Tigers overcome slow start in semifinal win over Vina
By Staff
Mike Self, FCT Sports Editor
PHIL CAMPBELL – Derrick Miller had 11 points on Friday to lead a balanced scoring attack for Red Bay as the Tigers overcame a slow start offensively to beat Vina 58-28 in the semifinals of the Franklin County Tournament.
Red Bay (7-10) secured a spot in last night's championship game opposite Belgreen, which knocked off Phil Campbell 55-54 on Thursday night.
The Red Devils (6-14) looked ready to pull off an upset of their own on Friday, leading 9-3 at the end of the first quarter.
The Tigers finally got some shots to fall in the second quarter, out-scoring Vina 20-8. Ethan Davis had seven points in the quarter and Miller added six, helping Red Bay take a 23-17 lead into halftime.
The Tigers then held the undermanned Red Devils, playing without two of their top scorers in Brent Townsend and Morgan McCarley, without a field goal in the third quarter.
Justin Page scored nine points in the quarter as Red Bay out-scored the Devils 20-2 to open up a 43-19 lead.
Page finished with 10 points, and Jesse James and Brandon Brown each added eight. Davis had seven, and Grant Fancher and Chris Frame each added six.
Anthony Hester and B.J. Beard each had nine points to lead Vina.
Beard hit three three-pointers in the first half.
In other action on Friday:
Varsity girls
Red Bay 69 Tharptown 31
Morgan Duncan had 18 points and Brittany Scott added 16 as Red Bay cruised past the shorthanded Lady Wildcats and into last night's finals.
Tharptown (10-10) dressed only five players for the game, and the Lady Tigers (13-7) quickly took control. Duncan scored nine points in the first quarter, including a three-pointer and a three-point play as part of an 8-0 run that gave Red Bay an 18-4 lead.
The Lady Tigers led 22-7 after one quarter.
Scott took over in the second quarter, scoring all 16 of her points as the Lady Tigers extended the lead to 45-19 by halftime.
Chelsey McWilliams and Kirstin Sharp each had eight points for Red Bay, and Jessica Johnston added six.
Hollie Hines led Tharptown with 23 points, and Autumn Hatton added five.
B-Team Boys
Belgreen 43 Vina 16
Derrick Simmons finished with 10 points to lead the Bulldogs, who advanced to face Phil Campbell in last night's finals.
Spencer Hargett and Josh Quillen each added nine points for Belgreen, and Brandon Hester had eight.
The Bulldogs were leading by five midway through the second quarter when they spread the floor on offense and ran roughly four minutes off the clock.
Hargett scored in the final seconds of the half to extend Belgreen's lead to 16-9.
The lead was still just seven midway through the third quarter before a basket by Jacob Green started a string of 21 straight points by the Bulldogs. Hargett capped the run with a three to make it 42-14 late in the fourth.
Kirby Sweeney and Cody Poores each had four points to lead Vina.
