Russellville teams face ranked foes in 1st round

By Staff
Mike Self, FCT Sports Editor
The Russellville boys and girls basketball teams will have their work cut out for them next week when the Class 5A, Area 16 tournaments tip off.
Both RHS teams will be facing an opponent ranked in the Top 10 of the most recent ASWA polls, which were released on Thursday.
Russellville's boys will face Decatur (20-5), ranked No. 6 in Class 5A, one week from tonight on the Red Raiders' home floor.
In the girls tournament at Athens High School, Russellville must deal with No. 4 Athens (23-3) next Thursday.
Belgreen's boys and Phil Campbell's boys will also be facing Top 10 teams in the first round of their respective area tournaments next Friday.
The Bulldogs will play No. 7 Covenant Christian in the Class 1A, Area 16 tournament, while the Bobcats will face No. 8 Cherokee in the Class 2A, Area 16 tourney.
Phil Campbell's girls are scheduled to face No. 6 Mars Hill next Thursday in the first round of the Class 2A, Area 16 tournament at Red Bay High School.
Several other teams from north Alabama were ranked in Thursday's polls.
On the boys side, Hazlewood was ranked No. 9 in Class 1A, and Phillips was right behind at No. 10.
Lauderdale County's boys remained at No. 2 in the Class 3A poll, and Central-Florence checked in at No. 7 in Class 4A.
Muscle Shoals stayed in a tie with Jess Lanier at No. 10 in Class 5A.
In the girls rankings, Hazlewood checked in at No. 4 in Class 1A.
In Class 3A, Sheffield (No. 3), Lexington (No. 6) and Lauderdale County (No. 7) were all ranked in the Top 10.
Deshler's girls continued their season-long reign as the No. 1 team in Class 4A, and Lawrence County was ranked No. 6.