COLONELS OUSTED

 Whitley County saw its most successful season in recent years come to an end Wednesday night with a 59-43 loss to the Bell County Bobcats in the first-round of the 13^th Region Basketball Tournament at The Arena.

The Colonels got off to a shaky start and never fully recovered. Bell County jumped out to a 15-4 lead after the first eight minutes and made Whitley County play catch-up.

Whitley County (18-10) scored the first six points of the second quarter to climb within 15-10 as senior Jordan Akins scored all six points. The Colonels were within that margin at the half as senior Justin Goins scored at the end of the half.

It was a 11-0 run to start the third quarter that made it difficult for the Colonels to come from behind as the Bobcats led 37-21 before Goins scored the first basket of the third quarter for the Colonels.

Whitley County cut the lead to nine on a 3-pointer late in the quarter, but Dudley Helton’s basket to end the period put the Bobcats ahead, 43-31.

Akins closed out his career as a Colonel with 21 points on 8-of-14 from the field including two three pointers. Donnie Butcher finished his career with 11 points while Goins ended his with nine points.

Hilton led the Bobcats with 16 points while Tanner Lefevers tossed in 15 points and Ben Madon added 12 points.

Bell County 59, Whitley Co. 43

Whitley Co.    4   17   10   12- 43

Bell County  15   11   17   16- 59

   Whitley Co. (43) – Harris 2, Petrey 0, Goins 9, Butcher 11, Akins 21.

   Bell County (59) – Patterson 8, Lefevers 15, Madon 12, Lee 7, Hilton 16, Cox 1.