Members of the Hartselle third grade team along with their coach Jeaniece Slater in their team photo. The team won the TVBA state championship recently. | Special to the Enquirer

The Hartselle Lady Tigers 3rd grade travel basketball team finished the season with an impressive 21-1 record, and won the 3rd grade TVBA State Championship. The team is made up of all 3rd graders from all three Hartselle elementary schools, Crestline, Burleson and Barkley Bridge.

This was the first year for this group of girls to play together. For several of the girls this was the first year for them to play basketball. They ended the season as the only defeated 3rd grade team.

Team members are Morgan Osborn, Adily Alberti, Halle Ransom, Anna Hampton Burroughs, Jessi Dubnik, Sophie Estep, Sam Watson, Ella Springer, Chloe Maner and Katie Gillott.

The Lil’ Tigers suffered their only loss to a very talented 4th grade team. The Lil’ Lady Tigers started play in November and finished a long but very rewarding season March 14, after defeating Lawrence County, Tennessee’s 3rd grade team in overtime 16-12.

The final game stats included: Sam Watson led the Lady Tigers with 6 points, followed by Katie Gillott with 5, Jessi Dubnik and Ella Springer both with 3 points each. Halle Ransom added 2 points, and Anna Hampton Burroughs added 1 point.

Coach Jeaniece Slater said this was a great season with great players, coaches and parents. “I was very fortunate to have Lucas Gillott, Mallory Alberti and Jamie Burroughs help to run this team,” said Slater. “These girls have a lot to be proud of as well as this community. They are the future for Hartselle girl’s basketball.”