Lady Tigers rout Decatur as they extend win streak to eight

The Hartselle Lady Tigers closed out a big week of action as they extended their season-high win streak to eight games with wins over Decatur, East Limestone and Muscle Shoals.

“I am really proud of how they competed and overcame adversity this week,” Hartselle head coach Amber Deline said. “Thursday night we were down 10 going into the fourth quarter and could have given up but they fought back and found a way to tie it up. Friday we had a nine-point lead in the fourth and didn’t finish as we would like at the free throw line, but still gritted out the win at Muscle Shoals.”

The Hartselle Lady Tigers (15-6) improved to 2-0 in area play with a commanding 57-19 win over visiting Decatur. The Lady Tigers have won six in a row and eight of their last ten.

Hartselle started the game slow offensively, but the defense was locked in. Decatur scored the first basket of the game. However, Mary Francis Itsede tied the game at 2-2 with 5:35 left in the first quarter. Emma Roden put Hartselle up for good with a basket at the 4:32 mark. The Lady Tigers outscored the Lady Red Raiders 8-2 the rest of the quarter to take a 12-4 lead into the second quarter.

Decatur opened the second quarter with a layup to cut the Hartselle lead to 12-6. Hannah Burks answered with a three-point to extend the lead to 15-6. After a Lady Red Raiders three-point play, the Lady Tigers got a Gracie Hill three and two free throws from Emma Roden to push the lead to 20-9. Decatur responded with a 5-3 run to make the score 23-14 with 2:39 left before halftime. Hartselle closed the half with three-pointers from Burks and Ella Springer and four points from Anna Claire Gladden. The Lady Tigers led 33-14 at halftime.

The Lady Red Raiders scored to open the third quarter and cut the lead to 33-16. However, the rest of the quarter belonged to Hill, Anna Hampton Burroughs and the Lady Tigers. Hill and Burroughs combined for 18 points to lead Hartselle to a 20-0 run over the remainder of the third quarter. Hill hit three 3-pointers and Burroughs connected on two. The Lady Tigers led 53-16 heading to the fourth.

Burks and Gladden each scored two points in the final quarter, played with a running clock, to make the final score 57-19.

The Lady Tigers hit a season-high 12 three-pointers in the victory. Hill led the way with five, while Burroughs had three. Burks and Springer added two each.

The Hartselle defense had 15 steals and forced 27 turnovers.

Hill finished with 18 points, two assists and three steals to lead the Lady Tigers. Burks added 10 points, five rebounds and two blocks, while Burroughs had nine points, two assists and three steals. Gladden and Springer each had six points. Gladden had five rebounds, while Spring had four assists and four steals.

Hartselle 48, East Limestone 44 (OT)

The Lady Tigers battled back from a 10-point deficit entering the fourth quarter to force overtime in their 48-44 win on the road at East Limestone.

Hartselle trailed 39-29 to start the fourth but went on a 10-0 run to tie the game at 39-39 with less than three minutes left. With the game tied at 44-44, the teams went to overtime, where the Lady Tigers outscored the Lady Indians 4-0 to secure the victory.

Gracie Hill finished with 16 points to lead Hartselle. Mary Itsede added 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Karleigh Shipley and Emma Roden had six points each.

Shauna Fletcher finished with 19 points to lead East Limestone, while Taylor Farrar scored 12.

Hartselle 52, Muscle Shoals 50

Hartselle extended their win streak to eight games with a 52-50 win on the road at Muscle Shoals. The Lady Tigers led 26-15 at halftime but had to hold off a Lady Trojans fourth-quarter rally to get the win.

Anna Hampton Burroughs finished with 15 points to lead Hartselle. Gracie Hill added 11 and five rebounds, while Mary Frances Itsede added eight points and seven rebounds.

Makenzie Sears and Kamryn Chandler had 10 points each to lead Muscle Shoals.

“Over the last couple of games, I have learned that our girls are going to battle and fight regardless of the circumstance,” Deline said. “There are still things we have to continue to improve on both sides of the ball, but I do like how the girls seemed to be locked in and eager to accept the next challenge.”