Beech Tree News Network

RUSSELLVILLE — Butler County suffered a setback as host Russellville held on to win 46-45 in a girls' high school basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 7. 

Russellville won despite shooting 27.7 percent (13-of-47) from the field. The Lady Panthers finished one-of-seven from three-point range.

Russellville managed to shoot 63.3 percent (19-of-30) from the free throw line.

Lareesha Cawthorn led Russellville with a game-high double-double, scoring 21 points and pulling down 16 rebounds. 

Accompanying Cawthorn in double figures in scoring for Russellville, A'miyah Collier netted 14 points.

The other scorers for Russellville were M'Riyah Boyd (four points), Jaylah Kees (four points) and Brinley Mason (three points). 

Butler County shot 25 percent (12-of-48) from the field in the loss. The Lady Bears finished six-of-21 from three-point range, shooting 28.6 percent beyond the arc.

Butler County shot 62.5 percent (15-of-24) from the free throw line. 

Productive inside, Butler County edged Russellville 36-35 in the rebounding column. 

Taylor Leach scored 15 points to lead Butler County in the matchup. Leach connected on three of nine three-point field goal attempts.

Delivering a double-double for Butler County, Jenna Phelps scored 12 points and pulled down 10 rebounds.

The additional scorers for Butler County were Kennedy Rice (five points), Parker Willoughby (three points), Tinslea Belcher (three points), Bailey Moore (three points), Ava Wilson (two points) and Ann Marie Skaggs (two points). 

Butler County and Russellville aren't scheduled to meet again in the 2022-23 girls' high school basketball season.