Bobcats beat Cherokee on last-second shot

By Staff
Mike Self, FCT Sports Editor
Jonathan Dill's putback in the final seconds lifted Phil Campbell to a 58-56 win over Cherokee in Friday's Class 2A, Area 16 showdown at Nelda Moss Gymnasium.
The game was tied when Dill rebounded a miss by Jay Steward and then scored with 2.5 seconds remaining.
The Indians (7-1) got the ball to half court and called timeout before missing a desperation tip as time expired, ending a thrilling fourth quarter that saw 14 lead changes.
Phil Campbell (6-3, 1-1 area) led 22-14 after one quarter and 30-25 at the half, but Cherokee fought back to claim its first lead at 41-40 late in the third quarter.
The Bobcats went back in front 43-41 early in the fourth quarter, and the game see-sawed back and forth the rest of the way.
Caleb Thompson finished with 14 points to lead Phil Campbell.
Steward added 13, and Tanner Maddox had eight.
Chase Hutcheson and Brett Thomas each had seven, and Dill finished with five. Chris Baker had four.
Dominique Croom led Cherokee with 20 points.
The Bobcats will return to action on Tuesday at home against Red Bay.
In other action:
Varsity girls
Phil Campbell 54 Cherokee 25
The Lady Bobcats raced out to a 31-4 second-quarter lead and never looked back en route to completing a season sweep of Cherokee.
Chasity Morgan had 21 points to lead Phil Campbell (6-5, 2-0 Class 2A, Area 16), which led 19-2 after one quarter and 33-8 at the half.
Caitlin Stancil added 10 points, and Shelly Cooper had nine.
The Lady Bobcats will play another area game on Tuesday when they host rival Red Bay.
Junior girls
Phil Campbell 29 Cherokee 16
Jessie Holcomb scored 12 points on four three-pointers as Phil Campbell's junior girls defeated Cherokee's B-Varsity team on Friday.
Amber Chaney added eight points, and Whitley Yocom had seven.