PCHS basketball teams make solid start to season

Phil Campbell boys team starts basketball season undefeated

The Phil Campbell Bobcats got off to a hot start with three straight wins week but lived on the edge with a buzzer-beater three pointer to beat Phillips, an overtime win at Cherokee, and another close, down-to-the wire win at Belmont.

Trailing for much of the game, Phil Campbell closed out a back-and-forth fourth quarter with Phillips with a desperation three-pointer by Austin Elliott that hit nothing but net to beat the Bears 53–52.

In just the last minute, Phil Campbell led by two before Phillips hit a corner three to go up by one point with just over 30 seconds to go in the game.

The Bobcats went the length of the court and missed a threepointer, giving the ball back to the Bears who were fouled as they went in for a layup.

The Bears made the first free throw to go up by two points but missed the second shot, allowing Elliot to grab the rebound, dribble the length of the court and heave up the game winner while defended by two players.

Phillips jumped out to a 17–9 lead in the first quarter, but the Bobcats cut the lead to 28–24 at halftime and took the lead by the end of the third quarter, 35–33.

Elliott led Phil Campbell with 19 points. He scored 13 of his 19 points in the second half. He was followed by Logan Wright with 18 points, all coming in the first half, including two second quarter three-pointers.

Hayden Wingo added nine points, Madden Welch four points, Bailey Nix two points and Shooter Motes earned one point.

Phil Campbell 60, Cherokee 52 (OT)

Phil Campbell had to go to overtime to beat Cherokee in the season opener, 60–52.

Phil Campbell jumped out to a 15–10 first quarter lead and led 21–17 at halftime. The Bobcats maintained a 31–27 lead by the end of the third quarter. Cherokee outscored Phil Campbell 21–17 in the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime. The Bobcats dominated the extra period, outscoring the Indians 12–4 to win.

Austin Elliott led Phil Campbell with 17 points, followed by Hayden Wingo with 15 points and Madden Welch with 12 points. Brady Williams added six points, Logan Wright four points, Bailey Nix four points (all in overtime) and Isaac Duboise with two points.

Phil Campbell 51, Belmont (MS) 45 Phil Campbell got another big win on the road, beating Belmont (Miss.) 51–45 in a game that was tight throughout.

Belmont led Phil Campbell 12–7 at the end of the first quarter, but the Bobcats cut into that lead in the second quarter to trail 30–28 at the half. Belmont’s lead got even slimmer by the end of the third quarter, 43–42. Phil Campbell shut down the Cardinals in the fourth quarter, outscoring them 9–2 to get the win.

Hayden Wingo and Logan Wright led the Bobcats with 13 points each. Wingo scored 11 of his 13 points in the second quarter. Austin Elliott scored 12 points. Shooter Motes hit a pair of threes to score six points. Madden Welch added four points, and Isaac Duboise got three points.

Phil Campbell girls basketball team off to solid start The Phil Campbell varsity girls basketball team got their season off to a good start last week, winning two-out-of-three games.

Macy Hardy and Leela Baker accounted for 40 of the Bobcats 50 points in a 50–27 win over Cherokee.

Phil Campell started slow, leading the Indians 11–6 at the end of the first quarter, but extended their lead to 28–14 at halftime and 45–16 by the end of the third quarter.

Hardy led the Bobcats with 23 points, scoring nine points in each of the second and third quarters. Baker added 17 points. Lily Stewart scored four points. Kaylie Motes and Sidda Rogers added three points each.

Phil Campbell 63, Phillips 35 Macy Hardy hit five three-pointers and scored 28 points to lead Phil Campbell to a win over Phillips, 63–35.

The Bobcats opened up a 16–6 lead in the first quarter and extended the lead to 26–11 at halftime. Phil Campbell built their lead to 44–26 by the end of the third quarter.

Belmont (Miss.) 60, Phil Campbell 25 Phil Campbell struggled against the defending Class 3A Mississippi state champions, losing 60–25.

Macy Hardy led Phil Campbell with 11 points, followed by Leela Baker with nine points, Sidda Rogers with three points and Mia Ambrosio with two points.