Homeward bound

By Staff
Mike Self FCT Sports Editor
CHEROKEE - Monday's win over Cherokee was just what the doctor ordered for Kurt Kennedy and the Red Bay Tigers–in more ways than one.
Kennedy overcame viral symptoms to score 27 points as Red Bay snapped a two-game losing skid and clinched home court advantage for the area tournament with a 68-54 victory over the Indians.
Almost as important for the Tigers (11-6, 6-1 Class 2A, Area 16) is the way they bounced back after taking it on the chin in consecutive losses to hot-shooting Belmont and Phil Campbell last week.
Red Bay trailed by 20 points at halftime of both games.
Brandon Colburn added 16 points, eight rebounds and four blocks for the Tigers, and Randy Lowery posted a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Matt Hester chipped in with nine points and seven rebounds, helping Red Bay earn a commanding 52-32 edge on the boards.
Different players stepped up at different times for Red Bay.
Colburn had nine points in the first quarter to help the Tigers build a 21-17 lead. Hester scored eight in the second quarter as Red Bay fought off a run by Cherokee to lead by two at the break.
When the Indians sliced a 13-point lead to eight in the fourth quarter, Lowery responded with three straight baskets to help seal the win.
But the third quarter belonged to Kennedy. The senior guard went 6-for-7 from the field in the quarter, including a reverse layup off an alley-oop from Chad Nichols that was, well, in a word, sick.
Kennedy drained his fifth and final trey moments later to give the Tigers a 54-41 lead with 2:40 left in the third quarter.
Carpenter said that what the Tigers were able to do after those stops was equally important.
Donta Mason and Pierre Goodloe each had 14 points to lead Cherokee, and Austin Phillips added 13.
Girls
Red Bay 59 Cherokee 16
Thirteen different players scored for Red Bay as the Lady Tigers posted their seventh straight win.
Tasha Petree led Red Bay (14-5, 7-0 Class 2A, Area 16) with 10 points. Chelsea McWilliams added eight, and Lauren Tucker, Mandy Lowery and Alesha Nelson each had six.