Elite girls programs gather for RHS Thanksgiving Tournament

By Staff
Mike Self, FCT Sports Editor
Basketball fans seeking a sneak preview of this year's Northwest Regional Tournament would be wise to make their way to Russellville this weekend.
Several of the state's elite girls basketball programs, including defending state champions Deshler (Class 4A) and Lauderdale County (Class 3A), will begin play today on the campus of Russellville High School in the second annual RHS Girls Thanksgiving Tournament.
Deshler has won the last four Class 4A titles, while Lauderdale County has captured the Class 3A crown three times in the past five years.
Other premier programs playing in this weekend's tournament include Hazlewood (Class 1A), Red Bay (2A), Sheffield (3A) and Austin (6A).
"We've got some big-time teams coming in," said Russellville coach James Bostick, whose squad opens play today at 9 a.m. against Rogers in the middle school gym. "It should be a great tournament."
The double-elimination tournament begins today and will wrap up on Saturday, crowning a champion in both the winner's bracket and the loser's bracket.
Today's second round could potentially feature a Franklin County showdown, with Red Bay slated to face the winner between Russellville and Rogers at 11:30 a.m. in the middle school gym.
The other Franklin County team in the field, Phil Campbell, will face Class 2A, Area 16 rival Mars Hill in the RMS gym at 10:15 a.m.