Mars Hill Bible Earns a Return Trip to AHSAA Class 2A State Title Game

Birmingham, AL – Mars Hill Bible, the reigning Class 2A girls’ state basketball champions, secured their spot in this year’s state title game on Monday afternoon. The Panthers knocked off Cold Springs 60-50, putting a cap on Class 2A semifinal play at the 104th AHSAA State Basketball Finals at Birmingham’s Legacy Arena. 

Head Coach Flora Sweatt’s Panthers (23-5) held a narrow 30-28 advantage at the half and managed to extend that to a 10-point lead with just 17 seconds remaining in the third period. However, Cold Springs quickly retaliated, reducing the gap to five. Belle Hill, a key player for Mars Hill, who contributed 20 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, two steals and two blocked shots, was penalized for a technical foul. This allowed Cold Springs to convert a pair of free throws followed by sinking a three-pointer at the buzzer, ending the quarter trailing by only five points at 34-29.

Despite this setback, Mars Hill regained momentum early in the fourth period with a quick 3-pointer and outscored Cold Springs 16-11 in the final quarter to put the semifinal matchup on ice.

Click here to check out the full Schedule for the 2024 AHSAA State Finals.

Madie Sain contributed significantly to Mars Hill’s victory with 18 points, including three 3-pointers. Kadence Rolston added eight points and secured a game-high 11 rebounds, while Emma Claire Sak also scored eight points. For Cold Springs (27-5), Ella Bruer led the scoring with 14 points, while Ciara Calvert, Paizley Whitlow, and Malaya Taylor each added 10 points. Calvert also had seven rebounds, and Maci Brown contributed six points, five assists and three blocked shots.

The Panthers will take on the Ider Hornets in the Class 2A girls title game on Thursday at 9:00 AM.

Cover Photo: Mars Hills Bible’s Belle Hill (4) prepares to take a shot as Cold Springs’ Ella Bruer (10) and Maci Brown (3) defend.  (AHSAA Photo | David Holtsford)