1 (2011)

Players to watch: Sydney Shelton Tara Tuck

The skinny: With a young team, Danville is making its first Northwest Regional appearance since 2011. The Hawks have played well in the second half of the season and enter the tournament with momentum.

MADISON ACADEMY MUSTANGS

Coach: Brian Privett

Record: 25-8

ASWA ranking: 3

Regional appearances: 5

Regional titles: 4 (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)

Players to watch: Sierra Jones, Imani Kyser

The skinny: Madison Academy’s road to the regional wasn’t easy. The Mustangs beat No. 2 Mars Hill to earn a spot at Wallace State. Of the four teams in the regional, Madison Academy played arguably the toughest schedule.

LAUDERDALE COUNTY TIGERS

Coach: Brant Llewellyn

Record: 29-5

ASWA ranking: 1

Regional appearances: 18

Regional titles: 11 (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012)

Players to watch: Chatara Cox, Emma Wallen

The skinny: The defending state champions return practically the same team from last season. The Tigers play an up-tempo style, using full-court pressure to wear opponents down.

WINFIELD PIRATES

Coach: Joseph Wilson

Record: 24-6

ASWA ranking: None

Regional appearances: 5

Regional titles: None

Players to watch: Katelyn Kostelc, Allie Gilmer

The skinny: Winfield is making its third straight appearance in the Northwest Regional. Kostelc leads the Pirates in scoring with 12 points per game, while Gilmer averages 11 points per game. Joseph Wilson is the twin brother of Danville coach Paul Wilson.

Class 2A

Cold Springs vs. Red Bay, Tuesday at 3 p.m.

Tanner vs. Sulligent, Tuesday at 6 p.m.

TANNER RATTLERS

Coach: Larry Greene

Record: 13-16

ASWA ranking: None

Regional appearances: 8

Regional titles: 2 (2007, 2011)

Players to watch: Sydney Houston, Kelsey Houston

The skinny: Because of multiple injuries, Tanner lost seven of its first eight games. But the Rattlers have been one of the area’s hottest teams in the second half of the season and have emerged as a contender in the Northwest Regional.

SULLIGENT BLUE DEVILS

Coach: David Dean

Record: 20-10

ASWA ranking: None

Regional appearances: 11

Regional titles: 2 (1995, 2000)

Players to watch: Laura Ashley Dean, Hannah Hampton

The skinny: Dean is averaging 17 points game, while Hampton is scoring 8.8 per game.

COLD SPRINGS EAGLES

Coach: Tammy West

Record: 20-9

ASWA ranking: 7

Regional appearances: 15

Regional titles: 4 (1999, 2006, 2008, 2009)

Players to watch: Chloe Harbison, Caitlyn Hall

The skinny: Cold Springs, a perennial small-school power, enters the regional with its best team since 2010. Harbison and Hall both average more than 12 points per game. West’s father, Danny Welborn, starred for Danville’s basketball team in the 1960s.

RED BAY TIGERS

Coach: Donnie Roberts

Record: 27-3

ASWA ranking: 5

Regional appearances: 11

Regional titles: 4 (2000, 2001, 2003, 2012)

Players to watch: Kasey Sparks, Allie Kennedy

The skinny: Red Bay is a regular at the Northwest Regional. There’s a reason why? Roberts runs a fundamentally-sound program that’s always a tough draw at tournament time. This Red Bay team fits that billing.

Class 1A

R.A. Hubbard vs. Falkville, Wednesday at 3 p.m.

Lynn vs. Shoals Christian, Wednesday at 6 p.m.

R.A. HUBBARD CHIEFS

Coach: Nicholas Vinson

Record: 18-5

ASWA ranking: 2

Regional appearances: 6

Regional titles: 3 (2008, 2011, 2012)

Players to watch: Alex Gholston

The skinny: Gholston is one of the area’s most prolific scorers. The athletic guard has been a part of two state titles — one at Hazlewood and another at R.A. Hubbard — and she will end her career as one of the area’s all-time leading scorers.

FALKVILLE BLUE DEVILS

Coach: Jeff Andrews

Record: 20-4

ASWA ranking: 9

Regional appearances: None

Regional titles: None

Players to watch: Sydney Moore, Autumn Eddy

The skinny: Falkville is making its first appearance in the Northwest Regional. With a nice collection of guards, the Blue Devils have a team that’s capable of advancing.

LYNN BEARS

Coach: Adam Gray

Record: 29-1

ASWA ranking: 4

Regional appearances: 3

Regional titles: None

State titles: None

Players to watch: Jacquline Dodd

The skinny: Lynn is making its fourth straight appearance in the Northwest Regional. Dodd, a 5-foot-11 center, is a player who can create matchup problems for every team in the field.

SHOALS CHRISTIAN FLAME

Coach: Carl Bullard

Record: 14-14

ASWA ranking: None

Regional appearances: None

Regional titles: None

Players to watch: Lacey Lindley

The skinny: Shoals Christian upset third-ranked Covenant Christian in the Area 16 tournament, and the Flame rode that momentum to the program’s first regional appearance.

Northeast Regional

At Jacksonville State

Class 5A

Brewer (30-1) vs. Center Point (23-9), Tuesday at 9 a.m.

Columbia (16-7) vs. Ramsay, Tuesday at noon

BREWER PATRIOTS

Coach: Ricky Allen

Record: 30-1

ASWA ranking: 1

Regional appearances: 13

Regional titles: 3 (2009, 2011, 2012).

Players to watch: Riley Northway, Rheagan Harvel

The skinny: The defending state champions have been the area’s best team for the entire season. Northway averages a double-double, scoring 19 points with 11 rebounds.

CENTER POINT EAGLES

Coach: Ulysses Haynes

Record: 23-9

ASWA ranking: 2

Regional appearances: 6

Regional titles: 2

Players to watch: Keonna Farmer, Gabrielle Holston, Dominique Patrick

The skinny: Center Point is loaded with future college talent. Farmer is an Auburn signee, while Holston signed with Georgia Tech. Patrick is a Grambling State signee.

RAMSAY RAMS

Coach: Lorenza Bright

Record: 22-7

ASWA ranking: None

Regional appearances: 11

Regional titles: 4

Players to watch: Olivia Chapman

The skinny: The Rams are making their 12th straight regional appearance.

COLUMBIA EAGLES

Coach: Levar Bell

Record: 16-7

ASWA ranking: None

Regional appearances: None

Regional titles: None

Players to watch: Jasmynn Batts

The skinny: Led by Batts, Columbia has a nice combination of guards who are capable of scoring in double figures.

Justin Graves