Final buzzer: Lady Bobcats’ basketball season comes to end

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The Phil Campbell Bobcats won 27 games and were winners of 17 straight, but their incredible run came to an end at the state semifinals with a 64-43 loss to the Samson Tigers.

“They were a really, really good basketball team,” said Bobcat coach Craig Thomas. “Our girls played hard. I really appreciate them letting me come along on this ride because it was all about them. They have no reason to hang their heads.”

Facing unfamiliar teams can be a daunting task. Thomas knew enough to know they were going to have to slow down Samson’s twin threats, LaTascya and LaTora Duff. Entering the game, LaTascya Duff was averaging 30 points per game. Her sister, LaTora, averaged 16 per game playing only the latter half of the season because of a knee injury.

The Bobcats held LaTascya under her average, but she still scored 23 points. LaTora scored 14 points. Both girls have scholarships waiting on them at the top junior college program in the country – Shelton State.

“The sisters were great basketball players,” said Thomas. “They were a little bigger than I anticipated; they were difficult to handle.”

Samson coach Chad McKnight said he was impressed by Phil Campbell’s team.

“That was a very good team,” said McKnight. “We know about the northwest part of the state. We knew they would be fundamentally sound; we knew they would play good defense; and we knew they wouldn’t be intimidated. They didn’t disappoint.”

After a flurry of points by Samson to start the game, Phil Campbell settled in and forced Samson into mistakes. The Tigers turned the ball over 14 times in the first half and 21 times for the game.

“I think their pressure defense hurt us some in the first half,” said McKnight. “But we were able to settle down and make some things happen. I think our experience of being here before also helped us early on.”

The Tigers won the state championship in 2016 when the Duff sisters were sophomores.

Phil Campbell’s Chloe Roberson said that made a difference early in the game.

“I think we were nervous to start the game, and that played a role,” said Roberson, who led the Bobcats with 18 points and eight rebounds – the senior’s best game of the year.

Samson’s goal entering the game was to limit the production of junior Abby Davis. “She is a very good post player, and we’ve played some good post players this year,” said McKnight. “We put Diamonique (Williams) on here and told her not to give Davis any easy baskets.”

Davis was limited to just six points on the evening and was two of 19 from the field.

The Bobcats’ other offensive threat, Kallie Allen, was limited as well, scoring just four points as she was being harassed by LaTascya Duff – a potential 2A Player of the Year candidate – all night long.

The focus on Davis and Allen opened up opportunities for Roberson to get some easy backside baskets, leading to her career-high point production.

“Chloe and Darby (Elliott) are going to be missed,” said Thomas of his two senior starters. “All four of our seniors will be missed.”

For the first three quarters, it was a game of runs. Samson opened up a 15-6 lead in the first quarter. Phil Campbell went on an 8-0 run to close out the quarter to cut the Tiger lead to one point, 15-14.

The Bobcats took their only lead of the game on the first possession of the second quarter, 16-15, on a basket by Roberson. A Davis jumper on the next possession gave the Bobcats a three-point lead, 18-18.

Samson tied the game on a three-pointer by Michelle Duff with 6:59 to go in the half, and that started a 15-4 run by the Tigers, giving them a 30-20 lead with 1:51 to go in the second half. Samson led Phil Campbell 36-25 at the half.

Phil Campbell outscored Samson 14-11 in the third quarter to cut the Tigers’ lead to 47-39 going into the final period.

The Tigers’ length and pressure were too much for the Bobcats to overcome down the stretch. Samson outscored Phil Campbell 17-4 to close out the game.

Darby Elliott scored six points and had five steals in the game. Dakota Elliott added four points, Caitlyn Mills three points and Kaci Harris two points.

The Bobcats return three starters next year – Davis, Allen and Dakota Elliott – and Thomas said he hopes this experience makes them hungry to work harder in the off-season.

“We hope we can do this again,” said Thomas. “We have the leadership and talent; we just have to work really hard again.”