Phil Campbell girls fall to Mars Hill
By Staff
Mike Self, FCT Sports Editor
RED BAY – Red Bay's girls made quick work of Cherokee on Thursday night in the semifinals of the Class 2A, Area 16 Tournament, cruising to a 68-23 win.
The Lady Tigers reached the 20-win mark on the season and advanced to face No. 6 Mars Hill (21-10) in Saturday's finals.
Brittany Scott got Red Bay (20-9) off to a good start, scoring the Lady Tigers' first 11 points as they built an early nine-point lead.
Morgan Duncan had 10 points in an 18-1 run by Red Bay that made it 30-4 early in the second quarter.
The Lady Tigers led 32-12 at the half, but they were just getting warmed up.
Red Bay made seven three-pointers in the second half, including four by Taylor Hester, and coasted to their third win of the season over Cherokee.
Duncan finished with a game-high 17 points, and Scott added 13. Hester had 12, and Chelsey McWilliams added seven.
Red Bay clinched a sub-regional berth and was set to face Mars Hill for the fourth time this season in last night's championship game.
The Lady Panthers won the first two meetings before Red Bay prevailed 38-35 on January 23.
In other action on Thursday:
Mars Hill 78 Phil Campbell 48
Sarah Bailey had 26 points to lead four players in double figures as Mars Hill advanced to the finals of the Class 2A, Area 16 tournament.
Caitlin Stancil scored 25 points to lead the Lady Bobcats.
Bailey had 10 points and Sarabeth Little added nine in the first quarter as Mars Hill raced out to a 25-15 lead.
Chasity Morgan opened the second quarter with a basket to trim the lead to eight, but Mars Hill responded with a 14-5 run to push the lead to 39-22.
Bailey capped off her 20-point first half with a steal and layup in the final seconds, giving Mars Hill a 45-26 halftime lead.
Bailey had two more baskets early in the second half to spark a 10-3 run by Mars Hill that made it 55-29.
The Lady Panthers led 60-35 at the end of the third quarter.
Little finished with 18 points, and Faith Landers added 14. Brooke Willis had 12.
Morgan had nine points for Phil Campbell (10-18), and Kayla Herring added five.
