The Phil Campbell Bobcats passed their two biggest tests of the early basketball season last week with close wins against 1A Phillips and 4A Rogers to remain unbeaten.

Phil Campbell used solid defensive efforts to pull out wins late in both games, including an overtime thriller at Rogers High School.

“Rogers was a very disciplined team,” said Phil Campbell coach Craig Thomas. “They moved the ball around and ran their offense through several times. One time about 36 seconds went off the clock, but we defended it well.”

Thomas also attributed the Phillips game to great defense.

“I think we had about 18 turnovers, and (Phillips) had 19 turnovers,” explained Thomas. “It wasn’t bad ball handling; it was good, tight defense by both teams.”

Thomas also had high praise for his junior guard, Kallie Allen.

“Kallie played a terrific two games defensively against Phillips and Rogers,” said Thomas. “She was assigned both teams’ best scorers and did a great job both games.”

Phil Campbell 40, Rogers 39 (Overtime)

Caitlyn Mills scored 15 points, including going 8-for-8 from the free throw line, to help lead the Bobcats to a 40-39 overtime win over the Pirates.

Phil Campbell led 11-8 at the end of the first quarter, but Rogers battled back to take a 19-18 halftime lead. Phil Campbell tied the game 27-27 at the end of the third quarter. Senior Abby Davis got an offensive rebound – totaling 11 rebounds on the night – and a put-back to send the game into overtime tied 34-34.

Free throws would seal the win for Phil Campbell, as the Bobcats outscored Rogers 6-5 in overtime to get the win.

Davis followed Mills in scoring with 11 points. Allen added nine points, Katie Thomas had four points, and Kaci Harris added one point.

Phil Campbell 41, Phillips 37

Phil Campbell held a nine-point halftime lead over the Phillips Bears last week and held off a comeback attempt to win 41-37.

Phil Campbell led 12-11 at the end of the third quarter and extended that lead to 26-17 by halftime. Phillips outscored the Bobcats 13-7 in the third quarter to cut Phil Campbell’s lead to 33-30 at the end of the fourth quarter.

Davis led Phil Campbell with 16 points, 11 rebounds, three steals and three blocked shots. Catilyn Mills followed with 10 points. Allen added six points, six rebounds and five assists. Thomas finished with five points and Olivia Taylor with four points.

Phil Campbell 51, Colbert County 21

Phil Campbell sailed to an easy 51-21 win over the Colbert County Indians early last week. The Bobcats jumped out to a 17-5 first quarter lead and led 34-7 at halftime before coasting to the easy win.

Several Bobcats landed in the scoring column, led by Davis and Allen with 14 points and 13 points respectively. Thomas followed with eight points, Mills with five points and Madison Branch with three points. Macalya Baker, Kaci Harris, Kenner Scott and Faith Cook scored two points each.

Phil Campbell 53, Colbert County 35

Davis poured in 25 points to help lead Phil Campbell to a 53-35 win over Colbert County.

Allen had an eight-point first quarter to get the Bobcats off to a hot start leading Colbert Heights 12-7. Davis added nine in the second quarter to help extend Phil Campbell’s lead to 30-16. The Bobcats outscored the Wildcats 21-7 in the third quarter and coasted to the easy win.

Allen followed Davis in the scoring column with 14 points. Taylor and Mills added five points each. Harris pitched in four points.

Varsity boys

The Phil Campbell Bobcats picked up their first area wins of the season Monday night at Colbert Heights.

Isaac Riddle drained 23 points, 21 of which came in the second half, to lead the Bobcats to a 64-63 win.

Phil Campbell and Colbert Heights played to a 13-13 tie in the first quarter. The Bobcats went 5-of-7 from the free throw line in the second quarter to take a one-point advantage at halftime, 17-16. Colbert Heights tied the game again in the third quarter 43-43.

Riddle hit 11 points in the fourth quarter to help lead the Bobcats to the win.

Luke Garrison followed Riddle with 12 points. Ben Williams, Brett Saint and Nate Owens scored eight points each. Ridge Raper contributed two points in the win.