By Staff
Slade Gilmer
For the FCT
PHIL CAMPBELL – Led by the clutch play of Manny Ricardo and Trevor Hallmark, the Tharptown Wildcats upset top-seeded Belgreen 64-57 in the semifinals of the Franklin County varsity boys Tournament Thursday night.
The Wildcats jumped out to an early lead, and led by as many as 16 in the second quarter before watching the Bulldogs take the lead in the fourth. With the score tied at 50 late in the fourth, Ricardo and Hallmark combined for 11 of the Wildcats' last 14 points to seal the win.
Tharptown 27-16 at the half, but the Bulldogs went on a 21-6 run in the third to take a 37-33 lead.
The game seesawed throughout the fourth quarter before Hallmark and Ricardo's heroics.
Ricardo led the Wildcats with 16 points, while adding 11 rebounds. Also scoring for the Wildcats were Hallmark (15), Makinley Flannigan (11), Drew Ergle (10), Tyler Cagle (7) and Jacob Parker (5).
Taylor Hester led the way for Belgreen with 16 points and nine rebounds. Also scoring for the Bulldogs were Will Hester scored (11), B.J. Horton (8), Sam Presley (7), Brandon Hester (6), Josh Quillen (5) and Jared Richardson (4).
The win marks the first time the Wildcats have ever beaten Belgreen in varsity boys play, and also marks the first time the Wildcats have made the county tournament finals at the varsity level.
Begreen 58,
Phil Campbell 34
Belgreen jumped out to an early double-digit lead, led by 27 at the half, and was able to rest its starters for most of the second half in a 58-34 win over Phil Campbell.
Belgreen led 18-9 after the first quarter, then outscored the Lady Bobcats 23-5 in the second to take a 41-14 halftime lead.
Belgreen's reserves played most of the second half, allowing the starters to rest for the finals Saturday night.
Phil Campbell outscored Belgreen 20-17 in the second half, but only got as close as 54-32 in the fourth quarter.
Katelin Barber and Amber Smith led Belgreen with 11 points each, while Deborah Billingham scored 10.
Also scoring for the Lady Bulldogs were Loren McVicker (8), DeVaney (6), Elizabeth Landers (6), Katy Britton (3), Alivia Holcomb (2) and Sara McMahan (1).
The leading scorers for Phil Campbell were Jessica Taylor and Shannon Gasaway who had 10 points each. Also scoring for the Lady Bobcats were Whitley Yocom (7), Tiffany Miller (2), Ashley Jones (2), Tatum Benford (2) and Kristen Snider (1).