By Staff
Kim West
Franklin County Times
RED BAY – The first junior girls game of the Franklin County Tournament turned into a free throw shooting contest Monday night as Tharptown's Chloe Lane drained two free throws with 7.6 seconds remaining to beat Phil Campbell 30-29.
Tharptown led 27-22 after Braeden Sellers knocked down two free throws but Whitney Yocum, who scored nine of her 14 points in the fourth quarter, answered with a pull-up jump shot in the lane and a 3-point play to cut the deficit to 28-27 with 52 seconds left.
The final minute was frenzied with both teams combining for nine free throw attempts, three missed shots, a jump ball and a turnover. After Lane was fouled on the inbounds pass and calmly converted a 1-and-1, Phil Campbell had a chance to tie the game when Yocum was fouled with 3.6 seconds on the clock, but her back-end attempt clanged off the rim.
The Lady Wildcats finished 7-of-10 from the line in the final period, while the Lady Bobcats were only 6-of-15. The game, which was tied at 10 at halftime, featured four lead changes and three ties.
Sellers led Tharptown with 15 points, including 13 in the second half, while Lane had 11 and Dovie Ergle and Ashten Wilson, who had three steals, each scored two.
Taylor Scott added eight points for Phil Campbell (8-8), while Amber Chaney had three points and six steals. Sarah Hilliard and Lindsey Jackson each finished with two points.
No. 5 seed Tharptown (5-10) will play top seed Red Bay (13-2) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.