Lady Bulldogs beat Lady Wildcats

J.R. Tidwell/FCT Erica Smith (14) of Belgreen runs around a Colbert Heights defender during senior night on Friday.

The Lady Bulldogs of Belgreen defeated the Colbert Heights Lady Wildcats 57-40 Friday night.

Erica Smith had a big game on senior night, scoring 34 points, with 12 of those coming off of 3-pointers. Bridget Thompson and Lauren Oliver, also seniors, had 6 and 5 points respectively.

“All three of our seniors had a big night,” Belgreen head coach Ritchie Hester said.

The Lady Wildcats kept the game close early, as the score was tied at 6-6 halfway through the first quarter.

Belgreen trailed for a short time late in the first, but Smith hit two-straight 3s to give the Lady Bulldogs a 14-11 advantage at the end of one.

Belgreen had extended its lead to six by the midpoint of the second, and halftime saw the Lady Bulldogs with a 25-20 advantage.

“We know when they double team [Erica] that someone else is open,” Hester said. “We tried some new stuff tonight.”

The Lady Bulldogs kept a five to six-point lead throughout the third quarter, but another 3 by Smith put Belgreen up 40-31 with 7:23 remaining in the game.

The Lady Bulldogs went on a tear late to pull away from Colbert Heights, giving them the 17-point win.

Laken Bragwell had nine points and Alyson Bragwell added three, along with the seniors’ point totals.

Belgreen will now move on to the 1A area tournament at Tharptown, where it will play Hackleburg on Thursday night. “Next week [at the area tournament] is a new season,” Hester said.

“We’re going up there to win it.”