By Josh Prewitt for the FCT
Russellville 65, Deshler 50
Adonnis Bailey had a big night and scored season-high in points for the year as he led the way for Russellville, scoring 20 points.
Bailey, a 6-foot-6 senior, and 6-foot-5 junior Austin Stidham, both paved the way for Russellville – just like in the 66-60 win over Deshler Dec. 11, where both combined for 39 points. They were dominant again this time, combining for 30 points to help Russellville control the glass on both ends of the floor.
“When our big guys play like that, we’re pretty hard to beat,” said head coach Patrick Odom, whose team ended a two-game losing streak and got back to their winning ways. “We tell Adonnis all the time, when he’s active on the offensive glass, those are easy points.”
Joshua Seal finished the night with 15 points for Russellville and went 5-6 from the foul line. Stidham, who had a season high 21 points in the first meeting Deshler, put up a big double double with 10 points and 13 big rebounds last Tuesday. Buckhalter added 9 points. Avery Sears scored seven, and Nate Franklin finished with four points off the bench.
After bursting out to a 14-0 lead, the Golden Tigers never looked back as they led by at least seven points the rest of the way.
Russellville will look for back-to-back wins for the first time this season when the team hosts Phil Campbell (7-12) Thursday.

Russellville 46, Deshler 81
Top-ranked Deshler picked up the 21st straight win in a row, scoring 34 points in the first quarter and eventually winning big over the Lady Golden Tigers.
Eighth grader Kallie Allen led the Russellville Lady Golden Tigers (6-13) with 15 points and 4-4 from the foul line. Carley Seal added a season-high nine points, and Madison Hargett scored six points. Patricia Borden and Layne Boyd each finished with four points, and Megan Brockway and Tia Smith both hit a three-pointer.
“We need to focus on us and make sure we are moving forward and not backward from game to game and practice to practice. We must move on to correcting new mistakes rather than continually making old mistakes on the court in order to improve,” Coach Brooke Long said.