By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Sports Editor

COLUMBIANA – Montevallo won its fourth consecutive game in a road victory over Shelby County on Monday, Dec. 5.

The Bulldogs (5-1) took down the Wildcats (1-5, 0-1) by a final score of 69-55 behind yet another strong performance from Da’Shaunte Smith, who posted his third 30 plus point game in a four game stretch.

The game was very close in the first quarter as the Bulldogs narrowly edged Shelby County 13-11 in the quarter.

The second and third quarters were a different story, however, as Montevallo turned up the intensity on both ends of the court. In the second quarter the Bulldogs outscored the Wildcats 24-14 and continued their hounding play into the third quarter scoring 20 more points and holding Shelby County to just 13.

They outscored the Wildcats 44-27 between the two quarters and had themselves a comfortable 57-38 lead as they headed to the fourth.

Shelby County ended up having its best quarter of the night in the fourth as they put up 17 points and held the Bulldogs to their lowest output of the night at 12, but it was too little, too late as Montevallo went on to win by the final of 69-55.

Smith matched his season high with a game-high 32 points and also added six rebounds and six assists on the evening. Dequarius Anderson contributed 12 points and Treshawn Brown added 10 points to give Montevallo one of their most balanced efforts of the year with three double-digit scorers.

J.T. Owen led Shelby County with a nice 21-point outing, while Brandon Green scored an additional 16 points for the Wildcats.

Smith has been the most consistent offensive tool in the county so far this season averaging 26.8 points, eight rebounds and 5.7 assists through six games.