Bobcats take down Bulldogs
By Bart Moss / For the FCT
Phil Campbell’s Rhett Benford and Joe Hardy suffered injuries early in the season and spent much of the first half of the season trying to get healthy enough to play. The injuries took a toll on the Bobcats, but the two players played a big role in handing the Belgreen Bulldogs their first home loss of the season last week, 58-50.
It would be the first of two very similar losses the Bulldogs would suffer to county teams in a week. Belgreen lost at Tharptown two days later, 56-50.
With the game tied with 40 seconds to remaining, the Bobcats sent guard Peyton Thomas into the post to get a high percentage shot or get fouled – which could send him to the free throw line. Instead, Thomas kicked the ball out to Hardy, who hit what would be the game-winning three-point shot.
“Peyton made a perfect read,” said Phil Campbell coach Brett Thomas. “He saw Joe wide open on the perimeter, got the ball out to him, and he sank the shot.”
The Bobcats made a concerted effort to slow the game down and not get into a high scoring affair they probably couldn’t sustain. The strategy worked, keeping the game in the 50s.
“We played a great defensive game,” said Thomas. “We didn’t need the game getting into the 70s. It would be hard for us to keep up at that pace.
“We tried to control the tempo rather than letting them control it. Having Joe back helped us big on the defensive front, as well having him hit the big shot.”
Belgreen jumped out to a 20-13 lead in the first quarter. The Bobcats came back in the second quarter, outscoring Belgreen 19-9 to take a 32-29 first-half lead. The third quarter pace favored the Bulldogs, as they outscored the Bobcats 22-21 to cut Phil Campbell’s lead to 53-51 going into the fourth quarter. The scoring pace slowed down significantly in the final quarter, with Phil Campbell outscoring Belgreen 8-7 to hang on for the win.
Thomas led all scorers with 22 points. Benford scored 18 points, hitting four three-pointers. Hardy added 10 points, including the late three to win the game. Nate Owens added four points, Brody Nix three points, Daniel Smith two points and Cody Cothum two points.
Phil Campbell hit 10 three pointers, six of which came in the second half.
Jacob Mayberry led Belgreen with 20 points. Belgreen’s big man Mason Bragwell was held scoreless in the first half and finished the game with 10 points. Brant Bragwell, who has been having some knee issues, added nine points. Graven Taylor finished the game with six points, Seth Taylor five points, Peyton Scott four points, Eli Hiser two points and Ashlee Britton two points.
The Bulldogs were 5-for-13 from the free throw line.
Varsity girls: Phil Campbell 68, Belgreen 30
The Phil Campbell girls basketball team had no problem defeating the Belgreen Bulldogs 68-30.
Phil Campbell took a quick 17-6 first quarter lead and extended that lead to 41-19 at halftime. The Bobcats widened the gap to 63-23 in the third quarter on the way to the route.
Kallie Allen led Phil Campbell with 16 points. Abby Davis followed with 12 points and Dakota Elliott with 10 points. Caitlyn Mills finished with nine points, Darby Elliott with seven points, Chloe Roberson with five points, Carley Nix with three points, Emily Swinney with three points and Megan Bullock with two points.
Emma Dempsey led Belgreen with 12 points. Gracie Dempsey added seven points, Camie Terrell six points, Jasmine Martin five points, Autumn Bragwell three points, Emma Willingham three points and Megan Smith one point.
