Phil Campbell girls improve to 2-0 in area play

By Staff
Mike Self FCT Sports Editor
CHEROKEE - Opponents may have to adopt a new defensive strategy to stop Tanna Benford and the Phil Campbell Lady Bobcats.
The box-and-one just isn't getting it done anymore.
"We're pretty much used to that," Benford said on Tuesday after scoring 22 points and handing out 11 assists to lead Phil Campbell to a 57-27 victory over Cherokee. "If the defense is focusing on me, that means somebody else is open. I just have to find them."
Benford found them with regularity on Tuesday, assisting on the Lady Bobcats' first five baskets of the game while being chased all over the floor by Cherokee's Heather Tubbs.
"That's what she has to do," Phil Campbell coach Michael Beck said after his team improved to 2-0 in Class 2A, Area 16. "We've seen the box-and-one every game this season, and we've either won the game or been in it each time. We have a few more scorers this year. If teams focus on stopping Tanna, we have other girls who can step up and put the ball in the basket. Hopefully they'll continue to step up."
In addition to Benford, two other players posted double-doubles for Phil Campbell (3-3, 2-0). Alis Hutcheson had 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Erin Gilbert added 11 points and 10 boards.
"I was pretty pleased with the way we played offensively, but the game got a little sloppy," Beck said. "Our hustle was good, but we committed too many silly fouls. Our defense was not up to what I would like it to be."
After focusing on distributing the ball in the game's early going, Benford started looking for her shot. The junior guard had seven points in a 9-3 run by the Lady Bobcats to close the first quarter that gave them a 19-11 lead.
Cherokee (0-2) hung around until late in the second quarter, when a putback by Gilbert sparked a 13-0 run for Phil Campbell. The Lady Bobcats scored the last seven points of the first half and the first six points of the third quarter, as Benford nailed a pull-up jumper and found Alana Smith for back-to-back layups to make it 40-17.
After Cherokee's Krystal Elliott and Gilbert swapped baskets, Benford closed out the third quarter with a layup, two free throws and a three-pointer to give Phil Campbell a 49-19 lead.
Smith and Jodi Taff each finished with six points for the Lady Bobcats.
Phil Campbell will host area and county rival Belgreen tonight at 6 p.m. The Lady Bobcats won 38-30 at Belgreen on November 19.
In other local action on Tuesday:
Waterloo 47 Vina 27
Cassie Reeves led Vina with 10 points in Tuesday's loss.
Whitney Clingan added six points for Vina, and Lindsey Turbyfill had five. Stephanie Massey finished with four.