By Bart Moss. Phil Campbell’s Colton Vickery tries to get around a Cherokee defender in Saturday night’s semi-final game.

By Bart Moss

For the FCT

Boys semi-finals

2A, Area 16

Cherokee 48, Phil Campbell 41

The Phil Campbell Bobcats could not overcome a strong third quarter by the Cherokee Indians in area semi-final action Saturday night.

Knotted at 20 at the half, Cherokee outscored Phil Campbell 18-9 in the third quarter. The Bobcats were able to pull to within three points in the fourth quarter but could get no closer.

Turnovers and missed free throws were costly to the Bobcats.

Colton Vickery led the Bobcats with 15 points. Bailey Motes added 14 points. Also scoring for Phil Campbell were Tommy Reed (6), Skyler Tackett (4), and Nathan Duncan (2) as the Bobcats’ season came to an end.

Colbert Heights 61, Red Bay 40

The Red Bay Tigers’ game plan was to slow the pace of the game to try and combat top-seeded Colbert Heights in the area semi-finals.  It was effective but, in the end, just not enough to overcome the Wildcats inside game.

Colbert Heights outscored Red Bay in each quarter in route to the win. The Wildcats led by ten at the half, 32-22.

The Wildcats extended their lead to 13 at the end of the third quarter before outscoring Red Bay 13-5 in the fourth quarter.

Nick Thorn led the Tigers with 13 points. Others scoring for Red Bay were Barry Reach (9), Tate Ozbirn (6), Kyle Fuller (5), Isaiah Jackson (3), Fred Nethery (2) and Jesus Kelly (2).