The Russellville varsity girls basketball team is off to a winning start to the season.

The Lady Golden Tigers, led by head coach Jermaine Groce, went on the road and defeated the Wilson Warriors by a 50-43 final score in the season opener.

Freshman guard Ella Copeland led RHS with 15 points. Avery Watts and Jacey Moore also scored in double figures with 11 points each. Jemma Moore added six, Laila Hill had four, and Desiree Medina scored three points.

Next for Russellville came a trip to Vina for holiday hoops at a neutral site against Waterloo. The Lady Golden Tigers led 38-19 at the half on the way to a 68-32 victory.

Ella Copeland led the way in scoring with 21 points. Jacey Moore added 15 points, Laila Hill had eight and Alexia Groce scored six. Jemma Moore and Aleah Bonman had five points apiece, while Kaylee Suggs and Avery Watts added four points each.

Russellville improved to 3-0 with a 31-22 win over Athens on the first day of the Hartselle Thanksgiving Tournament. RHS trailed 12-10 at the end of the first quarter, but then turned-up the defense, holding Athens to only two second quarter points to take a 17-14 lead into the halftime break.The Lady Golden Tigers finished the game strong, outscoring the Golden Eagles 14-8 in the second half.

Avery Watts led the team with 12 points, and Ella Copland had 10. Laila Hill scored five and Jacey Moore added four points.

A late RHS rally the following day came up just short as the Golden Tigers fell to Columbia 53-51 to finish the Hartselle Thanksgiving tournament Nov. 22.

Russellville trailed 42-31 after three quarters of play before storming back to outscore the Eagles 20-11 during the fourth period.

Ella Copeland had 16 points to lead the team. Avery Watts and Jemma Moore had nine each, Jacey Moore scored eight, Aleah Bonman added seven and Alexia Groce had two.