Phil Campbell splits with Red Bay, Hackleburg
By Bart Moss / For the FCT
Varsity Girls
The Phil Campbell Lady Bobcats left no doubt about who would be the team-to-beat in Franklin County this year, with an easy 62-34 win over the Red Bay Tigers.
It was Phil Campbell’s first win over the Red Bay program since 2010.
The Bobcats’ full court pressure defense helped them race out to a 24-7 first quarter lead. The Bobcats led 39-14 at halftime and cruised to the win.
Phil Campbell had three players score in double figures. Abby Davis and Dakota Elliott led the Bobcats with 15 points each. Kallie Allen followed with 13 points. Chole Roberson added eight points. Caitlyn Mills, Darby Elliott, Carley Nix, Megan Bullock and Cimber Davis each scored two points. Kaci Harris added one point.
Reagan Kuykendall led Red Bay with seven points. Macy Faulkner and Savannah Shaw scored six points each. Carlie Lindley finished with five points, Destiny McCollister with four points, Brooke Shewbart with three points, Mallori Miller with two points and Lila Blackburn with one point.
The girls also picked up a big win over their Marion County rival Hackleburg, 72-23. Phil Campbell jumped out to a 17-4 first quarter lead and outpaced the Panthers in each of the next three quarters to route Hackleburg.
Elliott topped out at 17 points for PCHS. Davis and Nix added 11 points each. Caitlyn Mills and Megan Bullock chipped in eight points each. Darby Elliott had seven points, Kaci Harris five points, Kallie Allen four points and Chloe Roberson one point.
Varsity Boys
In varsity boys action, the Red Bay Tigers outscored Phil Campbell in each of the four quarters to take a 48-33 win. The Bobcats, hobbled by the loss of two starters to injuries, only had three players score in the game.
Red Bay led 7-4 at the end of the first quarter and pushed their lead to 25-13 at halftime. The Tigers extended their lead to 37-24 at the end of the third quarter.
Peyton Thomas led all scorers, accounting for 22 of the Bobcats’ 33 points. Brody Nix added eight points, and Daniel Smith chipped in three points.
Gath Weatherford led Red Bay with 13 points. Clay Allison and Colton Corum followed with nine points each. Jalen Vinson and Hunter Bays finished with six points each.
The boys also struggled earlier against Hackleburg without two of their starters. The Bobcats lost point guard Rhett Benford and guard Joe Hardy to injuries in a holiday tournament.
The Bobcats trailed 15-8 at the end of the first quarter and 33-22 at halftime. Hackleburg pulled away in the third quarter, outscoring Phil Campbell 18-14 to take a 51-36 lead into the final period. The Bobcats ultimately fell 66-49.
Freshman Luke Garrison was the leading scorer for the Bobcats with 18 points. Brody Nix followed with 12 points, and Peyton Thomas had 11 points. Daniel Smith and Cody Cothum finished with four points each. Nate Owens added two points to the mix.
B-Varsity Boys
Gage Bays, Tanner Hamilton and Lane Shewbart scored six points each to lead Red Bay past Phil Campbell 38-26. Dakota Mansell led the Bobcats with nine points.
