Lady Bobcats fall in overtime in Top Five matchup

After defeating the Mars Hill Panthers in double overtime in the opening game of the Keith Davis Memorial Tournament at Lauderdale County High School, the Bobcats were matched up with fellow Class 3A top five opponent Susan Moore.

With No. 3 Susan Moore ranked just one spot ahead of the No. 4 Bobcats, it would be a good gauge to see where the Bobcats stood as they aimed to make a return trip to the Final Four in a higher classification, as compared to their 2018 performance in Class 2A.

At first it didn’t look good for the Bobcats, who trailed by as many as 16 points.

Phil Campbell started to claw their way back into the ball game bit by bit, cutting Susan Moore’s lead to 36-25 at halftime.

“We didn’t play well early on,” said Bobcat coach Craig Thomas. “We got a lot of effort out of girls in the second half; we just ran out of gas. I was very pleased with the effort however. I will brag on them for that.”

Caitlynn Mills scored 16 of her game-high 19 points in the second half off of five three-pointers, including the game-tying three to send the game into overtime.

Kallie Allen, who followed Mills with 17 points, was in foul trouble much of the second half and fouled out early in the overtime period.

Abby Davis added 14 points for the Bobcats. Trinity Vandiver scored seven points, all of which came in the fourth quarter and overtime. Mackenzie Scott scored four points, and Katie Thomas had three points.

“We made some mental mistakes in overtime, and that was my fault,” Coach Thomas added. “They had some big post players you have to guard, or they will make you pay.”

Phil Campbell 61, Giles County (Tennessee) 47

Phil Campbell claimed the third-place prize in the small-school division of the Keith Davis Memorial Tournament with 61-47 win over Giles County, Tennessee.

Phil Campbell led Giles County 19-15 at the end of the first quarter and extended the lead to 30-25 at halftime. The Bobcats began to pull away in the third quarter and led Giles County 48-33 at the end of the period.

Phil Campbell only had five players score, but all were in double figures. Davis led the way for the Bobcats with 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Scott added 13 points and four assists. Mills finished with 12 points, and Katie Thomas had 11 points and six rebounds. Allen finished with 11 points and seven rebounds.

The Bobcats pulled down a total of 27 rebounds in the game.