The Pickett County Bobcats’ season ended in a 77-57 loss against the Memphis Academy of Health Sciences Lions in the semifinal round of the Class A state tournament on Friday at the Murphy Center.
The Bobcats were unable to overcome an early deficit as a history-making season concluded.
“Hats off to MAHS. We played a really good basketball team,” said PCHS head coach Joseph Amonett. “We got down 15 and had to fight so hard to get back that we ran out of gas a little bit. It was a physical game, and that’s to their benefit and not ours.”
The Lions scored the final eight points of the first quarter to take a 16-6 lead. They then continued the run early in the second, stretching the lead to 23-6. The Bobcats responded with a 9-0 run spurred by five points by Zach Amonett to cut the deficit to 27-17 at halftime.
“We’re not scared of anybody,” said coach Amonett. “We just ran up against a team that was very physical. That just put them in a position to win.”
The Bobcats cut the deficit to five midway through the third quarter on a jumper by Will Amonett. The Lions ended the frame on a 6-1 run to take a 47-34 lead into the final frame.
The Bobcats were unable to get the deficit back to single-digits in the fourth quarter as the Lions secured their first trip to the state title game in school history.
Zach Amonett led the Bobcats with 20 points. Will Amonett tallied 17 points. Hunter Wattenbarger added 16 points and 10 rebounds.
The Bobcats ended the season with a 22-9 record. The trip to Murfreesboro marked their 11th trip to the state tournament, and first since 2005.
Photos by Noah McKay:
