Tharptown ends season with win

Winston Nolen scored 35 points to lead the Tharptown Wildcats to a blowout win over Phillips 82-57.

The game started out with a show of sportsmanship. After Tharptown let Phillips score an easy bucket, Nolen dribbled the length of the court unguarded and handed the ball off to senior teammate Hayden Moss for a layup. Moss tore his ACL for the second year in a row in December, forcing him to miss the remainder of his senior season.

After that, Tharptown raced out to a 23-8 lead in the first quarter and led 41-23 at halftime. The Wildcats put the game away in the third quarter, taking a 69-39 lead.

Colton Simmons followed Nolen with 13 points, and Dylan Valdez added 11 points. Edwin Vela tacked on eight points. Hunter Motes and Blake Daily scored five points each. Moss and Luis Valdez chipped in two points each, and Travis State finished the game with one point.

In varsity girls action, the Wildcats annihilated the Bears 76-22.

Tharptown led 14-10 at the end of the first quarter, and from there, it was all Wildcats. Tharptown outscored Phillips 21-0 in the second quarter and 41-12 in the second half.

The Wildcats had four players in double figures, with Gracie Montgomery leading the way at 15 points. Autumn Montgomery and Macy Petree added 14 points each, and Sarah Mansell had 12 points. Brailsy Barbosa finished the game with nine points, Kyndall Morgan eight points, and Savannah Romans and Harleigh Borden scored two points each.