Tigers take lead in area play
Keith Ledbetter for the FCT
Red Bay’s varsity boys went one up in the area after defeating Phil Campbell 60-57 Friday night.
The Tigers came back from a 15-point deficit at halftime to outscore the Bobcats 22-13 in the third and 19-10 in the fourth.
“We had a good game plan, but we came out flat,” said Red Bay boys’ head coach Matt Noah. “We were not executing well and doing what we have been working on.”
Noah said Red Bay came out in the second half and got rolling and executing on defense which led to Phil Campbell turnovers.
Red Bay Junior Nick Thorn had only two points in the first half, but easily made up for the low number by scoring 12 in the third and six points in the fourth.
Red Bay’s third quarter effort cut the Bobcats lead to 10 points with just over four minutes remaining in the quarter.
Jesus Kelly added a put back to cut it to six, and Dakota Hester’s two point layup left Red Bay trailing by four.
Phil Campbell’s Hayden Bell and Peyton Thomas added a couple of baskets each to end the quarter with the Bobcats leading by a score of 47-41.
Thorn for Red Bay connected for a three-pointer and Isaiah Jackson sunk a three from the side to tie game at 49-49 with just over four minutes remaining in the game.
Jackson again came through with a clutch three-pointer to keep Red Bay in the running and to tie the game at 52-52 just seconds later.
After fouls shots by Bell put the Bobcats up 55-53, Jackson hit his third three-pointer to give the Tigers the lead for the first time, 57-55.
Red Bay’s Kelly and Ozbirn tossed in free-throws in the finals seconds for the win.
“You see it a lot where you win a big game and then there’s a down. For us this needs to be momentum going up because we’re still not playing as good as we can,” Noah added.
Nick Thorn led Red Bay with 20 points, Isaiah Jackson had 12, Dakota Hester netted 11, Buddy Kuykendall scored eight, Jesus Kelly scored seven, Tate Ozbirn had two.
Phil Campbell’s Hayden Bell led with 17, Peyton Thomas scored 11, Noah Williams had 10, Hayden Copeland scored seven, and Michael Robertson added five.
Red Bay travels to Hamilton on Dec. 11th, and to New Site, Ms. on Dec. 12th.
Phil Campbell is on the road to Sulligent on Dec. 11th, and to Addison on Dec. 12th.
