Lady Hawks' clutch shooting downs Hanceville

By Staff
Staff Reports, Hartselle Enquirer
Dec. 19 games
Danville girls 56, Hanceville girls 53
Alaina Fitzgerald hit two key three-pointers late to help the Lady Hawks to a home area win Dec. 19. Fitzgerald hit a three with 1:37 left in the game to put Danville ahead 53-52. After Hanceville's Sarah Washington hit one of two free throws, Fitzgerald responded with another three-pointer with 28 seconds left that would prove to be the game-winner.
Fitzgerald finished with 17 points, including 5-of-7 from the three-point line. Bethany Evans also finished with 17 points for Danville (9-4, 4-1 in Area 11). Lauren Simmons added 12 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks.
Hanceville's LaSheena Nation led her team with 19 points.
Hanceville boys 46, Danville boys 41
A three-point lead after three quarters couldn't hold up for Danville as the Hawks fell at home.
Danville led 34-31 after the first three periods, but Hanceville came from behind to take a 43-41 lead with 29.5 seconds left. The Bulldogs hit three of four free throws down the stretch as the Hawks could not make a tying or go-ahead bucket.
Senior Zack Orr led the way for Danville, finishing with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Roger Smith added 12 points and seven rebounds for the Hawks.
Russell Standridge finished with five rebounds and David Long had four assists.
Hartselle girls 55, Decatur girls 28
The Lady Tigers continued to roll heading into the Decatur Orthopaedic Classic. Hartselle won its eighth straight game and improved to 12-2 overall with the win at home against Decatur.
Lauren Drake led the Lady Tigers with 15 points, followed by Jessi Smith and Mary Virginia Reeves with 12 each. Drake and Anna Reeves each added four steals.
Jessica Andrews finished with six points, five assists and two steals and Mary Virginia Reeves collected five rebounds.
Decatur was led by Britney McCloud's eight points as the Lady Raiders dropped to 1-10.
Decatur boys 55, Hartselle boys 45
The Tigers put a scare in the highly-touted Red Raiders, but didn't quite have enough to overcome Decatur at the Pettey Center Dec. 19.
Decatur led 17-8 after one quarter of play but the Tigers battled back to make it a 21-15 deficit at halftime.
The Red Raiders came to life in the third quarter, however, outscoring Hartselle 22-9 in the period. The Tigers responded to outscore Decatur 22-9 in the fourth quarter, but it wasn't enough to come back.
Hartselle's Jackson Holmes led his team with 12 points, followed by Victor Stansberry with 10. The Tigers (8-7) will next play in the Big Blue Classic against Brewer on Dec. 27.
Decatur was led by Alabama commit Rico Pickett, who finished with 22 points.
Brewer boys 73, Cullman boys 41
The Patriots improved to 2-1 in Area 13 play with the win over Cullman Dec. 19.
Brewer (5-8, 2-1) was led by Rusty Boyd's 28 points. Chris Humphries added 12 points for the Patriots, who will host the Big Blue Classic Dec. 27-29.
Dec. 21 games
Danville girls 53, Speake girls 44
The Lady Hawks' Lauren Simmons finished with 20 points to lead Danville (10-4) to the win. Magen Linderman had 10 points and Bethany Evans added seven steals for the Lady Hawks.
Speake was led by Malea Hensley and Kylie Black, who each had 18 points.
Speake boys 62, Danville boys 52
Zach Orr finished with 22 points and David Long added 11 for the Hawks.
The Bobcats were led by Juarez Fitzgerald's 22 points.
Dec. 22 games
Danville girls 57, West Morgan girls 37
Alaina Fitzgerald finished with 16 points to lead the Lady Hawks to the home win.
Danville (11-4) also got a solid performance from Lauren Simmons, who finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
West Morgan was led by Ashley Thorn's eight points.
West Morgan boys 47, Danville boys 37
Zack Orr finished with 19 points as just two other Hawks scored in Danville's loss to West Morgan.
David Long added 10 points and Roger Smith pitched in eight for the Hawks.
West Morgan was led by Phillip Powell's 20 points.