Russell’s hot hand behind the arc leads Mavs over Scott
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Clinton’s Bryson Maddox can rebound and score. His five rebounds and 12 points during Friday’s semi-final match- up against Union County helped push the Dragon’s to the championship game against Anderson County. - Tony Cox
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ACHS senior Cole Russell - Tony Cox
Cole Russell’s big second half helped the Anderson County High School boys basketball team, the No. 1 seed in the District 4-AAA Tournament, earn the right to host a Region 2-AAA game Saturday.
Russell scored all 12 of his points after halftime to help the top-seed Mavericks notch a 56-55 victory over the host Scott Highlanders Friday night in the tournament semifinals in Huntsville.
Russell knocked down four 3-pointers after halftime to help the Mavericks (20-9) erase an 11-point deficit against Scott after the break.
He put the finishing touches on Anderson County’s comeback win as he buried a long-range jumper with 2.6 seconds remaining in the contest.
The Mavs outlasted the Highlanders but their business in the district tournament wasn’t quite finished at press time.
Anderson County, which got 17 points from Hayden Craig against Scott, was set to play rival Clinton Tuesday, but early on Friday, the Mavericks would get the chance to defend their 2022-23 district title.
“In the first half, Scott High played really well and they made it really hard for us,” Anderson County coach Jordan Jeffers said. “We did not play well in the first half.
“They outscored us by 11 points in the first half and we outscored them by 12 points in the second half.”
The Mavericks and the Dragons (11-14) will both host regional elimination quarterfinal games Saturday (tipoff is tentatively scheduled for 7 p.m.), but the winner of Tuesday’s game earned the right to host the entire Region 2-AAA Tournament.
“That game (was) important and everybody (knew) it,” Jeffers said. “Home court is important and staying opposite (of defending state champion) Fulton is big.
“It won’t be easy because Clinton will be playing in their fifth straight district championship game and (Clinton coach) Chris (Lockard) does a great job.”