By Bart Moss for the FCT

Girls

Red Bay 51, Hamilton 31

The Red Bay Tigers easily defeated the Hamilton Aggies last week 51-31. Red Bay opened up a 15-9 first quarter lead and extended the lead to 31-16 by halftime before cruising to the win.

Darby Madden and Allie Kennedy led Red Bay with 21 points and 19 points respectively. Others scoring for the Tigers were Morgan Pierce (4), Brooklyn Bolton (3), Carlee Humphres (2), and Holly Hardin (2).

Brilliant 84, Vina 78

The Brilliant Tigers and the Vina Red Devils got found themselves embroiled in a shootout last week at Vina.

“It was a very exciting game; our girls fought back after the outstanding first quarter Brilliant had, to almost win. I am very proud of this young team,” said Vina coach Richie Hester.

Brilliant started the game hitting six of seven three pointers and five of six two pointers to take a 29-12 lead late in the first quarter. Vina cut into that lead on five points by Emma Humphres and a three-pointer by Montana Howard to finish the quarter Brilliant 29-Vina 17. Humphres scored 14 points in the game and grabbed ten rebounds for a double-double. Howard finished with seven points. Vina bounced back in the second quarter with eight points by Kaitlyn King. The Red Devils cut the lead to 42-40 at halftime. In the third quarter Brilliant outscored Vina 25 to 16 to take a 67-56. Abby Hester chipped in eight points in the third and add ten more points in the final frame in a valiant comeback by the Lady Red Devils.

Hester would finish with 31 points and eleven assists for a double-double for Vina. The Lady Red Devils cut the lead to 77-76 and missed two opportunities to go ahead in the final minute as Brilliant held on for a 82-78 win. Annabelle Upton would add seven points for Vina’s final tally.

According to Hester, the game is being considered by the AHSAA for a new category – Most threes by two teams combined (Vina had eleven and Brilliant had ten for a total of 21 three-pointers).

Vina 72, Phillips 70

Vina’s varsity girls team made an almost unbelievable comeback Tuesday night against the Phillips Bears.

Julianna Taylor led Phillips with 12 points in the 1st quarter to take a 19-12 lead over the Lady Red Devils. Emma Humphres would score eight of her 22 points in the second period to keep Vina close at 37 to 31. Humphres would also have 16 rebounds for a double-double in the game. Kaitlyn King hit a three-pointer at the end of the third period to make the score Phillips 50, Vina 44. King would finish with 14 points. Abby Hester and Humphres would combine for 16 of Vina’s 20 points in the final frame.

With 1.5 seconds left and the score 64-61 Phillips, Montana Howard sank three free throws to send the game into overtime. Howard would finish with ten points and ten rebounds for a double-double. In overtime, Hester scored seven of Vina’s final eight points. The Lady Red Devils held on for a 72-70 victory over Phillips. Hester finished with a triple-double, 24 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists. Mary Clingan, Annabelle Upton and Gracie Raper each added a free throw.

Red Bay 31, Belmont 26

In a battle of defending state champions, the Red Bay Tigers outlasted Belmont 31-26. Red Bay led Belmont 10-7 at the end of the first quarter. Belmont chipped away at Red Bay’s lead in the second quarter, outscoring the Tigers 11-10 to cut Red Bay’s lead to 20-18 at the break. A defensive battle ensued in the second half as both teams only scored two points each in the third quarter. Red Bay outscored Belmont 9-6 in the final period to take the win.

Darby Madden led Red Bay with 15 points. Allie Kennedy followed with nine points. Holly Hardin, Katie Burks and Morgan Pierce score two points each. Hope Cook finished with one point.

Belgreen 64, Hackleburg 44

The Belgreen Bulldogs easily defeated the Hackleburg Panthers last week, 64-44. Belgreen blew the game open early taking a 24-6 lead in the first quarter. Both teams played even through the second and third quarters, giving the Bulldogs an 18-point lead heading into the final period of play.

Allyson Bragwell led Belgreen with 22 points. She was followed by Gabbie Moore with 14 points. Katie Dempsey finished with seven points and Jasmine Martin with six points. Brianna Wood and Kaleigh Vandiver finished with three points each. Emma Riley, Shellie Barber and Ana Castillo had two points each.

