Let the celebration begin on Log Mountain.
David Teague’s Bell County Lady Bobcats captured the Kentucky 2A, Section 7 championship by upending Knox Central, 62-57, on Friday.
The two teams met back on Dec. 10 with the Lady Panthers coming away with a 20-point victory.
It was a different story in Friday’s title game with Bell County (10-3) fighting back from a 16-12 first quarter deficit to rally to hand Knox Central (10-3) a five-point loss.
“It was a battled,” Teague said. “Both teams played hard and it was a game of runs at times. I was proud of our kids with the way they stepped up and made plays when we needed it.”
The Lady Bobcats battled to take a 35-31 lead at halftime before holding a 49-44 advantage entering the fourth quarter.
Gracie Jo Wilder led Bell County with 27 points, scoring eight points in the first quarter, nine points in the second frame, while adding eight more points in the third quarter and two points in the fourth quarter.
The Lady Bobcats secured the win by hitting 9-of-11 free throw attempts in the fourth quarter while Mataya Ausmus scored five of her one points in the final period of play while Kairi Lamb scored four points, and finished the game with five. Lauren McGeorge turned in a 15-point scoring effort.
Halle Collins led all scorers with 28 points. She also had 12 rebounds, and three assists while McKenzie Hensley added 15 points.
