THE TIMES' ALL-AREA GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM: Good Hope's Maddox named Player of the Year
Mar. 29—It took no time at all in deciding the All-Area girls Player of the Year.
Good Hope's Ivey Maddox — signed, sealed and delivered.
Sure, I could go on and on about the senior's myriad accomplishments. I could also take us down a road — better fill up with gas first — that showcases her stellar numbers this past season. I could even outline the numerous reasons why she earned this honor a third consecutive time.
But instead of diving deep into those accomplishments (she became Cullman County's all-time leading girls scorer en route to collecting 2,792 career points) or highlighting those numbers (Maddox averaged 20.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per clash) or handing out those reasons (she capped her remarkable prep tenure by leading the top-ranked Raiders to their first-ever state championship and then picking up her third straight All-State first-team selection) — let me allow others to speak on her behalf.
After all, I didn't have to pull out my hair while crafting a game plan to try and slow the UAH signee.
"She's just a very good player," West Point coach John Welborn said. "She's got a really high IQ and she was hard to guard. She could shoot the 3 so well, but she could also post up and score. She was a dang good rebounder and handled the ball well, too. She always did what she needed to do. There have been some really good ones come through Cullman County and she's one of the better ones, if not the best."
Added Fairview coach Chris Nichols: "The first thing that stands out is her length. But she also has a high motor, makes everyone around her better and can score at all levels."
Though Maddox had little trouble putting the ball in the hole, her unselfishness still shone through.
"The fact a player with her ability shared the ball as well as she did is what stood out to me," Vinemont coach James Brown said. "Usually, high-level players shoot at a high volume, but she always found her teammates consistently."
It's those types of attributes that speak to the completeness of Maddox's game.
"I really thought she was the glue for her team," Cullman coach Jessica McBrayer said. "And it's usually the glue girl where the stats might not always show up, but you know you can't win without her. Ivey can do it all, though. She scores, defends, plays smart, competes, wants to win, wants that basketball in her hands when it matters. She does all the things you wish you had five people doing on the court."
But it's not just her on-court skill — as many will surely attest — but the intangibles that come from such a lengthy and decorated career.
"She plays with a confidence a lot of girls don't have," Hanceville coach Christina Watson said. "She's very deliberate with her shot selection. And if she misses a shot, she doesn't care. She'll keep shooting because of that belief in herself. Some girls can't do that — they'll miss some shots, stop shooting and become easier to guard. Her mentality in that regard is way different."
Add another notation to the résumé.
"Ivey is a once-in-a-lifetime type player and has all the tools to be successful," Holly Pond coach Mary Hartline said. "On top of all that, though, she has the leadership to make your team successful — and the proof is in the pudding there. Her teammates respect her and meet her on that level. Because when your best player works hard, has a great attitude and is coachable — everyone else has to be."
One county stalwart got a closer look at Maddox's personal side following the season.
"I hadn't really been around her that much — other than when we played Good Hope — until we went to the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game," Cold Springs coach Tammy West said. "She's a great kid — so respectful and such a good competitor. It must have been a real joy for (Good Hope coach) Justin (Aby) to have her for the years he did with the way she carries herself."
Not difficult to see why Maddox was such an easy selection for this year's top honor.
Aby secured Coach of the Year accolades after leading Good Hope to a 33-2 record and the previously mentioned state title.
Of those program record-tying 33 wins, 16 came against teams that finished the regular season ranked in their respective classifications, according to the Alabama Sports Writers Association (ASWA).
The Raiders are also 94-10 in the past three seasons under Aby.
Cold Springs' Ella Dickerson, Cullman's Ally Sharpe, Good Hope's Ava McSwain, Good Hope's Bailey Tetro and Good Hope's Heather Tetro comprise this year's All-Area first team.
Cold Springs' Maci Brown, Cold Springs' Ella Bruer, Vinemont's Reagan Robinson, West Point's Jaelyn Faulkner and West Point's Liberty Shadix headline this year's All-Area second team.
The All-Area Team was selected myself after reviewing the 2023-24 campaign and speaking with local basketball coaches. However, with a small number of spots available, it's possible that some deserving candidates were left out.
See below for The Times' complete 2023-24 All-Area Girls Basketball Team.
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Player of the Year: Ivey Maddox, Good Hope
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Coach of the Year: Justin Aby, Good Hope
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First Team
Ella Dickerson, Cold Springs
Ally Sharpe, Cullman
Ava McSwain, Good Hope
Bailey Tetro, Good Hope
Heather Tetro, Good Hope
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Second Team
Maci Brown, Cold Springs
Ella Bruer, Cold Springs
Reagan Robinson, Vinemont
Jaelyn Faulkner, West Point
Liberty Shadix, West Point
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Honorable Mention
Addison: Hadley Butler
Cold Springs: Ciara Calvert, Malaya Taylor
Cullman: Rachel Hoffman
Fairview: Darby Nichols, Davi Stidham
Good Hope: Charly Johnson
Hanceville: Kate Sterling, Aaliyah Twitty
Holly Pond: Madison Butts, Ava Thomas
St. Bernard: Ella Davis
Vinemont: Whitney Quick, Carley Stephens
West Point: Camryn Faulkner, Laklin Shadix, Hallie Wheeler
