Lady Tigers' dream of state title ends with buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Fairfield

By Staff
Scot Beard
HANCEVILLE – Seven seconds were all that stood between the Russellville varsity girls basketball team and a trip to the state tournament in Birmingham.
Clinging to a two-point lead, the Lady Golden Tigers took the court following a timeout with a single mission – prevent Fairfield's Jazmine Sexton from getting the ball.
Sexton caught the inbound pass, moved of a screen and banked a 3-point shot off the glass and through the net as time expired to give Fairfield a 46-45 victory.
After the game Russellville's coach, James Bostick was visibly upset and had difficulty talking about the game.
"I've been (to Birmingham) before. I wanted these girls to experience it," Bostick said. "I have never been so proud of a team in 30 years of coaching."
Russellville seemed to be in control of the game for much of the first half. The Lady Golden Tigers jumped out to a 12-2 lead by the end of the first quarter.
Fairfield rallied to tie the score 16-16, but Russellville resumed control and headed into the locker room with a 28-19 halftime lead.
The Lady Golden Tigers continued to carry the momentum early in the third, but Fairfield's defense picked up its pressure near the end of the quarter and continued it throughout the fourth.
Amber Elliot's basket with 2:41 to play in the third quarter was the last field goal Russellville would score during the game.
Fairfield continued to chip away at Russellville's lead and a 3-pointer by Krista Simmons with 1:57 remaining in the game tied the score 43-43.
With little more than a minute remaining, Elliot missed a pair of free throws, but Russellville's Ayanna McCullough scored a pair of free throws with 31 seconds remaining to give Russellville the lead.
A jump ball was called with seven seconds to play and Fairfield was given the ball.
After a time out, Fairfield coach Tiffany Frederick sent her squad back out onto the court with the play designed for Sexton.
"They ran it to perfection," Frederick said.
Russellville ends its season with a 21-7 record.
Elliot scored a game-high 18 points for Russellville while Tasha West scored 12, only two of which came in the second half.
Also scoring for Russellville were Janarie Donley (7), McCullough (6) and Erin Reynolds (2).