Danville handles Rebels

By Staff
Todd Thompson, Hartselle Enquirer
DANVILLE - When West Morgan went on a run in the third quarter Saturday night, Danville never gave up control of the game.
The Lady Hawks used Alaina Fitzgerald’s 36-point outing to get past West Morgan for a 72-65 win at home.
Fitzgerald finished with six 3-pointers in the win, including one early in the fourth quarter that sparked a Lady Hawks run after West Morgan had tied the game at 45-45 heading into the final eight minutes.
Kayloni Cross finished with 11 points for Danville, while Lacey Evans added eight points in the Lady Hawks’ win over their county rivals.
The win was Danville’s fifth win in a row as the Lady Hawks improved to 8-4 overall.
Danville had to overcome a tough stretch in the third quarter to get the win. The Lady Hawks watched a 10-point lead disappear as West Morgan used a 17-7 run to climb back into the game.
So Wilson turned to Fitzgerald in search of some needed leadership down the stretch.
Fitzgerald scored nine points in the first 3:26 of the fourth quarter to help Danville break a tie and open a seven-point lead at 56-49.
Mikila Etheredge paced West Morgan with 18 points, while Hayden Hamby added 16.
Hamby, who came into the game averaging more than 25 points a game, got eight of those 16 points at the free throw line after Danville’s Chelsea Keenum kept her in check for most of the night.
Kelly Seal added 10 points for West Morgan.
After Fitzgerald scored on a short jumper midway through the fourth quarter, Cross and Evans teamed up to score 12 of the Lady Hawks’ final 16 points.
Danville will return to action Tuesday with an area game against Hanceville. The Lady Hawks are currently 3-0 in Class 3A, Area 11.
West Morgan 48, Danville 32
Danville scored just 13 points in the second half as West Morgan pulled away to a 48-32 victory Saturday night.
Danville had just two points in the fourth quarter to allow West Morgan to hold off the Hawks.
Roger Smith led Danville with 13 points, with 11 points coming in the first half as the Hawks kept within reach of the Rebels.
Russell Standridge added nine points for the Hawks in the loss.
West Morgan’s Josh McAbee led all scorers with 16 points, while David Pritchard added 11 points.
Danville closed to three points in the third quarter with a bucket by Dakota McClung, but West Morgan closed out the game with a 21-8 run.