By: Slade Gilmer

MUSCLE SHOALS — The Russellville Golden Tigers picked up a big Class 5A, Area 16 win with a 62-51 road victory over the Muscle Shoals Trojans on Friday, Dec. 14.

The Golden Tigers never trailed in the game, and hit several free-throws down the stretch to clinch the win.

The game got off to a good start for Russellville, as the Golden Tigers jumped out to an early 7-2 lead, only for Muscle Shoals to respond in kind to knot the score at nine after the first period.

However, the Golden Tigers — using the strong inside play of Lucas Witt and Kaelan Bonds — took the lead back in the second quarter, with Witt scoring seven points and Bonds scoring three to take a 26-22 lead at intermission.

The third quarter saw more of the Golden Tigers’ inside dominance, as Bonds scored seven points while another Russellville post player, Leslie Dunstan — added four.

However, two late baskets allowed Muscle Shoals to cut the Golden Tiger lead to 42-39 going into the final period.

In the final stanza, Russellville—who had gone 6-of-21 from the free-throw line in a loss to Mars Hill in the TimesDaily Classic the week before — hit several clutch free throws, going 18-of-22 in the fourth period to help seal the win.

Bonds led the Golden Tigers with 14 points, while Caleb Robison — who went 8-of-8 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter — added 13. Jackson Smith had 12, Lucas Witt added nine, Dunstan chipped in with eight, Drew Malone had three, Tyler Owens had two, and Jacob Seal added one for the Golden Tigers.

Russellville also contained Muscle Shoals guard Debo Reeder, who scored 35 in the Trojans’ 77-66 loss to Mars Hill in the TimesDaily Classic last Saturday. Reeder only had 14 points in the loss.

With the win, Russellville improved to 4-4 and 2-0 in Class 5A, Area 16 play.

The Trojans fell to 0-2 and 0-1 in area play.

In the girls’ game, Muscle Shoals led wire-to-wire in a 47-13 win over the Lady Golden Tigers.

The Lady Trojans jumped out to a 9-2 first period lead. Russellville cut the lead to 9-5 early in the second period, but that was as close as the Lady Golden Tigers would get the rest of the way.

Muscle Shoals outscored Russellville 18-3 over the remainder of the quarter to take a 27-8 halftime lead.

The third quarter saw the Lady Trojans continue their dominance, scoring the first 10 points of the quarter and outscoring Russellville 14-2 in the period to take a 41-10 lead into the final stanza. Muscle Shoals outscored the Lady Golden Tigers 6-3 in the fourth period for the final score.

Ashley Dunstan led Russellville with six points, Jakari Suggs added four, and Victoria Jackson three.

The Lady Golden Tigers dropped to 1-7 and 0-2 in Class 5A, Area 16 with the loss.