Local teams successful in hoops action
By Staff
Area basketball teams have had a strong week, earning seven wins and suffering only three losses against non-county opponents during action Tuesday and Thursday nights.
Thursday Games
Covenant Christian 56,
Tharptown 43
Tharptown led by one point at the end of the first quarter, but Covenant Christian outscored the Wildcats 25-9 in the second quarter to pull away.
Manny Ricardo scored 12 points for Tharptown (5-6) while Trevor Hallmark added nine and Devin Lawson and Matt Austin scored six points each.
Also scoring for the Wildcats were Jacob Parker (5), Wade Berryman (3) and Cody Cagle (2).
Tharptown 63,
Covenant Christian 59
Chelsea McCluskey scored 27 points to help the Lady Wildcats win their second straight game following a three game losing streak.
Tharptown led by five points following the first quarter, but Covenant Christian rallied to tie the score by halftime. The Lady Wildcats outscored Covenant Christian 16-13 in the fourth quarter to secure the victory.
Kamri Sears added 19 points for Tharptown while Kendra Baker scored eight points, Heather Hatton scored five points and Tosha George scored four points.
Tuesday Games
Muscle Shoals 80,
Russellville 68
Terrence Smith scored 29 points as Russellville fell to 1-2 overall with a loss to rival Muscle Shoals.
The Golden Tigers had won the previous eight meetings against the Trojans, but could not extend the winning streak.
The Trojans opened a 15-5 lead by the end of the first quarter to take control of the game.
Also scoring for the Golden Tigers were Darrian Graham (10), Matthew Duncan (8) and A.J. Elliot (8).
Mars Hill 60,
Phil Campbell 37
Austin Nix led the Bobcats with 13 points as Phil Campbell suffered its first loss to an area opponent.
Phil Campbell led 30-23 at halftime, but the Panthers defense limited the Bobcats to only seven points in the second half.
Also scoring for Phil Campbell were Lawrence Butts (7), Matt Waid (5), Dillan Hamby (5), Jordan Benford (3) and Bailey Welborn (3).
Red Bay 64,
Cherokee 38
Red Bay used high-scoring first and third quarters to cruise past Cherokee.
The Tigers outscored the Indians 24-11 in the opening quarter and 19-9 in the final quarter to earn the win.
Curtis Morrell scored 16 points to lead the Tigers while Steven Nabers added 14.
Also scoring for Red Bay were Chase Lindsey (8), Cory Timbs (7), Nathan Gray (6), Cody Reynolds (6), Blake Brummett (3), Andy Thorn (2) and Austin Malone (2).
Tharptown 45,
Phillips 39
The Wildcats rallied from a first-quarter deficit to earn a win against Area 15 foe Phillips thanks to eight points from Ricardo and seven points from Parker.
Also scoring for the Wildcats were Kelby Hallmark (7), Trevor Hallmark (6), Berryman (5), Justin Britnell (4), Wesley Borden (3) and Lawson (2).
Russellville 48,
Muscle Shoals 47
The Lady Golden Tigers kept their perfect record in tact with a close win against Area 15 rival Muscle Shoals.
Russellville built a 16-10 lead by the end of the first quarter, but the Lady Trojans outscored Russellville 12-8 in the third quarter to get back into the game.
Tasha West led the Lady Golden Tigers with 18 points while Amber Elliot added 16 and Erin Reynolds scored 10.
Also scoring for Russellville were Taylor Smith (2) and Janarie Donley (2).
Phil Campbell 50,
Mars Hill 38
Caitlin Stancil scored 20 points and Ciara Harville recorded a double-double to led the Lady Bobcats past Mars Hill.
Harville had 16 points and 13 rebounds.
Red Bay 67,
Cherokee 10
The Lady Tigers used a stifling defense to knock off Area 14 foe Cherokee.
Red Bay allowed only two points in the first quarter, four points each in both the second and third quarters and zero points in the fourth quarter to earn the win.
Hannah Sharp led the Lady Tigers with 13 points while Whitney Sharp added 11.
Leah Fuller added seven points while Jade Ezzell, Morgan Mason, Taylor Hester, and Brooke Gresham scored six points each.
Also scoring for the Lady Tigers were Morgan McKinney (4), Lauren Pacetti (4), Caitlin Childers (2) and Mariah Horton (2).
Tharptown 68,
Phillips 55
Sears scored 26 points to lead the Lady Wildcats past Phillips and improve to 3-0 in Area 15 play.
Baker added 16 points and McCluskey scored 15 points for Tharptown.
Also scoring for the Lady Wildcats were George (4), Breadon Sellers (3), Chloe Lane (2) and Elly Valdez (2).
Middle Schools
East Franklin 63,
Belgreen 21
Taylor Pace and Autumn Thomas each recorded a double-double to propel the Lady Rebels past Belgreen
Pace scored 31 points and added 17 rebounds while Thomas had 18 points and 18 rebounds.
Also scoring for East Franklin were Kassy Baker (7), Madison Hardy (4) Ahsley Baker (2) and Cortney Baker (1).
East Franklin improved to 7-4 overall.
Kateynn Scott led the Lady Bulldogs with five points while Hanna Taylor and Chloe Wallace added four points each.
Also scoring for Belgreen were Courtney DeVaney (2), Darby Hargett (2), Lexie Bragwell (2) and Jessica Howard (2).
East Franklin 34,
Vina 26
Thomas had eight points and 10 rebounds for the Lady Rebels while Pace added 11 points and seven rebounds. Also scoring for East Franklin were Hardy (8), Kassy Baker (3), Karli Hill (2) and Leanell Hill (1).
Fallyn Shotts led Vina with 11 points while Caitlin Benstien added four. Also scoring for Vina were Shelby Boyd with three points and Alex Miller, Miranda Howard, Jessica Pickle and Beth Spencer with two points each.
