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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

MONTEVALLO – The Montevallo Bulldogs may have trailed after the first quarter, but that didn’t last long as the offense put together one of its strongest performances of the season in a crucial area matchup.

Montevallo took down the Demopolis Tigers 68-35 on Thursday, Jan. 9 as its offense scored 54 points across the second and third quarters to seal its first area win as a Class 5A school.

Demopolis had the early edge on the offensive end, but the Bulldogs kept the lead within reach thanks to a solid showing from the free throw line in the first quarter.

Nahjear Russell, Keiston Ross and Dee Cutts went a combined 5-for-10 from the free throw line in the opening period, and Russell and Ross each missed just one foul shot during that time.

As a result, the Tigers held a slim 12-9 lead at the start of the second quarter, and Montevallo made its move shortly after.

Russell scored six points in the second quarter thanks to multiple field goals, a feat that Demeco Gibson accomplished too, scoring five second-quarter points. The Bulldogs also had an even better free throw performance in the second, going 10-for-11 as a team.

Montevallo outpaced Demopolis 23-9 in the second quarter to not just grab the lead but go up by double digits. The Bulldogs took a 32-21 lead into the halftime locker room.

From there, things got even better from the field for Montevallo. Keiston Ross, Buck Ross and Cutts each scored three field goals as Keiston had 10 points in the third, Cutts scored seven points and Buck had six points in that stretch.

Gibson and Derrick Richburg each tacked on 3-pointers to give the Bulldogs 31 points for the third quarter. The Tigers could only score twice from the field in response as Montevallo’s lead ballooned to 63-31 at the end of the third quarter.

The Bulldogs took their foot off the gas offensively but continued to play well on defense even with a commanding lead. Montevallo allowed just four points in the fourth quarter as the hosts put the finishing touches on the 33-point victory.

Keiston Ross and Cutts each finished with a team-high 13 points. Russell joined them in double figures with 12 points. In addition, Buck Ross scored nine points, Gibson dropped eight points and Richburg finished with five points.

In all, 10 different Bulldogs found the scoresheet in the win.

While Montevallo’s home game against Hale County on Friday, Jan. 10 was cancelled due to snow, it will put its 11-9 record and 1-1 mark in area play to the test against the Selma Saints on Thursday, Jan. 14 at 7:30 p.m. at Selma High School.

The Bulldogs lost their previous meeting with Selma 71-64 on Tuesday, Dec. 17 in their area opener.