By Bart Moss

For the FCT

Vina boys get first win in three seasons

The Vina Red Devils picked up their first win in three seasons as they pounded Brilliant 57-40. Brilliant led 12-6 at the end of the first quarter but the Red Devils came back to win each of the final three quarters. Vina outscored Brilliant 13-5 in the second quarter to take a 19-17 lead into the locker room at halftime. Vina Brilliant 38-23 in the second half to take the win.

“I was really proud of these guys tonight,” said Vina coach Justin Humphres. “Every time it looked like they were going to make a run we went down and answered on offense.”

“We have struggled from the free throw line all year and have lost some games because of it,” said Humphres. “Tonight we went to the line when it counted and finished the game.”

Eli Hiser led Vina with 19 points. Ryder Steele added 13 points in the win.

Others scoring for the Red Devils were Hunter Haithcock (9), Joseph Emerson (9), Seth Brewer (6), and Corbin Triplett (1).

“This win means a lot to our team,” said Humphres. “This the first varsity win for all these guys.  I am just so proud of them for hanging in there and working hard everyday. They all understand that this is just the start of what we want to build here and they have to keep working and getting better everyday.”

Hamilton 73, Belgreen 65

The Belgreen Bulldogs led the Hamilton Aggies 45-38 at the end of the first half but it wouldn’t be enough.  The Hamilton Aggies fought back in the third quarter to take a 55-51 lead and outscored Belgreen 18-14 in the final period of play to take the win.

Ben Inman had a stellar performance for Belgreen with 27 points.  Cade Parrish, Dakota Davis and Abram Thorn added ten points each.  Joseph Welch and Shawn Jones added four points each for Belgreen.

Phillips 94, Belgreen 76

The Belgreen Bulldogs scratched and clawed their way to a gritty performance against area rival Phillips.

Thanks in large part to Ben Inman’s 31-point performance, the Bulldogs hung right the Bears through three quarters. Phillips led Belgreen 20-19 at the end of the first quarter. Phillips extended that lead by just one more point at halftime 45-43. Phillips got themselves a little breathing room by the end of the third quarter leading 67-61. The Bears, however, began to pull away in the fourth quarter outscoring Belgreen 27-15.

Abram Thorn added 18 points for Belgreen.  Others scoring for the Bulldogs were Dakota Davis (8), Cade Parrish (7), Joseph Welch (6), Shawn Jones (4), and Payton Scott (2).

Phil Campbell 74, Belgreen 70

Hayden Bell has been the Phil Campbell Bobcats workhorse all season long and he continued in that role to lead the Bobcats to a 74-70 win over county rival Belgreen. Bell scored 25 points in the victory for the Bobcats.

The game was tight throughout the night. The game was tied 19-19 at the end of the first quarter and 37-37 at halftime. The Bulldogs took a slight lead in the third quarter 51-50. Phil Campbell, however, bested the Bulldogs in the fourth quarter 24-19 to take the win.

Peyton Thomas added 17 points and Gage Roberson added 14 points in the win. Others scoring for the Bobcats were Noah Williams (9), Jacob Anthony (5), Hayden Copeland (2), and Skylar Tackett (2).

Joseph Welch led Belgreen with 17 points. Cade Parrish added 16 points and Ben Inman added 15 points for the Bulldogs.  Others scoring for Belgreen were Abram Thorn (8), Shawn Jones (6), Dakota Davis (4), Payton Scott (2), and Nathaniel Rae (2).

Tharptown continues to dominate

The Tharptown Wildcats closed out the first half of their regular season with two big wins last week and improved their record to 12-1.  The Wildcats scored a big area win over the Hatton Hornets 61-39 and over the talented and athletic R.A. Hubbard Chiefs 68-59.

Tharptown 61, Hatton 39

Tharptown improved their area record to 4-0 by defeating the Hatton Hornets 61-39.  As if the Wildcats didn’t have enough weapons at their disposal they added a new one last week in Eric Odell. Odell (6’3”, 230 lbs.), a big bodied presence inside, made an immediate impact leading Tharptown with 16 points.

“We’ve been anxious to see what Eric could bring to the table,” said Tharptown coach Jonathan Odom. “He is a big body and knows how to play around the basket. He has been itching to get on the floor and he made the most of his opportunity.”

As has been the case for most of the season, the Wildcats got off to a slow start trailing the Hornets 12-8 at the end of the first quarter.  Tharptown came back strong outscoring Hatton 21-6 in the second quarter to take a 29-18 halftime lead. The Wildcats continued their assault on the Hornets outscoring Hatton 24-5 in the third quarter to take a 53-23 lead into the final quarter of play.

Max Nolen added 11 points for the Wildcats. Others scoring for Tharptown were Bailey Motes (8), Drake Lawson (7), Nathan Chaney (6), Blake Gray (5), Heath Hatton (4), Allen Gaston (2), and Mikey Rosson (2).

Tharptown 68, R.A. Hubbard 59

Max Nolen torched the R.A. Hubbard Chiefs with 25 points to lead the Tharptown Wildcats to a 68-59 win over their former 1A nemesis.

Tharptown trailed 15-14 at the end of the first quarter but led 37-34 at the half. The Wildcats extended their lead to 62-50 at the end of the third quarter.

Nathan Chaney added 13 points and Bailey Motes added 12 points in the win. Others scoring for Tharptown were Heath Hatton (6), Eric Odell (6), Blake Gray (3), Drake Lawson 2), and Mikey Rosson (1).