Bart Moss for the FCT

Tharptown 83, Mars Hill 71

The Tharptown Wildcats were anxious to see how they would stack up in their new 2A area at Mars Hill and passed with flying colors defeating the perennial basketball powerhouse 83-71.

The game was a fast-paced, high scoring affair that was settled by the team that kept up that pace for four quarters. Tharptown was that team.

“I was really pleased with our effort,” said Tharptown coach Jonathan Odom.  “To go into Mars Hill and get a win like that was big for our team.

“That is a hard place to play against a very good team. It wasn’t perfect by any stretch. We missed too many free throws and easy baskets under the goal. We have to improve in that area if we are going to achieve our goals.”

The first quarter went back and forth with several lead changes ending in 22-19 and a Tharptown lead. The Wildcats were able to put some more distance between themselves and the Panthers in the second quarter, outpacing Mars Hill 25-18. Tharptown led 47-37 at halftime. Max Nolen scored 15 of his 17 points in the first half to pace the Wildcats.

The Wildcats extended their lead in the third quarter to 68-56 and led by as many as 14 points in the final quarter. Bailey Motes led the second half effort primarily at the free throw line. Motes scored a team high 18 points with ten coming from the free throw line. The Wildcats had five players in double figures.  Along with Motes and Nolen, Blake Gray and Heath Hatton scored 14 points each. Mikey Rosson had 11 points.

Also scoring for Tharptown were Drake Lawson (7) and Allen Gaston (2).

Russellville 71, Tharptown 58

After an evenly played first half the Russellville Golden Tigers stormed out of the locker room in the second half to hand Tharptown their first loss of the season 71-58.

Tharptown jumped out to an 18-12 first quarter lead but the Golden Tigers clawed their way back with a 22-17 second quarter. Tharptown led 35-34 at the half.

Russellville doubled up the Wildcats 22-11 in the third quarter and cruised to the 71-58 win.

Tyler Willis led the Golden Tigers with 14 points. Colby Thompkins added 12 points and Cedric Freeman scored 10 points. Others scoring for Russellville were Austin Stidham (9), Christian Foster (6), Taylor Vincent (6), Joshua Seal (4), and Kamar Baugh (2).

Blake Gray led the all scorers with 19 points and 20 rebounds. Bailey Motes added 19 points for Tharptown and Max Nolen scored ten points. Others scoring for Tharptown were Mikey Rosson (5), Heath Hatton (3), and Nathan Gray (3).

Tharptown 80, Belgreen 64

Max Nolen scored 19 of his game-high 26 points in the second half helping the Tharptown Wildcats outpaced the Belgreen Bulldogs 80-64.

Tharptown opened the game outscoring Belgreen 18-9. Belgreen closed the gap to 30-23 by halftime. The Wildcats extended their lead to 54-42 in the third quarter before closing out the game in the fourth quarter.

Bailey Motes added 19 points for the Wildcats and Mikey Rosson scored 14 points.  Others scoring were Heath Hatton (9), Drake Lawson (5), Allen Gaston (5), and Nathan Chaney (2).

Ben Inman led the Bulldogs with 24 points, 21 of which came in the second half. Cade Parrish added 14 points for Belgreen. Others scoring for the Bulldogs were Joseph Welch (9), Abram Thorn (6), Shane Devaney (3). Payton Scott, Dakota Davis, Shawn Jones, and Franky Wallace all had two points each.

Hackleburg 78, Vina 53

The Hackleburg Panthers outscored the Vina Red Devils in each of the four quarters in route to the 78-53 win. Hackleburg led 16-12 at the end of the first quarter and 35-21 at the half.

Vina was led by Eli Hiser (13) and Joseph Emerson (12). Seth Brewer scored nine points and Hunter Haithcock added six.

Haleyville 56, Phil Campbell 43

The Haleyville Lions jumped out to an 18-8 first quarter lead over the Phil Campbell Bobcats and hung on for the 56-43 lead.

Phil Campbell outscored Haleyville 14-11 in the second quarter to close the gap to 29-22 at halftime. Haleyville bested the Bobcats by five points in the second half to hold on for the win.

Hayden Bell led the Bobcats with 13 points. Hayden Copeland and Noah Williams scored ten points each. Others scoring for Phil Campbell were Skylar Tackett (4), Vickie McAlister (2), Elizabeth Benford (2), and Harley Voyles (1).

Colbert Heights 70, Belgreen 63

The Belgreen Bulldogs out-scored the Colbert Heights Wildcats 19-14 in the fourth quarter but it was not enough for a come-from-behind win. Colbert Heights defeated Belgreen 70-63.

The Wildcats led the Bulldogs 41-35 at halftime.

Ben Inman hit five three-pointers in route to scoring 25 points to lead the Bulldogs. Abram Thorn scored 12 points and Cade Parrish added ten points in the loss.

Others scoring for Belgreen were Payton Scott (5), Shawn Jones (5), Dakota Davis (4), and Shane Devaney (2).

Haleyville 79, Belgreen 53

Powerful first and fourth quarters were all the Haleyville Lions needed to get a victory over the Belgreen Bulldogs. Haleyville outscored Belgreen 26-12 in the first quarter and 24-13 in the fourth quarter in route to the 79-53 win.

Cade Parrish led the Bulldogs with 14 points.  Ben Inman added 13 points. Abram Thorn scored ten points. Others scoring for Belgreen were Joseph Welch (4), Payton Scott (3), Dakota Davis (3), Shawn Jones (2), and Shane Devaney (2).