Russellville girls off to hot start

By Staff
Scot Beard
The Russellville varsity girls basketball team is off to one of its best starts ever after improving to 5-0 overall and 1-0 in area play with its 44-42 victory against Hartselle Monday night.
The Lady Golden Tigers have noticed some excitement both within the program and on campus.
"More people say they will come to our games and support us because there is more confidence that we are going to win," said Tasha West.
It is a refreshing change of pace for a program that struggled through the previous two seasons while the varsity boys team claimed back-to-back area titles and made an appearance in the state championship game in 2008.
Now the Lady Golden Tigers are enjoying the No. 6 ranking in Class 5A.
It has been a while since the Lady Golden Tigers could boast about having a better record than the boys team. Erin Reynolds resists the temptation to talk trash.
"I try not to say too much," Reynolds said. "I don't want to jinx us."
Russellville coach James Bostick is pleased with the fast start and the way the team and community is responding.
"This is the first time it's ever been this way and we want it to stay there," Bostick said. "But we have a long way to go."
Bostick said he noticed the difference in this year's team during the Thanksgiving tournament the Lady Golden Tigers hosted.
The squad jumped out to an early lead against Florence, but the Lady Falcons fought back. Russellville was able to keep its composure and secure the win.
"Last year we would have lost that game," Bostick said. "Our maturity is coming along well for our ball club."
That has been Russellville's problem in recent seasons. The Lady Golden Tigers have not had many juniors or seniors, but this season Russellville has the much needed experience and leadership that has been missing.
Reynolds said one of the biggest keys to the teams' success is the hard work the players have put in during the summer and at practice sessions.
"I thought we ran a lot last year," Reynolds said. "Practice is totally different. We run more and work on conditioning a lot."
One thing the Lady Golden Tigers do not lack is confidence. Reynolds said after the win against Hartselle – Russellville did not take its first lead of the game until the closing seconds – she feels the Lady Golden Tigers could win it all.
Sophomore Amber Elliot, who led Russellville with 19 points in the game, agrees.
"I feel like it is going to be a great season," Elliot said.
It will be tough for Russellville to hang on to their lofty ranking as area foes Muscle Shoals and Athens, which are also ranked, will try to put the Lady Golden Tigers back in bottom of Class 5A, Area 15.
Russellville hosted Muscle Shoals Tuesday, but the game ended too late to be included in today's edition of The Franklin County Times. The Lady Golden Tigers will not face Athens until a Jan. 8 road game.
Reynolds said she expects a tough road, but she also feels Russellville is up to the challenge of having a target on its back.
"They're gunning for us. They're thinking 'It's Russellville, we'll take their shine,'" Reynolds said. "But its not going to be taken by anyone.