BREAKING: RHS girls advance to regional finals
By Staff
Scot Beard
If the Russellville varsity girls basketball team was the least bit nervous about playing in the Northwest Regional Tournament Wednesday morning, it didn't show it.
The Lady Golden Tigers rolled to a 60-41 victory against Brewer, the defending Class 5A state runner-up.
The members of the Russellville squad remained calm as Brewer hit three 3-pointers in the third quarter to reduce the Lady Golden Tigers' lead to nine points.
"It didn't bother us at all," said Tasha West.
Russellville responded by increasing its lead to 13 points by the end of the third quarter.
"A year ago they would have folded," said Russellville coach James Bostick.
Russellville dominated the fourth quarter, limiting the Lady Patriots to only seven points.
Bostick said the Lady Golden Tigers plan was to drive the lane and score points in the paint. Brewer coach Ricky Allen said the strategy worked.
"We haven't played an inside team all year," Allen said. "We played our worst game of the year, which is obvious to anybody who has seen us play."
West, Erin Reynolds and Amber Elliot dominated for Russellville. West and Elliot hit double-digit scoring by halftime.
West finished with a game-high 28 points. She also pulled down six rebounds.
Reynolds scored 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and Elliot scored 10 points – all in the first half – and blocked six shots for Russellville.
Also scoring for the Lady Golden Tigers were Rebecca Mitchell (3), Taylor Smith (2) and Janarie Donley (2).
With the win Russellville improves to 21-6 and advances to the Northwest Regional Tournament finals. They will play the winner of the Hartselle-Fairfield game at 12:20 p.m. Friday.
