By Michael Lindsay

The Pickett County Bobcats and Lady Bobcats finished their week in the win column Friday evening as they swept a pair of games against Cumberland County. The Lady Bobcats opened with a 50-41 victory followed by a 66-57 win by Pickett County’s boys.

Girls

Defense was the name of the game Friday evening as Pickett County defeated Cumberland County, 50-41.

A trio of Lady Bobcats scored in double figures Friday as Emmy and Addy Lowe scored 16 along with 11 by Zoey Nicholas. Cumberland County was led by 13 points each from Aliyah Hawkins and Sydney Wilhite.

Pickett County raced out to a 9-2 lead via an Addy Lowe three-pointer with 4:12 remaining in the first period. An Emmy Lowe buzzer-beater gave the Lady Bobcats a 16-7 lead after one quarter.

The Lady Bobcats pushed ahead by double digits (18-7) early in the second quarter before Cumberland County battled back to within 5 points at halftime at 29-24.

CCHS cut their deficit to one possession (29-26) early in the third quarter before Emmy Lowe drove for a layup to put her team back up by 5 points (31-26) with 6:22 remaining in the third quarter.

Pickett County extended their lead back to double digits early in the fourth quarter via an Emmy Lowe and-one to make the score 46-34 with 5:44 remaining. The Lady Bobcats closed out from there to win by a 50-41 final score.

Cumberland County falls to 1-5 and will host Clarkrange on Monday while Pickett County improves to 6-1. The Lady Bobcats are off until next week’s 5 Star Preps Classic, where they’ll face Class 4A Farragut on Thursday at Webb School of Knoxville at 5:30.

Boys

The Pickett County Bobcats got back in the win column Friday evening as they defeated Cumberland County, 66-57.

“We scheduled this week on purpose,” said Pickett County head coach Joseph Amonett. “We played Stone Memorial on Tuesday and Eagleville on the road last night, who might be the best team in Class A. It was a tough schedule, and our kids fought hard tonight and made plays. CCHS shot the ball really well and it was a really good game.”

The Bobcats were led by senior point guard Jacob Amonett, who scored 25 points in the victory followed by 14 from Cole Amonett. Cumberland County was led by 23 points from Sol Sitton.

The teams traded leads throughout the first quarter with the Jets holding a 19-18 advantage after one quarter via a late Connor Rekow three-pointer.

Pickett County took control in the second quarter as they held the Jets to 9 second-quarter points to tie a 38-28 halftime lead.

“Offensively, we were good,” said Amonett. “But we had to get some stops. Our second quarter defense is what made the difference tonight.”

Pickett County held Cumberland County at bay during the third quarter as the Bobcats led 52-44 entering the fourth quarter.

A Lyric Parris basket early in the fourth gave the Bobcats a 54-44 lead with 6:52 remaining, but Cumberland County wasn’t done yet as back-to-back three-pointers from Andrew Dennis cut Cumberland County’s deficit to 56-50 with 4:13 remaining.

Cumberland County pulled within 4 points (61-57) with 1 minute remaining, but Pickett County held off the Jets from there at the free throw line as Nathaniel Cobb and Jacob Amonett went 5-6 from the line in the final 39 seconds to seal a 66-57 victory.

“The resiliency was big,” said Amonett. “We fought for rebounds and the guys wanted to win. We’ve been in this situation before and we were able to pull it out.”

Pickett County improves to 6-2 overall while Cumberland County falls to 0-7. The Jets host Clarkrange on Monday while Pickett County faces Lenoir City on Thursday in the 5 Star Preps Hoops Classic at Anderson County High School.