Lady Tigers use strong second half to defeat Decatur

Hartselle improved to 13-5 overall and 2-0 in area play with a 61-49 win on the road at Decatur last Tuesday.

The Lady Tigers struggled with the Lady Red Raiders’ pressure defense for most of the first half. Decatur jumped out to an early 4-0 lead and extended it to 8-3 midway through the first quarter. Hartselle closed the first quarter with a 9-4 run to tie the game at 12-12 heading to the second quarter.

The Lady Red Raiders again jumped on the Lady Tigers, scoring the first four points of the second quarter and taking a 16-12 lead. They pushed the lead to 20-15 before Hartselle began their comeback. The Lady Tigers outscored Decatur 11-2 in the remainder of the first half to lead 26-22 at the half. Gracie Hill scored 11 of the Lady Tigers’ 14 points in the quarter.

Hartselle dominated the third quarter by outscoring the Lady Red Raiders 18-8 to extend their lead to 44-30. Hannah Burks had 12 points in the quarter.

Decatur could only cut the lead by two in the fourth quarter to make the final score 61-49.

Hill added eight points in the quarter.

“I had to challenge the girls at halftime because of their lack of competitiveness in the first half,” Hartselle coach Amber Deline said. “They responded in a big way in the third quarter to pull away. Gracie Hill and Hannah Burks put a lot of pressure on Decatur in the second half with their ability to score the ball.”

Hill led Hartselle with a game-high 24 points with four steals. Burks had 16 points, while Anna Hampton Burroughs added 11 points, five rebounds, four steals and three assists.

Amiah Jackson finished with nine points and 11 rebounds to lead Decatur (13-9, 0-1). Jennifer Mitchell, Carlee Mitchell, Kimora Bailey and Jadence Smith each added eight points.