Lady Tigers defeat Muscle Shoals 55-43 to finish undefeated in area play
The Lady Tigers put a bow on an undefeated regular season in 6A, Area 15, play with a 55-43 win over visiting Muscle Shoals Friday.
The Lady Trojans jumped out to an early 6-3 lead, as Hartselle was cold in missing multiple shots before Masyn Marchbanks knocked down a three-pointer.
The Lady Tigers responded with an 8-0 run to take an 11-6 lead. Marchbanks scored seven of the eight points with her second and third three-pointers and a free throw.
After a Muscle Shoals bucket that cut the lead to 11-8, Marchbanks hit her fourth three-pointer of the quarter to give Hartselle a 14-8 lead as time expired in the first.
The Lady Trojans went on an 8-5 run to open the second quarter, cutting the Lady Tigers’ lead to 19-16.
Gracie Hill hit two three-pointers, while Maggie McCleskey hit one, in a 9-6 run that extended the Hartselle lead to 28-22 late in the first half.
The teams traded three-pointers down the stretch to make the score 31-28 heading to halftime. Hill finished with four three-pointers in the quarter.
The Lady Tigers controlled the third quarter by outscoring Muscle Shoals 12-5. At one point, Hartselle was on a 10-1 run that included three-pointers by McCleskey and Karleigh Shipley. Hill closed out the quarter with a layup to give the Lady Tigers a 43-33 lead.
Marchbanks opened the fourth quarter with a jump shot to push the Hartselle lead to 45-33. The Lady Trojans responded with a 6-0 run to cut the lead to six at 45-39.
Marchbanks ended the Muscle Shoals threat with a free throw and a jumper to extend the lead to 48-39. After a Lady Trojans basket, the Lady Tigers reeled off five straight points to make the score 53-41.
Hill closed the game with two free throws to give Hartselle the 12-point victory.
The Lady Tigers hit a season-high 11 three-pointers, with Marchbanks and Hill each hitting four.
Marchbanks finished with 22 points, five rebounds, three steals, and two assists to lead the Lady Tigers (20-6). Hill added a career-high 20 points. McCleskey had six points and five assists. Shipley scored four, and Mary Frances Itsede added three.
