Pictured are the seventh and eight grade Belgreen Lady Bulldogs, 2015-16 champions of the Tip-off Tournament: (back row, left to right) MaKayla Lane, Baylee Reynolds, Autumn Bragwell, Sterlyn Oliver and Emma Dempsey and (front row, left to right) Ali Davis, Emmie Scott, Kelsey Wilson, Bailey Oliver and Bailey Wood.

By Tressa Bragwell for the FCT

With only one returning starter from last season, Belgreen’s seventh and eighth grade girls have pulled together early to begin the 2015-16 with an undefeated record (4-0) and a championship trophy to boot.

Last Saturday’s action at the Tharptown Tip-Off Tournament began bright and early for the Lady Bulldogs and brought about the first win of the day over Phil Campbell, 38-27. Autumn Bragwell led scoring with 14. Bailey Wood put in seven, and Emmie Scott had six.

This win brought about the opportunity to play 4A Haleyville. Seventh grade starter Emma Dempsey had her break-out game, pounding the boards, blocking shots and racking up 19 points for the Lady Dogs. Bailey Oliver’s nine points and Bragwell’s seven helped lead the team to the 41-25 victory over the Lady Lions.

The two victories landed the girls in the championship game Tuesday night, Nov. 3, against Russellville, and when the final buzzer was sounded, the Lady Bulldogs had beaten the Lady Golden Tigers with a final score of 35-24. Dempsey again led with 11, Bragwell followed with nine and Oliver and Wood both had eight.

Other results and top scorers are as follows:

– Seventh and eighth grade boys versus Russellville, 45-57: Scout Bragwell, 22; Will Donahoe, 11; and David Plott, 7

– Ninth grade girls versus Deshler, 46-34: Katie Dempsey, 11; Gracie Dempsey, 11; and Camie Terrell, 6.

– Ninth grade boys versus Sheffield, 51-49: Kostner Bryant, 19; Tanner Warhurst, 11; and Taylor Welch, 11.

*Editor’s note: Sterlyn Oliver, a member of the seventh and eighth grade girls team, was mistakenly left off the listing of team members in a previous article.