Golden Tigers earn first area win
By Staff
Mike Self, FCT Sports Editor
RUSSELLVILLE – Cory Trapp scored 19 points and helped Russellville overcome a sluggish start with some hot first-half shooting on Tuesday as the Golden Tigers earned their first area win, 56-49 over Athens.
Russellville (15-5, 1-4 Class 5A, Area 16) was ice cold in the early going and fell behind 10-2, a rough start very reminiscent of the Golden Tigers' struggles in area play this season.
Trapp helped turn things around, however, nailing a pair of three-pointers as part of a 9-1 run that tied the game 11-11 at the end of the first quarter.
"We got stuck on two there for a while, but Cory hit a couple of threes to get us into double figures and help us get going," Russellville coach Michael Smith said.
Trapp, playing just his second full game since returning from a recent bout with pneumonia, drained two more threes early in the second quarter and finished with 14 points in the first half as Russellville carried a 30-26 lead into the break.
Athens guard Jacquez Pride shadowed Trapp all over the floor in the second half, but Russellville responded by attacking the Golden Eagles inside.
Terence Smith and Nate Dunstan combined for 12 points in the second half, with all six field goals coming in the paint.
"They tried to take the three away from Cory in the second half, but I thought we adjusted pretty well," Michael Smith said. "When teams focus on guarding the perimeter, we have to be able to score inside more consistently. We did a much better job of that tonight. I know Terence got a couple of layups off nice passes from Cory, and Nate played well inside. The more he does that, the better we'll be."
Athens tied the game 37-37 on a basket by Zack Brock late in the third quarter, but Dunstan answered with a layup off a nice post move to put Russellville back in front.
Smith and Dunstan each had a basket early in the fourth quarter as the lead grew to five, but Athens got back within one at 44-43 moments later on a jumper by Chad Stinnet.
That's when Trapp finally shook loose to knock down his fifth and final trey of the night, giving Russellville a little more breathing room at 47-43.
Smith followed with a layup and Dunstan scored on a tip-in to push the lead to eight, and the Golden Tigers made 5-of-6 free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
"I thought we did a better job rebounding tonight," Smith said. "Athens had a couple of guys who shot it pretty well, but for the most part we were able to hold them to one shot. If we're going to get beat, I'd rather it be because somebody gets hot from outside. I don't want us to get beat inside because we're giving a team two or three chances at it every time they have the ball.
"If we can turn in into a perimeter game, I don't think many teams will shoot it as well as we can."
Russellville made seven threes on the night, including two by senior forward Justin Thorne. Smith finished with 10 points, and Siran Winston added eight. Thorne and Dunstan each had six. Caleb Mitchell had four, and Jordan Hammond added three.
Jeremy Stinnet led Athens with 19 points, and Brock added 12.
Russellville and Athens are now tied for third place in the area standings. The Golden Tigers play at Decatur tonight while Athens faces Muscle Shoals. A Russellville win and an Athens loss would wrap up the No. 3 seed in the area tournament for the Golden Tigers, which would mean a first-round matchup with the Trojans.
An Athens win and a Russellville loss would knock the Golden Tigers down to the No. 4 seed and force them to face Decatur on its home floor in the first round of the area tournament. If both Athens and Russellville lose tonight (or if they both win), a coin flip will determine the No. 3 seed.
Smith was encouraged by Russellville's 61-56 win on Saturday over Hartselle, a team the Golden Tigers could possibly face in the sub-regional round.
"It's nice to get an area win, but our boys realize what we have to do," Smith said. "We beat Hartselle the other night, and I think Hartselle is the No. 1 team in their area. So our guys know that if we can just win one game at the area tournament, we'll have a chance to go to the regionals. That's what it will come down to."
