A Red Bay guard brings the ball around the top of the key against Belmont. The Tigers dropped the game 64-37 to the Cardinals.

by Keith Ledbetter for the FCT

After taking a one point, 12-11 lead over Belmont Friday night, Red Bay’s varsity boys’ defense gave up nine three pointers on the way to a 64-37 loss against the Cardinals.

After Red Bay’s Dylan Gresham connected on a put back in the second, Belmont hit four consecutive three pointers to break a 16-16 tie and end the half with a 28-18 lead.

“I think all those three pointers came on turnovers,” said Red Bay boys’ head coach Matt Noah.

“Belmont has a great team! They’re one of the best teams in North Mississippi in their classification.”

Despite Red Bay turning in a hard fought game, it’s hard to over come all the injuries that have plagued the team for several weeks.

“We’ve played seven games in nine days and we’ve lost three players and had two with the flu in those nine days.”

“They’ve battled every night, and we’ve even pulled up an eighth grader that played against Belgreen.

“It’s just been one of those years for injuries. Our kids have had adversity and despite all that have improved our record from last year, came in second in the county tournament and second in the area with a chance to go to the playoffs.”

Belmont led the third quarter scoring 15-11 despite a three pointer near the end of the quarter from Red Bay’s Chandler Allen.

Dylan Gresham led Red Bay with 14 points, Dakota Hester scored nine, Jesus Kelley had six, Chandler Allen scored five, Tate Ozbirn had two and Daniel Wooten had one.

“Belmont is probably the best team we’ve played this year and battled tooth and nail all the way to the end.

“I’m very pleased with kids for the way they’ve handled this,” added Noah.

Tharptown 71 Red Bay 32

Tharptown led in three out of four quarters last Tuesday night, outscoring Red Bay 24-10 in the first, 16-5 in the second, and 24-7 in the third.

Red Bay outscored the Wildcats 10-7 in the fourth.

Bailey Motes led Tharptown with 14, William Rosson had 12, Maxwell Nolan scored 11, Nathan Chaney scored eight, Austin Gray, Milton Hatton, and Odell had six each.

Drake Lawson and Allen Gaston had three, Clay Hodge scored two.

Red Bay’s Austin Milam scored 10, Dylan Gresham had nine, Jesus Kelley had seven, Nick Thorn scored six, Tate Ozbirn added three, Payton Thorn and Dakota Hester scored two, and Daniel Wooten added one.