Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
6:39 pm Saturday, March 9, 2002

Lady Knights are ready to make school history

By By Marty Stamper/EMG sports assistant
March 9, 2002
They've won a bunch of state championships at West Lauderdale since the school was created in 1962. Ten baseball championships. Three boys' basketball championships. Five slow-pitch softball championships. Even a soccer championship.
But never a girls' basketball state championship.
The Lady Knights have an opportunity to add that to their collection today when they take on W.P. Daniel High School of New Albany in the finals of the Class 3A State Tournament at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m.
The 33-4 Lady Knights will have to get past a tough New Albany team that sports a 33-6 record after stomping Cleveland 64-31 in Wednesday's semifinal.
Six-foot-1 Dandy Dozen senior Ellen Buchanan, who has signed with Ole Miss, scored 24 points despite not having to play the final 5:18. She also had 14 rebounds.
Buchanan had 33 points in a 61-52 opening-round win over Heidelberg. She averages 26 points and 14 rebounds.
While West has only one senior, 5-foot-10 JaWanda Huggins, New Albany has seven on its roster.
This is the Lady Bulldogs' first time to reach the state finals. West made it to the 1976 title game only to lose 51-47 to Pontotoc.
The Lady Knights are making their first appearance in the state tournament since 1991. They defeated Ripley 54-53 in a gut-wrenching semifinal contest Tuesday night.
Hurst usually starts JaWanda Huggins, 5-foot-10 junior J.J. Huggins, 5-foot-9 junior Kristina Gardner, 5-foot-5 junior Patty Monroe, and 5-foot-8 sophomore Cierra Jennings with 6-foot-2 sophomore Shannon Lloyd and 5-foot-6 junior Amy Frazier coming off the bench.
While West has never won a girls' championship, contributing communities Center Hill (1934 and 1961) and Collinsville (1952) have.

Also on Franklin County Times
Thorpe to play at Blue Mountain Christian
High School Sports, News, Russellville, ...
Brannon King For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE – Brennon Thorpe made his plans official to attend Blue Mountain Christian University and play baseball for the Toppers during a recent s...
Russellville High Class of 1967 gathers, reminisces
Columnists, News, Opinion, ...
HERE AND NOW
July 16, 2025
You can’t really go back to the good old days of high school, but you can pay them a visit now and then. That’s exactly what the RHS Class of 1967 has...
Former Cypress Lakes official to lead Guntersville State Park
Lifestyles, News
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
GUNTERSVILLE — Heath Puckett had an Auburn University degree and golf course superintendent certification in his pocket when he arrived at Cypress Lak...
European travel builds bonds across cultures
Lifestyles, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE -- A group of Franklin County travelers spent nine days this summer walking through catacombs, exploring castles and standing in places w...
Little Free Library welcomes readers in East Franklin
Lifestyles, News, Phil Campbell
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
PHIL CAMPBELL — Eleven-year-old Aiden Hall is an avid reader, but he doesn’t just want to read books. He also wants to share them, and the way he deci...
King becomes elementary curriculum director
Lifestyles, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELVILLE — Molly King says every child can learn, though not necessarily in the same way or on the same day — a belief she plans to carry into her ...
New Junior Leaders begin their training
Franklin County, News
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
FRANKLIN COUNTY — Forty-two high school students from across Franklin County are beginning 10 months of hands-on leadership training and community ser...
Fire destroys 2-story garage, guest suite
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
R U S S E L LV I L L E – Jason Gist leaned against the wall of his home with a look of disgust while dozens of firefighters worked to extinguish a fir...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Stories
July 4, 2025Augusto Simon Diaz, 42, of Russellville, passed away July 4. Visitation and funeral were held at Spry Memorial Chapel on July 12 from 2pm ...
July 16, 2025
July 8, 2025Jamie Kerby Cummings, 41, of Russellville, passed away on July 8. Visitation took place July 13, at Spry Memorial Chapel from 1 pm to 3pm....
July 16, 2025
July 11,2025Julie “JuJu” Welch Black, 63, of Russellville, passed away on July 11.Graveside service was held at 1pm on July 13, at Belgreen Cemetery w...
July 16, 2025
July 9, 2025Scott Noel Benford, age 58, of Muscle Shoals, passed away on July 9. Visitation was held at Pinkard Funeral Home in Russellville on July 1...
July 16, 2025