• 61°
franklin county times

Belgreen puts out Hackleburg

J.R. Tidwell/FCT Bridget Thompson (10) prepares to make a shot for Belgreen against Hackleburg Thursday night.

THARPTOWN — The Belgreen Lady Bulldogs ended the Hackleburg Lady Panthers season in dramatic fashion Thursday night, winning a close 50-43 contest that came down to the wire.

The two teams swapped leads in the third quarter, but the Lady Bulldogs overcame a deficit in the fourth to pick up the win and extend their season.

“There isn’t any talking to a team after a win like this,” Belgreen head coach Ritchie Hester said. “Right now you celebrate. That’s all you can do after a win like that.”

The Lady Bulldogs got off to an early lead by the 39.6 to go mark in the first quarter at 16-10. Hackleburg still trailed by six points at the midpoint of the second at 23-17.

Laken Bragwell-Beasley hit a field goal to put Belgreen up 25-19 with 1:35 remaining in the first half. Bridget Thompson hit a 3-pointer to end the half on a high note for the Lady Bulldogs, giving them a 28-21 advantage at intermission.

The Lady Panthers went on a 5-0 run after halftime to cut Belgreen’s lead to two points at 28-26 with 6:46 left in the third.

Hackleburg knotted up the game at 28-28, but a 3-pointer by Bragwell-Beasley put the Lady Bulldogs back on top 31-28.

The Lady Panthers tied the game again and took their first lead of the game on a 3 with five minutes left in the third. Hackleburg extended its lead to 38-33 going into the final quarter.

A jumper by Lauren Oliver, a free throw by Thompson and a 3-pointer by Erica Smith gave Belgreen back the lead at 39-38 with 4:50 remaining in the game.

Thompson completed a 9-0 run by the Lady Bulldogs in the fourth with another shot from behind the arc, putting Belgreen up 42-38.

The teams battled for the rest of the quarter, but the Lady Bulldogs managed to hold off Hackleburg and pick up the win.

“We’ve been playing better the last couple of weeks,” Hester said. “After Erica [Smith] went down in the second [due to injury], the rest of the team stepped up. Bridget Thompson played hard when we needed her.”

Thompson led the Lady Bulldogs in scoring with 17 points, a career high, including four 3-pointers.

“I’m so excited,” Thompson said. “Everybody stepped up tonight.”

Bragwell-Beasley and Smith hit double digits in points with 15 and 11 points respectively. Oliver scored six, and Alyson Bragwell added one.

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Mousey Brown

News

Russellville First Baptist Church receives historical marker

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Meeting a higher standard – Russellville High School JROTC

News

RCS BOE announces new superintendent  

News

Miss Dream Girl Pageant names winners

Franklin County

First Metro Bank hosts FAME Girls’ Ranch donation drive

News

PCHS holds annual Shelby Grissom Memorial Fashion Show

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: VFW Post 5184 – ‘No One Does More For Veterans’

Features

Supporting students’ futures

Features

Red Bay Garden Club discusses amaryllis planting

Franklin County

UA announces local students for fall 2023 President’s, Dean’s, graduation lists

News

School news

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Troy Oliver

Franklin County

Appropriations bill passes, allots more than $3 million for new Russellville library/multipurpose center 

Franklin County

Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association names Cattleman of the Year 

Franklin County

Franklin County votes: Unofficial March 5 primary election results 

Franklin County

Funding for new Russellville library, multipurpose community center expected this week

Features

Faces of Franklin County: BTCPA

News

GFWC Russellville Book Lovers Club sponsors downtown art crawl

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Cody Bragwell

Franklin County

42nd annual Miss RHS pageant names winners 

News

Miss RHS pageant takes place Friday

Franklin County

Political announcement: David Hester speaks about run for reelection as county commissioner

Franklin County

BTCPA auditions for final production of season take place March 3-4 

x