GDW Analysis:
WEST POINT: Senior Earl King carried the quest of a victory for the Russellville Golden Tigers on his shoulders Friday evening vs. the West Point Warriors.
King accounted for 20 of the Golden Tigers' 31 points in the 2nd half with Russellville leaving Jim Boyd Gymnasium 68 to 65 winners and regular season champs in AHSAA 5A, Area 15.
King was damaging to the Warriors from the line. He 10 of 12 in the 2nd half and made 8 of his last 9 attempts.
A couple from the stripe with 0:04 remaining made it a three point lead for the Golden Tigers. West Point's last shot failed to go in and Russellville improved to 13 & 5 and 3 & 0 in the area.
The loss dropped Mason Voce's Warriors to 1 & 3 in area play and 19 & 5 for the season. The loss ended an 8 game winning streak for the Warriors from Jim Boyd Gymnasium.
Russellville kept West Point scoreless for the first 5:00 of the game, leading 12 to 0.
The Warriors woke up and got back within 16 to 12 when the period ended.
Russellville was up 37 to 31 at the break and finished the 3rd on top 56 to 52.
The Warriors tied the game at 61 to 61 near the 3:00 mark on a FG by Jaxson Shelton.
King gave the Golden Tigers the lead for good shortly after that on a three point play.
He had 8 of the 12 points for his team in the 4th and completed this area game scoring 33 on the night.
Shelton got 20 in a very good performance for the Warriors. Jay Lamar managed 15, but got only one three point all night.
PG Kade Vincent put up 13 on 5 FGs and three treys. Maddox Chapman scored 16 and Nolan Franklin netted a point from the line.
The Warriors will have a week to get ready for the county tournament.
The No. 1 seed this year, the Warriors will play the winner of Monday's Holly Pond/Hanceville game at Wallace State January 24 at 6:15 p.m.
Photo by Martha Needham.
