RHS starts season with win
The 2018-19 boys varsity basketball season for the Russellville Golden Tigers couldn’t have started any better.
Monday night, RHS traveled to Wilson and dominated the Warriors from start to finish on their way to an 82-28 win. Four of Russellville’s starters scored in double digits before the half, and all nine Golden Tigers who dressed out for the game found their way into the scoring column before the final horn sounded.
Russellville got off to a blazing hot start using a fast-paced offense, and the defense was equally effective throughout the contest. RHS led 49-15 at the half and followed that up by allowing Wilson only three points in the third quarter.
“I’m proud of our guys,” Russellville head coach Patrick Odom said. “You never know what you’re going to get in an opener until you get your guys out there. You think you know what you have, but you’ve got to see it. I thought we did a great job from the opening tip.
“We’re a team that’s going to play fast, and we set the tempo. We’ve got a team that’s got the ability to make shots, and it just takes a lot of pressure off of a lot of things.”
Lucas McNutt led Russellville in scoring with 18 points. Chandler Dyas followed closely with 16, while Devin Buckhalter and freshman guard Will Bonner had 14 points apiece. Bryant Hubbert scored eight for RHS, and Brooks Scott had six. Caden Parker pitched in with three, while Jamaal Hubbard had two points and Colin Bonner added one.
Varsity girls
Russellville 41, Jacksonville 24
The Lady Golden Tigers opened their season with a big win over Jacksonville High School in the opening game of the Encore Thanksgiving Classic.
Madison Murray scored 22 points to lead the way for Russellville. RHS outscored 4A Jacksonville in each of the four quarters of the contest. The Lady Golden Tigers led 18-12 at the half and held a commanding 31-17 advantage at the end of the third period.
Autumn Logan scored eight points for RHS, and she was followed by AJ Taylor with five. Lexie Glass scored four, and Krista Sikes pitched in with two.
Cullman 66, Russellville 32
In the second game of the Encore Classic, Russellville fell to the Cullman Bearcats. A 24-8 second quarter by CHS was too much for the Lady Golden Tigers to overcome.
Seven Russellville players scored in the game: Taylor led the team with 11, and Logan (7), Glass (5), Murray (4), Alivia Clemmons (2), Chalea Clemmons (2) and Sikes (1) added to the RHS scoring total.
Decatur 41, Russellville 27
RHS finished up Thanksgiving tournament action with a game against 6A Decatur Nov. 21.
The Lady Golden Tigers led at the end of the first quarter, 8-7, and played even with DHS in the third but were outscored in the second and fourth quarters in the loss.
Wilson 46, Russellville 19
The Lady Warriors got off to a 15-2 start Monday night, and Russellville struggled shooting the basketball throughout the contest.
Russellville (1-3) managed two points in the first quarter, five in the second, two in the third and 10 in the fourth.
“Early on in the season, we’ve faced some really good competition,” Russellville head coach Corey Thomaston said. “I’ve seen some things that have been really good for us. We’ve done a good job of rebounding the basketball.
“I’ve seen some areas that we’ve definitely got to improve in. We’ve got to take better care of the basketball. We’ve got to start hitting some open shots to alleviate some of the pressure on ourselves.
“I’m not pleased with where we are, but I like the direction we are headed.”
