Fourth quarter struggles hurt Indians girls in loss to Chamois

The Russellville Indians girls basketball team had some struggles scoring in the fourth quarter Feb. 6 during their 43-39 loss to the Chamois Pirates. Following the loss, the team is now 11-8 on the year.

The team only scored four points in the fourth quarter. The Indians led 35-29 to start the quarter, but Chamois went on an 11-0 run to take a 41-35 lead with less than two minutes to go. Russellville finally got on the board in the final quarter when Trinity Riggs made a basket to make it a 42-37 game with 26 seconds left in the game. The Indians got within three points after two free throws by Camryn Paull to make it a 42-39 game with 15 seconds left, but ultimately, Russellville was not able to tie the game.

Head coach Brian Bishop said shots just were not going in.

"We were getting the looks, they just were not going in," Bishop said. "We just could not put it in the hole tonight - that is basketball. (We've) got to figure out different ways, whether it is off turnovers, transitions, stuff like that, to get more scoring opportunities."

The game started off well for the Indians, as they led 6-3 with 4:10 to go in the first quarter. The Indians led 9-3 with less than 3:30 on the clock, but Chamois cut into the lead thanks to some three-pointers. With less than 2:30 to go, the game was tied at 12-12. Russellville trailed 15-13 with under a minute to go, but the team tied it at 15-15 with less than 40 seconds in the quarter. The score would stay tied until the second quarter.

Camie Grayson gave the Indians a 16-15 lead thanks to a free throw early in the second quarter. Chamois tied the game at 16-16 and neither team would score until Allison Schrimpf made it a 18-16 game with less than 3:30 to go until halftime. Chamois tied the game up at 18-18, but a three-pointer by Schrimpf made it a 21-18 game with around 2:30 to go in the quarter. Russellville entered halftime up 23-20.

Russellville extended its lead to five points early in the third quarter as the team led 27-22 with 6:30 to go. The Indians would not be able to pull away as every time they got their lead up to five points, Chamois answered with a basket to keep it a one-possession game. Russellville led 31-26 with 3:44 left in the quarter, but Chamois made it a 33-28 game with 1:24 to go. The Pirates made it a four-point game at 33-29, but a basket by Macie Edwards made it a 35-29 game right before the end of the quarter and the Indians ended the quarter up six points with the score still 35-29.

The Indians would finish out the game with a narrow four-point loss.

Camie Grayson led the team with 11 points, followed by Reagan Jenkins with nine points, and Macie Edwards and Allison Schrimpf with seven points each. The team shot 10-16 from the free throw line.

The Indians' next game is at home at 7 p.m. Feb. 12 against Prairie Home.