Red Bay rallies from early deficit
By Staff
Mike Self, FCT Sports Editor
RED BAY – Red Bay head coach Greg Cash thought his team might get off to a slow start in Monday's season-opener.
He was right.
The Tigers fell behind 17-2 to visiting Tharptown in the first quarter before turning things around and rallying for a 57-41 win over the Wildcats.
Red Bay (1-0) out-scored Tharptown 19-6 in the second quarter and 20-8 in the third, turning a 13-point deficit into a 12-point lead.
"This was their fifth game, and it was our first," Cash said. "I told our guys we would probably have a few jitters. Those first few shots are always the toughest. We missed a lot of layups in the first quarter. The biggest thing was we kept pounding the ball inside and getting good looks, and we got some things off our press. Anytime you can force turnovers, that helps."
The Wildcats (1-4) came out hot in the early going, hitting four straight threes as part of a 17-0 run in the first quarter.
"They were on fire," Cash said. "We just had to withstand that initial surge and wait for them to hopefully cool off."
The Tigers opened the second quarter on a 10-2 run, capped off by Jesse James' steal and layup that cut Tharptown's lead to 19-14 with 4:30 left in the first half.
Red Bay pulled even moments later on a putback by Justin Page, and the game was tied 23-23 at the half.
Page had three baskets early in the second half to keep Red Bay's momentum rolling, and a three-point play by Derrick Miller gave the Tigers a 34-27 lead midway through the third quarter.
Roman Lynch's jumper capped off the big third quarter and made it 43-31. Red Bay's lead remained in double figures the rest of the night.
Page and Ethan Davis each had 12 points to lead the Tigers, and Miller added 10.
Tyler Cagle led Tharptown with 13 points, and Mackinley Flannagin added 10.
Also on Monday:
A-Junior boys
Red Bay 34 Tharptown 32
Curtis Morrell led the Tigers with 10 points, and Cory Timbs added seven.
Devin Lawson had 11 points to lead Tharptown, and Wade Berryman added 10.
In other recent action:
Tharptown 69 Vina 58
Manny Ricardo had 24 points and Trevor Hallmark added 16 on Friday as the Wildcats earned their first-ever varsity win.
Tyler Cagle finished with 12 points for Tharptown, and Mackinley Flannagin added 10.
