By Brannon King

For the FCT

The first game of any area basketball tournament always means a lot due to its win-and-advance or lose-and-the-season’s-over format.  Knowing that brings along added pressure to any player, especially to a senior.

Russellville’s lone senior, Victoria Jackson, rose to the occasion scoring a game-high 16 points Thursday night at Muscle Shoals, but it wasn’t enough to keep the season alive as the Lady Trojans won by a score of 62-41 in the 5A, Area 16 tournament.

Muscle Shoals got off to a good start by outscoring the Lady Golden Tigers 15-4 in the first quarter. Shana Sherrod, a senior for the Lady Trojans, led the way with seven of her 16 points coming in the opening period.

Russellville managed to match Muscle Shoals in the second quarter with each team scoring 13 points to make the score at the half 28-17 in favor of the Lady Trojans.

However, Muscle Shoals was able to grow the lead in the second half with the help of Ebani Barnett who scored five of her 16 points in the third quarter.

Russellville fought hard in the fourth quarter only being outscored, 17-14, but ultimately came up short.

The Lady Golden Tigers had five players score in the game. Jackson’s 16 points led the way. She was followed by Ashley Dunstan (9), Abby Holcomb (7), Megan Brockway (5) and Angela Woods (4).

“The girls played hard and I’m proud of them,” Russellville head coach James Bostick said after the game.

“We’ve improved this year. We’re still young, we have one senior on the team, and I hate it for her that we didn’t play hard at times. We missed too many easy shots and had a few too many turnovers.”