Seeing Russellville defeat Belle’s JV Lady Tigers and Tigers along with Evin Farris’ varsity Lady Tigers, Tim Evans’ varsity Tiger basketball team looked to deny a quadrupleheader sweep by the visiting Indians Friday night at Belle High School.

Leading 36-24 at halftime, Belle was able to keep their lead in double digits throughout the second half of their 68-52 victory over the Indians in the nightcap of a Friday basketball quadrupleheader at BHS.

“That was a good win for us,” Evans said. “We finally did the things that we we’re capable of.”

Accounting for nearly half of Belle’s second-quarter points, guard Eddy Paz led four Tigers in double figures with a team-high 14 points. Jat Ridenhour and Gentry Dunn each finished with a baker’s dozen of 13 points.

Going 8-8 from the free-throw line, Lane Feeler added 10 points while Colten Robinson and Brett Stewart just missed making it six Tigers in double digits scoring nine points each.

“We had balanced scoring almost putting six guys in double figures,” Evans said.

Russellville’s Bryce Mehrhoff led the Indians and all scorers with a game-high 23 points.

Before varsity boy’s action, Farris’ Lady Tigers looked to close 2019 on a winning note.

Trailing 27-18 at halftime, Belle nearly doubled up Russellville 13-7 in the third quarter to pull within three points by a 34-31 score going into the fourth quarter.

Only able to put five points on the board in the final eight minutes, Belle went on to drop a 48-36 decision to the visiting Lady Indians.

Halle Smith led Belle scoring 11 of her team-high 15 points in the first half. Faith Gieck and Erin Schalk each added six points followed by five markers from Grace Busch and four points from Hali Naber.

Opening the night with a two-quarter JV girl’s game, Belle could not overcome a scoreless first quarter before falling 17-10.

Ryleigh Long led the JV Lady Tigers with six points followed by four markers from Susie Moman.

Nearly doubling up Russellville 35-18 in the first half, Jacob Walton’s Belle JV Tigers went on to post a 56-46 victory over Russellville behind a game-high 18 points from Thomas Lingo.

Shane Baumgartner also reached double figures in scoring for Belle with 11 points.