By Staff
Russellville beats Muscle Shoals again
Kim West
For the fourth time in six weeks, No. 2 Russellville beat Muscle Shoals, but this time there was more on the line as the Golden Tigers claimed their first Class 5A, Area 16 tournament championship since 2002 with a hard-earned 65-50 win.
The first half featured four ties and seven lead changes as Russellville, which had been struggling lately from 3-point distance, found its long-distance shooting touch. The Golden Tigers shot 6-of-14 from behind the arc and Russellville sharpshooter Cory Trapp was 3-of-8 in the first half to move into third place in the state record book for most 3-point goals made in a career with 375 treys in his four seasons as a varsity starter. He only needs six more to take sole possession of second place in career threes and eight more to seize third place for most 3-point shots made in a season.
Muscle Shoals tied the score at 27-27 with 2:05 left in the first half on two free throws from Aaron Johnson but Russellville responded with a 7-0 run to close the half and lead 34-29 at halftime.
In the third quarter the Golden Tigers led by as many as eight points before Muscle Shoals trimmed the lead to two points on a pull-up 3-pointer by Warrick Mastin. But a turnaround shot from Nate Dunstan and a long jumper by Jermaine Bates put Russellvile ahead by six entering the final period.
In the fourth quarter, Russellville reeled off six straight points on two driving layups by Bates and a slick up-and-under layup by Siran Winston to put the game out of reach for Muscle Shoals, who struggled offensively when leading scorer Ralston Turner picked up his fourth foul midway through the quarter and the Golden Tigers applied full-court pressure.
Winston led Russellville (28-0) with 16 points, while Trapp and Terence Smith had 14 and Bates added 12.
Mastin scored 15 points for Muscle Shoals (23-9), and Turner added 10.
Russellville will host Brewer Friday at 7 p.m. and the winner will advance to play Wednesday in Hanceville.