by Keith Ledbetter for the FCT

Red Bay’s Lady Tigers got their first win at the annual Lauderdale County Christmas Tournament last Friday as they knocked off Mars Hill 56-51.

‘This is the best tournament to put us up against some of the best teams in the area,” said Lady Tiger Head Coach Donnie Roberts.

Roberts said the tournament gives teams the opportunity to play schools that they would not see during the regular season, and helps prepare his team for the games ahead.

Mars Hill got off to an early 6-0 lead, but two point baskets by Darby Madden and Holly Hardin plus a three pointer from Allie Kennedy closed the gap to 12-9 as Red Bay slowly inched back into the game.

Red Bay’s Hope Cook and Kennedy added fouls shot in the final seconds, but Mars Hill’s Mary Brooke Willis connected on a three pointer to end the first with a Mars Hill 17-12 lead.

Cook and Kennedy both hit three pointers in the opening minutes of the second as Red Bay tightened their attack on the Lady Panthers.

Red Bay cut Mars Hill’s lead down to two in the final minutes of the first half on a Madden two pointer, but couldn’t establish lead.

Kennedy added another three from the top, but the Lady Panthers continued to penetrate the Tiger’s offense.

Mars Hill added a two-point basket and three foul shots to take a 32-27 advantage at halftime.

Red Bay outscored Mars Hill in the third-13-10 thanks to two three pointers from Kennedy and one from Cook. Cook and Madden also added two pointers to keep Red Bay just behind Mars Hill by a score of 42-40 at the end of the third.

In the beginning of the fourth, Madden’s free throws tied the game for the first time for Red Bay, but Mars Hill answered to take a 44-43 lead on a foul shot.

The Lady Tigers and the Lady Panthers battled for the lead, which ended in a tie at 47-47 with just over 1:30 remaining in the game.

A Katie Burks down the lane layup gave Red Bay a 49-47 lead with just over one minute remaining. Mars Hill couldn’t turn it around and were forced to foul Red Bay in the final seconds. The Tigers extended their lead on seven completed free throws.

Red Bay completed 16 of 19 from the free throw line.

Allie Kennedy led Red Bay with 18, Darby Madded scored 16, Hope Cook added 14, Katie Burks scored five, Holly Hardin added two and Morgan Pierce scored one.

Mars Hill’s Willis led the Lady Panthers with 27 points.

“We were down 9-2 before we knew it,” said Roberts about his opening tournament game.

“We had planned to push the ball up and down the floor but that didn’t work for us.

“We’re fortunate to get back in the game.”

Game 2

Red Bay defeated Hillcrest 45-33 in game two Friday.

Allie Kennedy led Red Bay with 23, Madden had 13, Burks scored five, Cook added two and Pierce scored two.

Red Bay outscored Hillcrest 16-9 in the first, 11-8 in the third and 8-6 in the fourth. Hillcrest had a 12-10 score in the second quarter.

Game 3

Red Bay lost to Deshler 59-54 on Saturday and moved to the consultation games on Monday.