2024-25 campaign comes to a close for local varsity basketball teams following postseason eliminations

Basketball season has come to a close for local schools this week after the three Northwest Regional tournament qualifying programs from Franklin County were eliminated in Hanceville.

On Tuesday night, the Belgreen High School girls’ basketball team and the Red Bay High School boys’ basketball team were beaten; then on Wednesday morning the Phil Campbell High School girls’ basketball team was defeated, as well.

The Lady Bulldogs from Belgreen tipped off around 6 P.M. on Tuesday night against the top-ranked team in Class 2A, Decatur Heritage Christian Academy. Belgreen, led by 14 points from senior Dacota Green, fell by the final score of 57-34.

BHS, ranked No. 8 in Class 2A, led after the opening eight minutes 14-12 but struggled to find the basket in the second period; the Lady Bulldogs were subsequently outpaced 11-3 to trail 23-17 at halftime.

In the second half, aided by Belgreen turnovers and Decatur Heritage finding its range from beyond the arch, the state’s No. 1-ranked team opened up a commanding lead. DHCA jumped up to a 19-point lead after three quarters and finished with a 23-point advantage.

“We came out in the first quarter and led and then played it close til halftime, but (DHCA) is a great team,” Belgreen head coach Chad Green said. “They had good speed, good length, and they were good around the basket. You kinda have to pick your poison on what you’re gonna try to defend, but we couldn’t defend everything.”

In addition to Green’s team-high 14 points, junior Makenna Fisher scored nine and Lilliana Willingham added eight points. Willingham also led the Lady Bulldogs with six rebounds and junior Bryn Scott had two assists.

Belgreen ended its first season in Class 2A with an area championship to its name and finished with a 24-9 record.

“I'm proud of the girls. They had a great season,” Green said. “24-9 (record), won the county championship for the second year in a row, won the area, beat some good teams throughout the season. Didn’t get as far as we wanted to, but I think the girls played good all year. 

“They’re great kids to coach. They’re not only successful on the court but good Christian kids, as well. Proud to be a part of this team and be around them,” he added.

The Red Bay boys tipped off after the conclusion of the Belgreen-DHCA game and took on Tanner.

The Tigers, ranked No. 6 in Class 2A, led for most of the game but ultimately fell victim to a second-half comeback by the Rattlers, who outscored Red Bay 33-25 in the final 16 minutes.

With 2:26 to go in the third quarter, Tanner tied the game up and then a minute later took its first lead since the opening minutes. Through the end of the third and into the fourth period the Rattlers opened a lead as high as five points, but with 1:22 to go in regulation Red Bay’s Khalil Luster hit a three-pointer to tie the game 51-51.

Unfortunately for the Tigers, Tanner’s Daquaylon Malone sank a lay-up to hand the Rattlers a 53-51 lead with just two seconds remaining. Jeremiah Robinson’s desperation heave at the buzzer to win it was no good and the Tigers were eliminated.

Luster finished the game with a double-double, dropping 15 points and grabbing a game-high 16 rebounds, while Jaxon Vinson added 10 points for the Tigers. Connor Humphries led RBHS with five assists.

On Wednesday morning, the Phil Campbell High School varsity girls’ basketball team started the day’s action against Holly Pond, the No. 8-ranked team in Class 3A, and were defeated 40-37.

The Lady Bobcats led at halftime 17-13 but were victims of a second-half comeback by the Lady Broncos, who outscored PCHS 27-20 in the final two periods of play. Phil Campbell scored 10 points in both the third and fourth quarters, but it wasn’t enough to hold off Holly Pond, who hit six threes in the game.

“We played really hard, the ball just didn’t bounce our way at the end,” Phil Campbell head coach Craig Thomas said. “Had a few mistakes here and there and had a few turnovers that came back to bite us. So, in the end things just didn’t go our way.”

Leela Baker, who played all 32 minutes of the game, finished with a game-high 20 points and also led the team with six total rebounds. Senior Macy Hardy led Phil Campbell in assists with four and had a game-high five steals.

The Lady Bobcats ended their 2024-25 campaign with a 23-11 overall record.

“This bunch maybe overachieved, you might say. At the beginning of the year we didn’t know if we’d have a 15-15 season and this group came away with 23 wins,” Thomas said. “They’re gutsy, play hard, and they put everything they had on the line every game. I’m well pleased with the way the season went and proud of this group.”