Russellville’s postseason dream ride rolls on. After trailing Greenwood 15-8 at the first stop, Coach Orlando Hayden’s Lady Panthers fought with every ounce of energy, grit and gusto they could muster to beat the Lady Gators 58-51 in the opening round of the Fourth Region Tournament at WKU Sunday afternoon.
Making the start as the RHS point guard for the fifth straight season, A’miyah Collier scored 24 points with 8 steals and 5 assists.
LaReesha Cawthorn, who was in the hospital the day before with acute sickness, started slow, scoring only two points in the first half. She finished with 17 points and 20 rebounds.
Senior center Jordin Morris scored six of Russellville’s first eight points and finished with 9 points and 14 rebounds. She also played excellent defense on Greenwood’s talented post player, Kayla Grant, who was averaging 16 points per game. Morris had her so frustrated that she drew three fouls on Grant in the first quarter.
Brittany Mason added six points and Jaylah Kees two. Ja’eda Poindexter was all over the floor pestering the Lady Gators.
Greenwood led 27-24 at the half, but Russellville had gone ahead 41-37 at the end of three quarters. Crawford scored eight points in that quarter and Collier seven.
The lead changed eight times in the second half. The Lady Panthers went ahead for keeps on Crawford’s goal at 44-43. They spent the rest of the quarter hanging on by their fingertips. But every time it seemed the Lady Gators were about to regain the lead, RHS hit a goal or a free throw, drew a foul, grabbed a hard-fought rebound or forced a GHS turnover.
Crawford hit four free throws and Mason one late. Mason also blocked a Greenwood shot in the last minute of the game.
Regional Player of the Year Leia Trinh scored 17 points for the Lady Gators, 2.5 points below her average. No other player from Coach Zach Simpson’s team scored in double figures.
The Lady Panthers will play Barren County in the regional semifinals Friday at 6 p.m. Barren beat Clinton County 55-30 in Sunday’s first game.
These teams played at RHS in late January with the Trojanettes escaping 42-37 in a game that was close all the way. Coach Piper Lindsey’s team has a 26-6 record and is 18-2 in the region.
The Lady Panthers have been making a habit of beating teams favored over them.
Regional action continues Monday night when the Logan County Lady Cougars take on Metcalfe County at approximately 7:30.
Boys regional games will be played Tuesday through Friday. Representing the 13th District will be champion Todd Central and runner-up Franklin-Simpson.