Phil Campbell sweeps Hackleburg
The Phil Campbell Bobcats spent Monday night fine-tuning their game by dispatching a familiar foe. In the only scheduled meeting between the two rivals this season, Phil Campbell made a statement by sweeping the Hackleburg Panthers in a doubleheader.
The girls set the tone for the evening, riding a historic performance from Leela Baker to a 69-44 victory.
Baker was virtually unstoppable from the opening tip, exploding for a season-high 29 points. Her dominance was most apparent in the first half, where she accounted for 23 points to help the Bobcats build a commanding 42-23 lead at the break.
Phil Campbell’s offensive depth was also on display, as Addie Gilbert contributed 14 points and Layla Baker added nine.
The Bobcats utilized a massive 24-point first quarter to seize control early, never allowing the Panthers to pull within striking distance despite a 13-point third-quarter effort from Hackleburg.
The boys followed suit, putting together a clinical performance to defeat the Panthers 63-40.
The Bobcats jumped out to a 38-26 halftime lead, but it was their defensive intensity in the third quarter that slammed the door shut. Phil Campbell held Hackleburg to just five points in the third frame while pouring in 16 of their own to turn the game into a rout.
Austin Elliott led all scorers with 25 points, consistently finding ways to penetrate the Panthers defense. Hagen Raper (9 points) and Madden Welch (8 points) provided key support, while Hayston Scott and Bailey Nix chipped in seven points apiece to round out the balanced Phil Campbell attack.