Phil Campbell 46, Belgreen 43

The Phil Campbell Bobcats outlasted the Belgreen Bulldogs 46-43 in a game contested to the end last week.  Phil Campbell opened the game with a 12-7 lead in the first quarter. Belgreen outscored Phil Campbell 12-8 in the second quarter to cut Phil Campbell’s lead to one, 20-19, at halftime. Belgreen tied the game by the end of the third quarter, 28-28. Phil Campbell closed the game strong, outscoring Belgreen 18-15 in the final frame.  Phil Campbell led by five in the closing seconds before Belgreen hit a layup to close the gap to three points.

Abby Davis led Phil Campbell with 15 points. Leah Gunderman followed with 11 points. Elizabeth Benford and Darby Elliot had eight points each. Chloe Roberson finished with four points.

Allyson Bragwell and Jasmine Martin led Belgreen with 15 and 12 points respectively. Brianna Wood and Kaleigh Vandiver had five points each. Katie Dempsey had four points, and Johanna Oliver finished with two points.

Vina 65, Marion County 55

Vina’s sophmore Abby Hester, freshman Emma Humphres and eighth grader Kaitlynn King combined for all 14 first quarter points to take a 14 to 7 lead over Marion County. The second period was an 11-11 stalemate. The Red Raiders of Guin cut the lead to 41-37 after three periods, despite Humphres ten points in the third. Humphres would finish with 22 points and 11 rebounds for a double/double. In the final frame, it was Vina scoring 24 points to Marion County’s 18 for a final of Vina 65, Marion County 55. King would add a three and finish with 11 points for the night. Hester would go 11 for 12 in the final frame from the free throw line to seal the win. Hester would finish with 26 points and 10 assists for another double/double. Montana Howard would add three points. Howard and Annabelle Upton did an outstanding defensive job holding 6’2 Emma Culp to 21 points from Marion County. Mary Clingan hit two key free throws in the fourth quarter, and Makenzie Lawler chipped in one for Vina’s final tally.

Max Nolen rises high above a Russellville player to score two points in Tharptown’s battle with the Golden Tigers.

Boys

Tharptown 73, Mars Hill 68

It took a big overtime effort by the Tharptown Wildcats to win their area outright and secure home court advantage for the area tournament. Blake Gray scored 14 of Tharptown’s 16 fourth quarter points to send the game in the overtime.

Tharptown led just 14-13 at the end of the first quarter. Mars Hill outscored Tharptown 21-14 in the second quarter to take 34-28 halftime lead. Tharptown battled back in the third quarter, outscoring Mars Hill 20-15 to cut the Panthers lead to one, 49-48. Tharptown outscored Mars Hill 16-15 in the fourth quarter to tie the game at the end of regulation. The Wildcats bested Mars Hill 9-4 in overtime.

Max Nolen led Tharptown with 24 points. Gray added 19 points, and Bailey Motes finished with 14 points.  Others scoring for Tharptown were Mikey Rosson with nine points and Heath Hatton with five points.

Phil Campbell 64, Belgreen 61

The first quarter was the difference-maker in the battle between intra-county rivals Belgreen and Phil Campbell last week. Phil Campbell outscored Belgreen 13-11 in the first quarter. Both teams scored 19 points in the second quarter, allowing Phil Campbell to retain a two-point advantage at halftime, 32-30. Belgreen raced away from the Bobcats in the third quarter to take 51-43 into the final period. The Bobcats, however, would match Belgreen’s scoring total in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Bulldogs 21-11 to take the two point win.

Gage Roberson and Peyton Thomas led Phil Campbell with 17 points and 15 points respectively. Jacob Anthony and Hayden Copeland had 11 points each. Noah Williams finished with seven points, and Grant Masterson had three points.

Mason Bragwell and Jacob Mayberry led Belgreen with 15 points and 13 points respectively. Brant Bragwell and Drew Boshell had nine points each. Joseph Welch scored eight points, Peyton Scott netted four points, Eli Hiser had three points, and Adam Green finished with one point.