Tharptown’s Bailey Motes goes in for the score versus Colbert County in the Times Daily Classic. Motes put up 21 points against the Indians to help the Wildcats win the first round of the Classic, held at Deshler High School.

By Bart Moss for the FCT

Tharptown 76, Colbert County 57

The Tharptown Wildcats held off a second quarter comeback by the Colbert County Indians to win their first round game of the Times Daily Classic at Deshler High School.

Tharptown jumped out to a 24-13 first quarter lead only to see that lead evaporate in the second quarter.  Colbert County took the lead with 2:21 to go in the second quarter, 31-29. With time expiring, Bailey Motes stole a Colbert County pass, sprinted down the court and dished the ball off to Heath Hatton, who hit a floater as time ran out in the second half to give the Wildcats a 37-35 lead. Tharptown would not relinquish the lead again. The Wildcats outscored the Indians 21-15 in the third quarter and 18-7 in the fourth quarter in route to the win.

Max Nolen and Motes led Tharptown with 22 and 21 points respectively. Blake Gray added 12 points, and Heath Hatton had 11 points in the win. Mikey Rosson added nine points for Tharptown.

Tharptown’s Max Nolen shoots versus Brooks at UNA. Nolen led scoring for the Wildcats, with 22 points, in the team’s ultimate loss Monday night in the semi-finals of the Times Daily Classic.

Tharptown 67, Lexington 41

The Tharptown Wildcats ran away from the Lexington Golden Bears in the second round of the Times Daily Classic at Deshler High School. The win propelled the Wildcats to the semi-finals, where they lost to the Brooks Lions at Flowers Hall on the campus of the University of North Alabama on Monday night.

Tharptown jumped out to a 20-9 lead over Lexington in the first quarter and expanded that lead to 32-19 at halftime. The Wildcats led the Golden Bears 50-31 at the end of the third quarter and coasted to the victory.

Max Nolen led Tharptown with 22 points. Bailey Motes added 19 points to the effort. Others scoring for Tharptown were Heath Hatton (9), Nathan Chaney (7), Gabe Lawler (3), Levi McCormack (2), Blake Gray (2), Braden Key (2) and Matthew Brasuell (1).