UNIONTOWN – In front of a standing room only crowd the Bobcats of R. C. Hatch went on a shooting frenzy to put away the Hale County Wildcats 103 – 59. The win sends the Bobcats, along with the Lady Bobcats, to the southeast regionals in Mobile. “If Hatch play at the level they played tonight they will win the state again”, Hale County coach Bob Brantley said. “The Bobcats defense was the key to the many easy baskets they scored.”

The game started with four three pointers, two by each team, in the first two minutes of the game. The Bobcats started with a zone defense, but that seem to cause them to play into the hands of the Wildcats.

“We didn’t want to get caught playing their game, which is a half court set offense”, Bobcat coach Eugene Mason said.

The game was tied at 11 with 4:21 to go in the first when the Bobcats changed defenses, resulting in a Bobcats’ 14-7 run to finish off the period. Senior Billy Campbell scored 11, including two explosive dunks in the opening quarter.

Hatch then stretched their lead to 10 early in the second quarter. “I thought we played a little sloppy in the first quarter, but we put it together in second”, said University of Southern Mississippi bound Fred Lewis of the Bobcats. The Wildcats had trouble keeping up with the Bobcats in the second quarter to fall back by 16 at the half, 49- 33.

In the third quarter the Wildcats were able to stay with the Bobcats most of the quarter but couldn’t get closer than ten points. The Bobcats outscored the Wildcats 22 – 17in the quarter. “We were fundamentally sound most of the game”, Bobcat senior Billy Campbell said.

Both teams emptied their benches a little more than half way through the fourth. The Bobcats hit the 100-point mark with less than a minute left in the game.

“Our team played hard tonight. We’ve had a good season”, Brantley said. “Our basketball program is still growing, 18 games is the most wins we’ve had in a season. We’re working to get to the next level”. The Wildcats close their season at 18-12.

“We’re still working with our players on the team concept of basketball,” added coach Mason after the game, whose teams record go to 23-4 for the season. Lewis scored a game high 30 points for the Bobcats. Campbell finished with 19 points and 15 rebounds, while Frankie Sullivan added 18 points along with 4 steals. Marcus Blackmon led the Wildcats with 15 points. Eric Long dropped in 11 and Danny Collins scored 10.