RHS basketball learns, grows through early part of season
The Russellville boys and girls varsity basketball teams wrapped up the pre-Christmas tournament portion of their seasons with records of 4-3 for the boys and 4-5 for the girls. The RHS boys will next play in the TimesDaily Classic, which is scheduled to start Dec. 17, and the Lady Golden Tigers will be participating in the West Morgan Tournament that begins Dec. 27.
BOYS
The Golden Tigers hosted the Hamilton Aggies Dec. 9, and Russellville got the win by an 81-74 final score.
RHS held a 24-23 advantage after one quarter of play and led 41-35 at the half. Both teams scored 19 points each in the third period, and the Golden Tigers bettered the Aggies 21-20 in the final quarter.
Eli Gipson of RHS led the way in scoring with 31 points. The Golden Tigers were without starting guard Boots McCulloch, who missed the game with sickness. Eight RHS players scored to help in picking up the win. Amir Williams and Malachi Duncan scored 11 points each, and Conner Warhurst had 10. Nathan Brockway, Ashton Boyd, Bralynn Vincent and Tilmon Baker also scored for Russellville.
“I think defensively, we missed Boots,” said Russellville head coach Patrick Odom. “He’s our energy guy, and he plays great defense. Energy is contagious, and it kind of changes our rotation – which, moving forward, I thought we had some guys get some minutes they haven’t been getting that I think is going to be beneficial to us.
“It’s good to win without one of your most experienced players.”
Dec. 7, Russellville hosted Haleyville and fell to the Lions by a 62-57 score. RHS was led in scoring by Malachi Duncan with 18. Drake James led the way for Haleyville with 15 points.
GIRLS
The Russellville girls went to overtime with Haleyville in a game Dec. 7 but fell to the Lady Lions by a score of 47-44.
RHS led at the half 16-14 and after three quarters by a 28-22 total.
Leah Rushing and Jenna Whitfield scored 11 points each to lead Russellville. Anna Beth Oliver added seven, Jayna Poss scored six and Ella Copeland added three. Avery Watts, Jacey Moore and Ashlyn James rounded out the scoring with two points each.
Hamilton was the opponent two days later for the Lady Golden Tigers. HHS was led by Mia Hollingsworth’s 29 points on the way to a 64-29 win over Russellville.
RHS got scoring from six different players, with Jacey Moore having the most points with 15. Poss scored five, while Whitfield and James added three points apiece. Copeland scored two and Watts scored one point.
