West girls take out frustrations

By By Jeff Byrd/staff writer
Feb. 19, 2002
CAMDEN One way to get rid of an ill mood is to take a nice, long trip. West Lauderdale did that Monday night traveling to the outer regions of Madison County to take on Velma Jackson in a first round Class 3A South State girls' basketball playoff.
The Lady Knights, fresh off a controversial loss to Heidelberg last Friday in the Division 5-3A finals, had their running game in order against Velma Jackson. No less than six Lady Knights scored at least six points in romping to the 79-48 victory.
With the win, West Lauderdale now gets to come home and host the South State 3A Tournament beginning Friday night in Collinsville. The Lady Knights, 30-4, will face the winner of the Greene County-Purvis game on Friday.
Lady Knight junior forward Kristina Gardner was one of the West players in a foul mood. She turned in a 19-point performance to pace Hurst's team.
Gardner opened the scoring with a three-point play. West never trailed in the contest. A three-pointer by Patty Monroe gave the Lady Knights a 10-4 lead midway through the quarter.
Gardner would hit for two more baskets and J.J. Huggins added two herself along with two free throws to hand West a 22-10 lead after one quarter.
Hurst said his team exploited its advantage inside and used Gardner's soft touch around the basket to great effect.
The lead continued to grow in the second quarter. Huggins and Monroe teamed up on consecutive baskets to give West a commanding 46-22 advantage. Huggins had eight of her 16 points in the quarter while Monroe fired in 10 of her 17.
It was 49-26 at the half.
Velma Jackson made one brief flurry to close out the third quarter with five straight points. That got the deficit down to 18 at 61-43 heading to the fourth.
The Lady Falcons would narrow the West spread to 17 on two occasions the last on a runout by Cynthia Douglas to make it 63-46 with 5:40 to play.
The Lady Knights responded by scoring the next 14 points to seal the contest. The 31-point final margin matched their largest lead.
West Lauderdale finished with 31 made field goals and were a solid 15-of-22 from the line. Following Gardner, Huggins and Monroe were JaWanda Huggins with nine, Lloyd with eight, and Jennings with six.
Velma Jackson, which finishes its season at 11-19, had just 17 field goals. Sunyetta Bowie led the Lady Falcons with 17 points. Latyesha Murry and Sonya Banks each had nine.

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Mousey Brown

News

Russellville First Baptist Church receives historical marker

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Meeting a higher standard – Russellville High School JROTC

News

RCS BOE announces new superintendent  

News

Miss Dream Girl Pageant names winners

Franklin County

First Metro Bank hosts FAME Girls’ Ranch donation drive

News

PCHS holds annual Shelby Grissom Memorial Fashion Show

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: VFW Post 5184 – ‘No One Does More For Veterans’

Features

Supporting students’ futures

Features

Red Bay Garden Club discusses amaryllis planting

Franklin County

UA announces local students for fall 2023 President’s, Dean’s, graduation lists

News

School news

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Troy Oliver

Franklin County

Appropriations bill passes, allots more than $3 million for new Russellville library/multipurpose center 

Franklin County

Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association names Cattleman of the Year 

Franklin County

Franklin County votes: Unofficial March 5 primary election results 

Franklin County

Funding for new Russellville library, multipurpose community center expected this week

Features

Faces of Franklin County: BTCPA

News

GFWC Russellville Book Lovers Club sponsors downtown art crawl

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Cody Bragwell

Franklin County

42nd annual Miss RHS pageant names winners 

News

Miss RHS pageant takes place Friday

Franklin County

Political announcement: David Hester speaks about run for reelection as county commissioner

Franklin County

BTCPA auditions for final production of season take place March 3-4 

x