Just like a good realtor, the Russellville Lady Panthers drove in a yard sign Friday. Instead of saying “For Sale,” though, it read FOR REAL. That’s because Coach Cameron Jackson’s team legitimized its standing as a championship contender with a 56-52 win at Logan County.
The Lady Panthers came into the Clash as a decided underdog. Even though their record was 14-6, RHS had played primarily a Class 1A schedule, lost 60-33 to the Lady Cougars 60-33 the first time they played, and were without leading outside shooter Chloe Whitescarver, who missed the game because of having suffered a concussion at the end of a double-overtime loss to Warren East three nights earlier.
But Russellville came to play and Logan didn’t.
“We started over in practice this week and the change was evident,” Jackson said. “Now we know we can play with anyone when we do things right.”
Russellville got off to a great start. The visitors led 15-7 after a quarter with Amiyah Collier scoring 5 and Deshala LeBlanc and Jayce Buckner 4 each. The Lady Cougars’ points came on two buckets by backup center Halie Borders and a three-pointer by Sarah Beth Hale.
The second quarter went even better for the Lady Panthers. They took it 15-4 to build a 30-11 lead at the break. Buchner put in five points in the quarter with Macaria Hines and LeBlanc adding four each. Buchner and Hines each hit a trey in that run. Hale got three of Logan’s points and K.J. Page the other.
Russellville’s lead grew to 22 at 43-21, but Logan scored the final seven points of the third quarter to cut the lead to 15 entering the final quarter. The Lady Cougars went seven of eight at the line in the period with Peyton Vanzant hitting three and Hale and Kennedy Nichols two each. Hale scored eight points and Nichols six in the quarter.
The Lady Panthers hit six free throws themselves during the time frame. Buchner hit her second three of the game in the period, and LeBlanc scored six points in the quarter.
The Lady Panthers faced using their short bench extensively when two of their leading scorers, Collier and Buchner, were assessed their fourth fouls with over three minutes remaining. Brooklyn Ray picked her fourth at 1:55 and Dowlen fouled out a few seconds later.
Coach Finley Baird’s Lady Cougars drew to within six points on Hale’s two free throws with 1:55 left, but Collier’s three-pointer 20 seconds later proved to be a ‘dagger’ the Lady Panthers wielde3d to clinch the win, making their lead 53-44. The third point of that trey was the game winner.
Nichols and Peyton Vanzant hit shots in the final minute but leading scorer Hale fouled out, and Buchner got a huge defensive rebound for the Lady Panthers to stop a Lady Cougar run.
Addie White’s three-pointer at the final buzzer pulled the Lady Cougars to their narrowest deficit, losing by four.
Russellville can tie Logan for the top seed in the district if the Lady Panthers beat Franklin-Simpson this Friday and Todd Central a week later, Feb. 8, but Todd would also have to beat Logan County in a makeup game this Thursday.
That’s a lot of if’s, but the Lady Panthers have a chance, since they’ve proved they are For Real.
Score by Quarters: 1) RHS 15-7, 2) 30-11, 3) 43-28, Final) Russellville 56, Logan County 52
RHS (56) Deshala LeBlanc 18, Jayce Buchner 15, Amiyah Collier 14, Macariia Hines 5, Anastasia Dowlen 2, Brooklyn Ray, Brinley Mason
LCHS (52) Sara Beth Hale 20, Kennedy Nichols 14, Peyton Vanzant 5, Halie Borders 4, Blayke Bingham 3, Addie White 3, Carlie Alvis 2, K.J. Page 1, Paige Vanzant, Brittany Garrett