Varsity basketball season officially tipped off this past week with the Tharptown Wildcats hosting the Haleyville Lions Thursday.

After leading for most of the game and leading by 10 points at one time in the second half, foul trouble led to a one–point loss for the Tharptown girls.

Tharptown led the Lions 8-5 at the end of the first quarter and 23-20 at halftime. The Lady Wildcats extended their lead to 38-32 by the end of the third quarter. Both point guard Autumn Montgomery and post player Savannah Romans fouled out in the fourth quarter as Haleyville mounted a comeback.

Senior Gracie Montgomery led Tharptown with 16 points. Montgomery and Sarah Mansell scored 12 points each. Kaitlyn Simmons added seven points, and Romans tacked on one point.

The Tharptown varsity boys took one on the chin from one the top teams in Class 4A. Haleyville, a team with Final Four potential, came out firing, leading Tharptown 29-6 at the end of the first quarter and 50-11 at halftime. The Lions finally bested the Wildcats 90-35.

Malachi Minor led Tharptown with 10 points.

In other basketball actions, Vina boys and girls both lost in lopsided games to Shoals Christian Friday night. Phil Campbell’s varsity boys opened with an easy win over Vina Monday night, and Red Bay opened the season Tuesday at Tharptown.