Bobcats prevail against East Franklin 38-23

By Staff
Kim West
Franklin County Times
RED BAY – The tandem of David Elam and Jake Dill sparked a first-quarter run that put East Franklin into a deep hole Monday night as the Phil Campbell A-boys advanced to the second round of the Franklin County Tournament with a 38-23 win over the Rebels.
Elam and Dill scored all of Phil Campbell's first quarter points and helped the Bobcats hold East Franklin without a field goal until two minutes into the second period. Elam drilled two 3-pointers and Dill had two layups and a putback during a 12-1 run in the first quarter.
In the second quarter Rick Miller netted the Rebels' first field goal and also hit a jumper, while Corey Alexander converted 3-of-4 free throws during a 7-4 run for East Franklin but Phil Campbell still led 23-11 at halftime.
East Franklin stayed with the Bobcats but couldn't shrink their lead in the fourth as Trevor Hodge drove the lane for a score, Alexander stole a pass and made a layup and Miller added a late jumper for the Rebels. But Elam knocked down another 3-pointer, Ryan Champion hit a wide-open layup and Jeremy Reed forced a turnover for an easy basket to preserve the win for Phil Campbell.
Elam led the Bobcats with 14 points, while Dill had 10 and Champion added five. Reed (4), Wright (3) and Hall (2) also scored for Phil Campbell.
Alexander and Miller paced East Franklin (0-14) with eight points apiece, wh ile Hodge had four and Whitten added three.
Fourth-seeded Phil Campbell (6-8) will play No. 1 seed Tharptown (14-0) Thursday at 7:30 p.m.