Playing without the services of two starters and looking for their first win of the season, the Todd County Central Rebels wore down over the course of a 57-46 loss to Russellville on Friday night.
The Rebels had won six of the last seven and three-straight against the Panthers but slip to 0-1 in 13th-District play this season.
Todd Central took a patient offensive approach from the start, while also frustrating Russellville on the defensive end. Amari Andrews scored 4 first-quarter points, and the Rebels led 6-5 after one.
Both offenses picked up in the second quarter, with Todd Central taking a 12-7 lead after a pull-up jumper by Preston Moore with five minutes to play in the half. However, the Panthers answered with 5-straight points to tie the game at 12-12 and force a Rebel timeout.
Russellville built a 4-point edge after a corner 3-pointer by Jackson Hampton, but the Rebels were back within a point after an and-1 by Moore with a minute until the break. Jovari Gamble scored and was fouled to restore the 4-point advantage, and the Panthers led 24-20 at halftime.
Moore connected on a 3-pointer to tie the game at 25-25 a couple of minutes into the third quarter, but the Panthers closed on an 11-4 spurt to lead by 7 with a quarter to play.
Russellville took its first double-digit lead early in the fourth, but the Rebels were back within 8 after another and-1 by Moore with 5:36 to play. Josh Allan restored the Panthers’ 11-point cushion with an and-1 of his own, part of a 9-point quarter for the senior. Todd Central got within 8 points four more times over the final five minutes, but the Panthers held on for the win.
Todd County Central 6 14 9 17 — 46
Russellville 5 19 12 21 — 57
Todd County Central (0-4) — Moore 18, Andrews 9, A. Johnson 7, Glass 6, M. Johnson 4. Whitlock 2
Russellville (2-2) — Allen 15, Hampton 12, Todd 11, Gamble 9, Edmonds 6, Coleman 3
