J.R. Tidwell/FCT Tyler Medina (14) of Belgreen looks to pass around Tra Elliott (1) of Red Bay.

The Belgreen Bulldogs boy’s varsity basketball team has only lost two games this season, and most teams cannot play them close.

When Belgreen defeated Red Bay 49-34 Thursday night in the county tournament, it was closer than most teams have come this season.

“Coach Cash is a good coach and his teams always play hard,” Belgreen head coach Greg Watson said. “I thought both teams played sloppy, and neither offense could get anything going.”

The Bulldogs had pulled out to a 10-3 lead in the first four minutes of the contest.

Red Bay was down 16-3 before a 3-pointer by Tra Elliott got a little offense going for the Tigers.

“We got off to a bad start,” Red Bay head coach Greg Cash said. “A 16-3 hole early is hard to dig out off. We couldn’t get a bucket and we kept missing lay-ups, which has been the story of our season.”

The Tigers had kept it close at the half, trailing 23-14.

Chaney Simmons hit a three for Belgreen with a little over four minutes remaining in the third, and a 10-5 run by the Bulldogs to end the quarter gave them a 40-23 lead going into the final eight minutes.

Simmons and Hunter Childers of Red Bay swapped and ones, and Brett McDowell drained a 3-pointer for the Tigers later.

In the end Belgreen, last year’s tournament winner, was able to hold off Red Bay.

“After winning the county tournament last year, this year is a pride thing,” Watson said. “Our season could be over in three weeks, so every day is a chance to get better.”

Simmons led the Bulldogs in scoring with 13 points. Jake Tittle picked up 10, Chase Landers had 8, Dustin Smith and Brock Hester added 6 apiece, Tyler Medina contributed 4 and Zach Leverett totaled 2.

McDowell led the scoring for Red Bay with 8. Also scoring for the Tigers were Elliott (5), Austin Malone (5), Cole Rooker (4), Austin Humphres (4), Michael Ramirez (3), Ben Hubbard (2), Childers (2) and Austin Sparks (1).

Belgreen will go on to play the winner of the Phil Campbell/Tharptown match tonight.