Late run lifts Muscle Shoals girls past Russellville, 55-47
By Staff
Mike Self, FCT Sports Editor
RUSSELLVILLE – Jordan Dollar had 24 points for Russellville on Friday, but it wasn't enough as the Lady Golden Tigers fell to 1-1 in Class 5A, Area 16 play with a 55-47 loss to Muscle Shoals.
Russellville tied the game 41-41 on a pair of free throws by Dollar with 6:00 remaining, but five different players scored for Muscle Shoals in a 10-3 run that gave the Lady Trojans a 51-44 lead.
A three-pointer by Sasha Willingham got Russellville back within six with 55 seconds remaining, but the Lady Golden Tigers came up empty on their final two possessions.
Dollar opened the game with eight quick points as Russellville got out to a 10-5 lead, but six points from Kathryn Thompson helped Muscle Shoals even the score 14-14 at the end of the first quarter.
The Lady Trojans opened up a 23-16 lead after a three-point play by Thompson midway through the second quarter, but a basket by Erin Reynolds and a three-pointer by Victoria Taylor brought Russellville back within two.
Muscle Shoals pushed the lead back out to six before Dollar's third trey of the game made it 28-25 with less than a minute left in the first half.
A three-pointer by Kayla Hill sent Muscle Shoals into the lockerroom with a 31-25 advantage.
The lead swelled to 11 early in the third quarter, but Dollar hit two more treys as Russellville closed the gap to three at 38-35 heading into the fourth.
Brittany Richardson scored for Muscle Shoals to open the fourth quarter, but Reynolds responded with a fast-break layup on a nice pass from Tasha West. Reynolds missed the ensuing free throw, but West grabbed the rebound and scored to trim the lead to one at 40-39.
After a free throw by Jasmine Hammond pushed the lead to two, Dollar made two at the line to tie the game.
Willingham finished with 10 points for Russellville, and Taylor added five. West and Reynolds each had four.
Thompson led Muscle Shoals with 13 points, and Hammond added 12. Richardson had 11, and Lyndsey Williams added eight.
Stacia Watts and Lindsey Hayes each finished with four points for Muscle Shoals, and Hill added three.
Russellville will return to action on Tuesday night with another area game at Athens.
