Red Bay boys win fourth straight title
The Red Bay Tigers (175) entered the Franklin County Tournament as the heavy favorites, and on Saturday night they left no doubt about their standing. With a commanding 74-41 victory over the Phil Campbell Bobcats, Red Bay secured its fourth straight varsity boys division title, capping off a tournament run in which they outscored their opponents by a combined 77 points.
While the Tig ers provided the dominance, the drama of the week peaked during Friday night’s semifinal round, setting the stage for a championship game that saw a tired Phil Campbell squad struggle to keep pace with the Red Bay juggernaut.
Coming off a high-intensity semifinal win less than 24 hours prior, Phil Campbell appeared to hit a wall against the Tigers’ size and depth. Red Bay took immediate advantage, racing out to a 19-9 lead in the first quarter and extending that to 45-27 by halftime.
The Tigers’ “big man,” Khalil Luster, proved exactly why he was named Tournament MVP. Luster led all scorers with 22 points, showcasing his range with three threepointers before bringing the crowd to its feet with an electrifying breakaway dunk in the third quarter.
During that third frame, the Red Bay defense reached a fever pitch, holding the Bobcats to a single point.
Jaxson Vinson was a force in the paint, finishing with 16 points, while Dalton Lowrey added 10. The Tigers’ balanced attack also saw contributions from Bryant Harris (8 points), Davo Colburn (6), and Jaxson Swann (6).
Phil Campbell was led by Austin Elliott with 11 points and Chandler Benford with eight, but the Bobcats could never find the rhythm required to threaten the Red Bay lead.
Semfinal thriller
The road to the finals was highlighted by the game of the tournament, a semifinal heart-stopper between Phil Campbell and Belgreen. In a finish which left fans breathless, the Bobcats erased a deficit they had trailed for nearly the entire game.
Belgreen appeared to have the game in hand after a strong second quarter led by Jake Dill (18 points) and Jonathen Mendoza (12 points). However, Phil Campbell ignited an 11-0 run in the fourth quarter to close the gap.
Elliott, who scored 23 points in the contest, tied the game late after a clutch steal and layup. The heroics were completed by senior Madden Welch, who drove for a layup to take the lead and drew a foul. His successful free throw gave the Bobcats a 46-45 edge, their first lead of the night with only seconds remaining.
Other games
Red Bay 61, Tharptown 17 — The Tigers began their march to the trophy by holding Tharptown to just six points in the first half of this semifinal game. Luster (17 points) and Vinson (13 points) led the way in the blowout.
Belgreen 73, Vina 17
— In a quarterfinal game, Belgreen showed flashes of brilliance behind Dill’s 26-point performance, which included four three pointers, to easily dismiss Vina.
