J.R. Tidwell/FCT Russellville’s Kaelen Bonds (14) makes a layup for the Golden Tigers in a game played earlier this season. Bonds, a senior, had four points and the game-winning layup against Hatton Friday night.

Slade Gilmer

For the FCT

RUSSELLVILLE — Kaelan Bonds’ layup with three seconds left gave Russellville a come-from-behind 51-49 senior-night win over the Hatton Hornets on Friday, Feb. 1, at Russellville.

The win avenged a 61-51 defeat for the Golden Tigers earlier in the season at Hatton, but this win didn’t come easy.

The game started off well for Russellville, as Jackson Smith scored 11 points in the first period to pace the Golden Tigers to a 21-12 lead.

However, the second quarter saw the Hornets allow no field goals and only three points.

Meanwhile, senior forward Laron Cooper got going, scoring nine in the period as Hatton tied the score at 24 heading into the locker room.

The third period saw the Golden Tigers briefly take a lead before the Hornets took over behind guard Ty Terry, who led Hatton to a 40-36 lead through three quarters.

The fourth period saw Hatton take a 46-40 lead on a three-point play by Jake Bradford, but Russellville clamped down defensively, holding the Hornets to only one field goal in the final six minutes of the game.

Meanwhile, Smith, who hadn’t scored after the first period, scored eight points to give the Golden Tigers a 47-46 lead.

Terry hit a free throw to tie the score before Caleb Robison gave the Golden Tigers a 49-47 lead with 1:30 remaining. Terry answered with 41 seconds left to tie the score before Bonds’ heroics.

Hatton had one last possession, but a full-court pass was intercepted by Chris Owens to clinch the win for Russellville.

Smith led Russellville with 19 points. Robison had 10, and Leslie Dunstan had nine.

Jacob Seal and Bonds each had four points, Colby Tompkins and Joseph Butts each had two, and Drew Malone rounded out the scoring with one point.

With the win, Russellville improves to 10-13 on the season.

The Golden Tigers’ next game is on Friday, Feb. 8, at Athens in the Class 5A, Area 16 tournament, as Russellville will face Lawrence County.

In the girls game, Hatton defeated Russellville 45-24. The Lady Hornets led 15-4 after one period, but the Lady Golden Tigers went on a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 15-11 midway through the second stanza.

Hatton weathered this run by outscoring Russellville 9-4 to take a 24-15 lead into the locker room, and the Lady Golden Tigers were unable to regain the momentum.

Ashley Dunstan led Russellville with 11 points, Rachel Garrison had nine, Megan Brockway had two, and Jakari Suggs and Victoria Jackson had one each for the Lady Golden Tigers.

Russellville will face Athens to take on the host Lady Golden Eagles in the first round of the Class 5A, Area 16 tournament on Thursday, Feb. 7.