By Staff
Win against Athens gives Lady Tigers regular season area title; will host area tournament
Justin Schuver, Hartselle Enquirer
Lauren Drake hit a basket with 14.3 seconds to go as Hartselle sealed up the regular-season area title with a 54-51 win over Athens Friday night.
The Lady Tigers led most of the game, including 43-35 at the start of the fourth quarter. Athens then took the lead with 1:40 left on a Keona Shoulders field goal. Shoulders hit another shot with 1:00 left to give Athens a 51-48 lead.
Hartselle responded with a field goal by Jones with 25.7 seconds left. Jones stole the following inbounds pass and called time out right away, setting up Drake's go-ahead field goal.
After stealing another Athens inbounds pass, Jones hit two free throws with 0.3 seconds left to ice the game away for Hartselle (18-5, 6-0 in Area 16).
Drake finished the game with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Jones had 14 points and Mary Virginia Reeves had 10 for Hartselle.
Shoulders led Athens in scoring with 16 points. Brittney Hovell added 11.
Athens boys 57
Hartselle boys 46
The Golden Eagles held off a feisty Hartselle team Friday night, finishing the regular season with the top record in Area 16 play.
Hartselle, who lost 64-49 the last time it faced Athens, trailed 26-12 at halftime. The Tigers remained close throughout in the second half, outscoring Athens 34-31 in the final two periods.
Tyler Young was especially strong offensively for Hartselle (2-20, 0-6) in the second half, scoring 12 of his 14 points in the last 16 minutes. Young was 9-of-9 from the free throw line in the game.
"We played hard tonight," Hartselle coach Johnny Berry said. "We had an atrocious first half offensively, but then came out in the second half and played great. I told the guys in the huddle after halftime that all I wanted them to do was play harder than they've ever played, and I think they did.
"I told the guys after the game that of all the teams I've ever had at Hartselle, they might have played as good and as hard a half as I've ever had a team play."
Victor Stansberry added eight points for Hartselle, all in the second half. Wesley Clemons led the team with six rebounds and added five points.
Tom Woodroof and Justin Pitts each scored 15 points to lead Athens. Larquis Crutcher added 14 for the Golden Eagles.
Austin girls 62
Brewer girls 40
Austin outrebounded Brewer 40-28 on the way to a 22-point home victory Saturday night.
Poor three-point shooting doomed the Lady Patriots, who shot just 2-of-20 from behind the arc.
Ashley West and Andrea Crawford each scored 12 points for Brewer (13-10). Crawford also finished with three rebounds and five steals.
Priceville girls 44
Westminster girls 32
The Lady Bulldogs continued their hot play of late, knocking off Westminster Friday night in a road game.
Priceville dropped its first area game of the season but won the last seven and earned the right to host the Area 14 tournament with its win.
Jessi Smith had 17 points to lead Priceville (15-8, 7-1). Abbie Harris added 11 points for the Lady Bulldogs.
Melissa Lowman led Westminster with 10 points.
Westminster boys 52
Priceville boys 39
The Bulldogs got 25 points from Josh Bedwell but it wasn't enough as Priceville (14-9, 6-2) fell on the road Friday night.
Alex Cannon led Priceville in rebounding with six and also finished with five points. Stephen Six had 19 points to lead Westminster.
Falkville boys 39
Randolph boys 34
With leading scorer Heath Alford out with an injury, Falkville was able to pick up a hard-fought win on the road Friday night.
Cody Sewell led the way for Falkville (13-7) with 13 points. Steven Hogan had 12 rebounds and Thomas Holt added 12 boards.
Victor Santos led Randolph with 12 points.
Danville girls 51
West Morgan girls 44
The Lady Hawks got 17 points from Magen Linderman as they knocked off West Morgan on the road Thursday night.
Danville (11-9) trailed 21-19 at halftime before coming back to pick up the victory. Kristen Sparkman had eight points and nine rebounds for the Lady Hawks and Linderman collected seven steals.
Lauren Seibert scored a game-high 19 points for West Morgan.
West Morgan boys 56
Danville boys 39
The Hawks ran into a hot team Thursday night as the Rebels won their fourth game in a row.
Zack Orr paced Danville (11-9) with 11 points and Chris Vest added 10 for the Hawks. Micah Randolph had 16 to lead West Morgan.
Good Hope boys 58
Falkville boys 46
Thomas Holt led the Blue Devils with 15 points but Falkville dropped a road game Thursday night.
The Raiders also defeated Falkville 69-50 at Falkville Dec. 12.
Heath Alford had 12 points for Falkville (12-6) and added eight rebounds. Bradley Whitlock led Good Hope with 13 points.