Russellville girls eye taking next step
HANCEVILLE — There was no hiding it. The ending was the tough part.
They had hoped to spend more time inside the gym at Wallace State-Hanceville. But even after some tears had been shed and the disappointment mounted, Russellville couldn’t help but appreciate where it was, where it is now and where it might be going.
“This season, to me, is a breakthrough point for us,” coach Jermaine Groce said. “Girls basketball at Russellville has come a long way.”
Yes, it has, Even after the 60-36 loss to Guntersville in the Class 5A Northwest Regional semifinals. Thursday marked the Golden Tigers’ first regional appearance since 2010, continuing a recent — mainly this school year — trend for girls’ sports programs.
A few months before, the volleyball team set its record for wins, reached its own regional for the first time since 2014, and fell one win shy of its first state tournament berth since 1978. Perhaps softball can be next, too.
“I think this was a great building part for our team,” junior guard Ella Copeland said. “We just did so many things that were new that I’ve never had in past teams. We just had that family atmosphere, and I feel like we all trusted each other towards the end and I hope we can build on it next year and try to go even further than we did this year.”
Whether Russellville (19-13) ultimately does, Copeland will play a major role in deciding that, Just as she did this season. Of the 15 players on the current roster, Laila Hill was the lone senior.
Copeland finished the season with 27 20-point games. The junior will start next year working towards 3,000 career points. She’s at 2,126 right now.
She ended Thursday with just 17 points on 6-of-22 shooting. Hill chipped in nine and Angeleah Smith eight.
Kenna’D Blue’s 21 points led Guntersville (30-5). Addison Reese Hammond added 15 points. Bristol Cook had eight points to go along with 10 rebounds.
The Wildcats never trailed and pushed their lead past the 20-point mark late in the fourth quarter after the Golden Tigers pulled within nine late in the third.
“We kept fighting,” Smith said, “and that was part of the dedication we had to get here. I just love how we played this season even with how it ended.”
That was the tough part for Russellville, knowing it has to wait another year for another chance at a regional berth. But the Golden Tigers like what they see.
