MUNFORD — Last Thursday night Bolton Wildcat Head Coach Harold Scott walked off the Munford Gymnasium court breathing a sigh of relief and fighting back a smile.
Around Scott were his players and assistant coaches celebrating with fans and family the Wildcats’ Region 7-3A Boys Basketball Tournament championship win 59-53 over rival Arlington.
While everyone else in blue and black appeared overjoyed, Scott was reflecting on the previous week when his team mustered a third-place finish in the District 14-3A Tournament setting up a tough road for the Wildcats. Bolton was destroyed by the Cordova Wolves 90-57 in the district semifinals.
“I think the kids realize they had to believe in order to win,” Scott said. “That one loss got their mindset right. Even though we were third place, we were still in the hunt for the championship. I felt like if the guys continued to work hard in practice and get that toughness in them, we could do this.”
The turnaround started when Bolton beat rival Bartlett in the district consolation game 90-80. Regionals started for the Wildcats in Hardin County. The Tigers went down 56-48.
Bolton earned a spot in the Region Semifinals and a chance for revenge against the Wolves. The Wildcats dominated this time against Cordova winning 79-64. Next up for Bolton, the Arlington Tigers with the Region 7-3A title on the line.
The contest was close throughout the first half but it appeared the Tigers were on the brink of taking control jumping out to a 47-40 advantage by the end of three quarters. To add to Bolton’s problems, standout junior guard Jaylen Fisher was on the bench with four fouls.
Scott rallied his players between quarters. And players like Archie Bradley, Martavius Wilson, Malik Ross, AJ Jones and Latarius Lloyd responded with a 11-0 run to start the fourth quarter and take a 51-47 lead.
Rebounding and foul shooting helped Bolton outscore Arlington 8-6 down the stretch to earn the Region 7-3A title and host a Sectional game Tuesday night at 7 p.m. The Tigers will travel Tuesday to the winner of the Region 8-3A Tournament Hamilton Wildcats.
Scott and his Wildcats will welcome the Memphis East Mustangs to Bolton. Winners of the Sectional games earned a spot in the Class 3A Boys State Basketball Tournament in Murfreesboro next week.
“We have to go out there and continue to work hard,” Scott concluded. “We have to do what we do as a team, hard-nose defense and play together as a team. I think we’ll be OK.”
Written by Thomas Sellers Jr., special to the Express.
