RUSSELLVILLE, Ala.- After collecting a huge win in their area opener at home against Lawrence County, the West Point Warriors traveled to Russellville to take on the Golden Tigers in their second straight area game on Friday night. West Point got out to a quick lead, but Russellville went on a late run in the first half to take the lead at the break. The Warriors started the third quarter out strong and stretched their lead out to double digits. They outscored the Golden Tigers, 19-10, in the third en route to a 56-40 win over Russellville.
West Point started the game red-hot from the field. Maddox Chapman hit a basket down low to put the Warriors on the scoreboard first. Nolan Franklin split his free throws, but Jaxon Shelton grabbed the offensive rebound off the missed free throw and knocked down a short jumper to give the Warriors a 5-2 lead. Franklin added a layup to make it 7-2, then Shelton scored six straight points to stretch their lead to 13-5. Chapman hit a pair of baskets down low to make it a 17-7 game almost midway through the opening quarter, but Russellville went on a 7-1 run to close out the quarter, as that cut it to 18-14 going into the second quarter.
Chapman scored in the paint to give West Point a 20-14 lead early in the second, but the Golden Tigers went on an 11-0 run to take a 25-20 lead late in the first half. The Warriors finished the quarter out strong. Shelton stopped the bleeding with a three from the left wing, then Franklin scored off of a Russellville turnover, and Shelton added another basket before the half ended to give the Warriors a 27-25 lead at the half.
West Point carried that momentum over into the third quarter. Their defense forced a turnover, and Graph Byram turned it into a basket on the other end to make it a 29-25 game. Baskets by Chapman and Shelton put them up, 33-25, then later in the quarter, Byram drained a three, and Chapman’s rebound and putback helped widen their lead to 38-28. Another turnover by the Golden Tigers turned into another basket on the other end by Bryam, as that made it a 40-28 game. Shelton drained a short jumper, and another rebound and putback by Chapman gave the Warriors a 44-32 lead late in the third quarter. Chapman put in another basket down low to put West Point up, 46-35, going into the final period.
Kade Vincent buried a three, then Shelton hit a pair of baskets to stretch the Warrior lead to 53-38. Chapman, Franklin, and Vincent each hit a free throw to help seal West Point’s 56-40 win over the Golden Tigers. The Warriors have now won four straight games.
Shelton led the way for West Point (15-6, 2-0) with a game-high 21 points. Chapman posted 18 points, and Byram added seven points.
The Warriors will continue area play next Tuesday night at Lawrence County.
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