Phil Campbell B-varsity Coach Cantrell Tyson turned away and face the scorers’ table as Cole Pace stepped to the line. Pace was looking to convert three free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt as the Bobcats trailed Haleyville 53-52 in overtime Tuesday.

“I turned around and told the scorekeeper, ‘I’m just going to stare at you, and I’ll find out whether we won by the whichever side of this gym rattles,’” Tyson said. He heard the exciting finish he’d been hoping for. “Fortunately for us, the rattling came from the Phil Campbell side.”

The Bobcats and Lions traded blow for blow the whole night, both teams hitting a barrage of three-pointers in the game. 

The Haleyville Lions took the lead 53-52 on a three-pointer with 2.6 seconds left. 

The difference came, not only in the final seconds but the whole game through, on the free-throw line. The Bobcats were 17 of 20 on the night from the charity stripe, while the Lions were two for two. 

“We really shot well from the free-throw line, and those mattered because Haleyville was scorching us from the three-point distance,” Tyson said.

Phil Campbell’s B-varsity team has seen its less than favorable moments this year on game-winning baskets, having gone 0-2 in one-possession games. 

“Man, I really wanted it for these kids. They’ve been in that position twice this season, and it hasn’t gone our way,” Tyson said. “I asked one of the kids what was he doing as he waited for those free throws, and he said, ‘I was praying, coach.’” 

Andrew Green led the Bobcats in scoring with 14. Pace added 13, Sage Raper had nine, Braxten Goodson added eight, Hayden Wingo had seven, and Brayden Carter added to the scoring on a crucial three-point basket. 

With the win, the Phil Campbell B-Varsity boys had won five of their past seven games on the season. 

BACK-TO-BACK VICTORIES