Russellville boys win area opener

By Staff
Muscle Shoals edges Lady Golden Tigers
Kim West
Franklin County Times
The Russellville varsity boys continued their winning ways with a 60-47 win over Muscle Shoals in the Golden Tigers' Class 5A, Area 16 opener Friday night.
Russellville, which previously pounded the Trojans 89-59 in the TimesDaily Classic finals Dec. 21, improved to 14-0 despite repeated stalling attempts by Muscle Shoals (11-6, 2-1) to slow down a Golden Tigers' offense that has averaged nearly 80 points per game this season.
Muscle Shoals managed to outscore Russellville 12-11 in the second quarter, but the Golden Tigers never trailed and led 26-19 at halftime.
Cory Trapp led Russellville with 19 points, while Siran Winston had 16 and Jermaine Bates added 15.
Muscle Shoals star Ralston Turner was held to only 11 points, which was matched by teammate Warrick Mastin.
Russellville shot 40 percent from 3-point range and converted 10 3-pointers, while Muscle Shoals made only two.
Muscle Shoals 54
Russellville 53
The Russellville varsity girls shook off a sluggish first half to lead Muscle Shoals in the closing minutes, but Jayce Evans sank a 3-pointer to give the Lady Trojans a 54-53 win Friday night.
Muscle Shoals led 33-20 at halftime but the Lady Golden Tigers clawed back as Tasha West and Erin Reynolds combined for all 21 of Russellville's fourth quarter points.
West finished with 30 points, including 18 in the second half, and Reynolds added 12.
Jasmine Hammon led Muscle Shoals with 18 points, while Evans finished with 13 points.
The Russellville varsity teams will host area rival Athens Tuesday beginning at 4:30 p.m.