RHS girls earn first area title since 1997

By Staff
Scot Beard
Two days after blowing a double-digit lead against Muscle Shoals, the Russellville varsity girls basketball team allowed Hartselle to dig itself out of a similar hole during the Class 5A, Area 15 Tournament finals.
Like the game against Muscle Shoals, the Lady Golden Tigers weathered the storm and dominated the fourth quarter for a 50-35 victory.
The win gives the Russellville girls program its first area title since the 1996-97 season.
"It was a good game," Russellville coach James Bostick said. "Both teams played hard."
The Lady Golden Tigers jumped out to a 9-3 lead in the first quarter and led 23-14 by halftime.
Hartselle rallied in the third quarter, outscoring Russellville 14-5 to tie the game 28-28 entering the fourth quarter.
The Lady Golden Tigers used a 9-0 run in the final quarter to pull away for good.
Tasha West led the Lady Golden Tigers with 17 points while Erin Reynolds recorded a double-double with 15 points and 16 rebounds.
Also scoring for Russellville were Janarie Donley (9), Amber Elliot (8) and Ayanna McCullough (1).
Bostick said the win fulfilled the first of three goals the team set for itself at the start of the season – winning the area title.
The other two goals are to earn 20 wins and to capture the state title.
The Lady Golden Tigers (19-6) will have the opportunity to reach the second goal Thursday when they host Lee-Huntsville in the sub-regional round of the playoffs. The game begins at 7 p.m.