Red Bay’s Dylan Gresham and Isaiah Jackson try to block a shot by Belgreen’s Dustin Smith. Photo by Keith Ledbetter.

By Keith Ledbetter

For the FCT

The Bulldog boys (24-3) improved their season win record by one with a 64-36 win over Red Bay on Friday.

Belgreen’s William Barnwell tossed the Bulldogs’ first five points as Belgreen held Red Bay scoreless for the first six minutes of the first quarter.

Red Bay’s Barry Reach put in the Tigers’ only basket near the two-minute mark of the first quarter.

Belgreen’s Joshua Devaney, Dustin Smith, and Chance Landers all contributed in the first quarter’s 14-2 lead for the Bulldogs.

Red Bay picked up their game in the second by scoring 14 points, but Belgreen added another 19 for a 43-16 advantage at the half.

Belgreen went on to lead 57-29 at the top of the fourth in route to the 64-36 victory.

The Bulldogs had four players in double digits, with Devaney leading Belgreen with 16 points. William Barnwell added 15, Dustin Smith had 13, and Chance Landers scored 11.

Barry Reach led Red Bay with 15 points, and Nick Thorn was a close second with eight points.

The Red Bay varsity boys will play Colbert Heights in the semi-final AHSAA 2A boy’s area tournament on Friday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. Cherokee will play Phil Campbell at 7:30 p.m.

Colbert Heights will host the Area 16 tournament that will conclude with the finals on Monday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m.

Phillips High School will host the AHSAA 1A boys’ Area tournament starting with a 5:00 p.m. game against Vina and Hackleburg on Feb. 4.

Phillips will play the winner of that game on Feb. 7 at 6 p.m..

Tharptown and Belgreen will play at 7:30 p.m. The finals will be played on Feb. 10 starting at 7 p.m.