County boys play busy week of basketball
Mikey Rosson, Tharptown, puts the ball up versus Lawrence County in the Bracy Invitational.
By Bart Moss for the FCT
Tharptown 82, Russellville 57 (Regular Season)
The Tharptown Wildcats powered their way past the Russellville Golden Tigers in the second quarter and held on for the win against their 5A in-county rival, 82-57.
Tharptown led Russellville 18-12 at the end of the first quarter. The Wildcats outscored the Golden Tigers 24-10 in the second to take a 42-22 halftime lead. The Wildcats led by as many as 28 in the game.
Bailey Motes led all scorers, piling up 30 points for Tharptown. Blake Gray and Max Nolen chipped in 17 points and 16 points respectively. Others scoring for Tharptown were Heath Hatton (8), Mikey Rosson (4), Gabe Lawler (3), Zack Wilson (2), and Nathan Chaney (2).
Josh Seal and Adonis Bailey led Russellville with 18 points and 17 points respectively. Others scoring for the Golden Tigers were Austin Stidham (7), Taylor Vincent (6), Avery Sears (6) and Devin Buckhalter (3).
Tharptown 73, West Limestone 66 (Bracy Invitational at Deshler)
Almost pinpoint precision free-throw shooting led the Tharptown Wildcats past the defending 4A state champions West Limestone last week in the Bracy Invitational at Deshler High School. The Wildcats shot 17 of 19 from the line in the second half and 13 of 15 in the fourth quarter en route to the 73-66 win.
Tharptown led 19-15 at the end of the first quarter but had squandered that lead by halftime as West Limestone took a 36-34 lead into the locker room. The Wildcats outscored West Limestone 13-11 in the third quarter and 26-19 in the fourth quarter to get the win.
Nolen and Motes scored 24 points each for Tharptown. Gray added 15 points. Hatton scored seven points, and Rosson chipped in three points.
Lawrence County (Tennessee) 84, Tharptown 81 (Bracy Invitational at Deshler HS)
The Tharptown Wildcats led Lawrence County, Tennessee by two points with four seconds left on the clock. The Wildcats fouled a Lawrence County guard as he penetrated the lane. The shooter missed his first free throw, seemingly giving Tharptown the win. The shooter intentionally missed his second free throw, and the rebound fell into the waiting arms of Lawrence County’s big man, who got the put-back to tie the game and send it into overtime. From there the Wildcats were never able to regain their momentum, losing 84-81.
Lawrence County led by as many as 15 in the fourth quarter, but the Wildcats were able to fight back and take the lead with just over two and half minutes left in regulation.
Motes led Tharptown with 29 points. Nolen and Gray added 19 and 18 points, respectively. Others scoring for the Wildcats were Hatton (6), Rosson (4), Chaney (3), and Matthew Brasuell (2).
Red Bay 47, Cherokee 42 (Waterloo Christmas Tournament)
The Red Bay Tigers mounted a strong come-from-behind effort to defeat the Cherokee Indians in the Waterloo Christmas Tournament this week, 47-42.
Red Bay trailed 19-13 at halftime but outscored Cherokee 12-9 in the third quarter and 13-10 in the fourth quarter to take the win.
Gath Weatherford led Red Bay with 17 points. Others scoring for the Tigers were Chandler Allen (8), Peyton Green (8), Levi McNatt (6), Tanner Nichols (2), Colton Corum (2) and Dylan Pearson (2).
