By Bart Moss for the FCT

The junior high division of the Franklin County Tournament tipped off at Red Bay High School Saturday with six games. Four semi-final games will be played Thursday beginning at 4 p.m., and finals will be played Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. Admission to the tournament is $4 each day.

Girls

In 7th/8th grade girls action, the Tharptown Wildcats defeated the Belgreen Bulldogs 40-20 in the first game of the day. The Wildcats led the Bulldogs 19-13 at halftime and went on to easily win the contest. Gracie Montgomery led Tharptown with 19 points. Felicia Campos led Belgreen with eight points. Tharptown advanced to play Phil Campbell later in the day.

In the second 7th/8th grade girls game of the day, the Vina Red Devils defeated the Red Bay Tigers in a close one, 30-26. The Tigers led the Red Devils 20-15 at halftime and 24-18 at the end of the third quarter. Vina stormed ahead in the fourth quarter, outscoring Red Bay 12-2 to take the win and advance to the finals Saturday at 10 a.m. Rayleigh Guinn led Vina with 15 points. Sarah Eaton led Red Bay with seven points.

The Phil Campbell Bobcats defeated the Tharptown Wildcats 32-23 to advance to the finals. It was Tharptown’s second game of the day. Phil Campbell gained the advantage after shutting out the Wildcats 10-0 in the second quarter. Faith Cook led the Bobcats with 11 points. Montgomery led the Wildcats for the second time in the day with ten points. Phil Campbell and Vina will play in the finals Saturday at 10 a.m.

In ninth grade girls action, the Belgreen Bulldogs defeated the East Franklin Rebels 48-14 to advance to the semi-finals. The Bulldogs led 23-12 at halftime and cruised to the win. Gracie Dempsey led Belgreen with 18 points. Kaci Harris led East Franklin with seven points. Belgreen will face Tharptown Thursday night at 7:45 p.m. The winner of that game will advance to the finals Saturday 12:30 p.m. and play Phil Campbell.

Boys

In 7th/8th grade boys action, Vina rolled past East Franklin 42-11. The Rebels led 6-5 at the end of the first quarter, but the Red Devils caught fire in the second quarter and third quarter, outscoring East Franklin 33-5 on the way to the win. Haze Weatherford led Vina with 13 points. Dawson Miller had ten points. East Franklin’s Daniel Potts had three points. Vina advanced to play Red Bay in the semi-finals Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

In the second 7th/8th grade boys game of the day, Belgreen easily defeated the Tharptown Wildcats 53-12. Belgreen led Tharptown 35-5 at halftime, cruising to the easy win. Scout Bragwell led Belgreen with 21 points. Travis Staten led Tharptown with five points. Belgreen advanced to play Phil Campbell in the semi-finals Thursday at 4 p.m.

Because of a lack of participation, there are only two ninth grade boys teams in the tournament this year. Both, obviously, advanced to the finals automatically Saturday at 1:45 p.m. Those teams are East Franklin and Phil Campbell.