ATHENS — In a back-and-forth game, Russellville’s girls put together the largest run of the evening, scoring six straight points to pull within two midway through the fourth quarter.

The Golden Tigers never could close the gap, though, and Athens pulled away late at the free-throw line in a 52-45 win over Russellville in the Class 5A, Area 16 basketball tournament championship game Saturday.

Russellville (21-6) still advances to the sub-regional round of the playoffs to face the winner of Saturday’s Columbia-J.O. Johnson game with a trip to the Northwest Regional tournament at Wallace State-Hanceville Community College on the line.

Russellville, ranked seventh in 5A, trailed 29-21 at halftime but pulled within two after its run with 4:24 left in the game. But the Golden Tigers missed two 3-point attempts and had two turnovers late, while 10th-ranked Athens (21-10) made 4 of 6 free throws in the final 1:13 to seal the win.

“We just got beat,” Russellville coach James Bostick said. “Maybe we can beat them in the finals at Wallace. We play in one of the toughest areas as far as rankings, but we just didn’t play well this time.

“If both teams play the way they should, they should both make it to Wallace State.”

Athens’ led by as many as 11 midway though the third quarter.

The Golden Eagles’ half-court trap defense slowed down Russellville’s offense, but it couldn’t stop Golden Tigers post player Amber Elliott, who scored 12 of her game-high 24 points in the fourth quarter to lead the surge. Elliott made 6 of 7 free throws in the final period and finished with nine rebounds, seven blocked shots and four assists.

Alliyah Smith led three Athens scorers in double digits with 16 points.

Shalyne Cooper and Destiny Bailey added 10 points each for the Golden Eagles.