MONTGOMERY &045; The eight time state champions, the R.C. Hatch Bobcats didn’t waste any time yesterday afternoon. They ran off 13 unanswered points in less than two minutes of the opening quarter, and went on to blow out the Shades Mountain Christian Eagles 84-45.

It was no question of the quest for another championship was in the mind of the entire team. Hatch drained had twenty points with the clock reading 4:46 and before Shades Mountain could score its first points of the game.

In that first quarter, junior Frankie Sullivan exploded, netting 15 straight points for the Bobcats leading to 19 points and four steals in the quarter. He also connected on three of three from beyond the arc.

By the time the clock wound down to end the first quarter, Hatch had built a hefty 36-5 lead. It all but put the game away.

The Bobcats shot a 68 percent form the field in the quarter.

On the defensive side Hatch allowed just one field goal in five attempts by the Eagles. They also recorded nine steals.

Coach Davis opened the second quarter with his bench. They held Shades Mountain at bay as well, as Hatch held a 49-20 halftime advantage.

The Bobcats began the third quarter with a 16-4 run. If the Eagles had any wind in its sails, it was all gone now. Again Coach Davis emptied his bench. Hatch close the third quarter up by 37 points.

Sullivan had 25 points by the end of the third, shooting a torrid 10 of 14 from the floor and five of six from three-point range.

&8220;I’m proud of the guys,&8221; Davis said. &8220;They have worked extremely hard this season.&8221;

Sullivan finished the game with 28 points to lead all scorers. He also recorded seven rebounds and six assists. Senior Calvin Pope added 12 points for the Bobcats, making all six of his shot attempts. Junior Rodney Scott chipped in 10 points off the bench.

Hatch moves to the regional finals and will hit the hardwood on Thursday. Their opponent will be either Lanett or Pickens County. Lanett was the Bobcats opponents in the state championship game last year.

Lady Bobcats bow out of regionals

The young R.C. Hatch Lady Bobcats hung tough for the first quarter of its regional match up with the Reeltown Lady Rebels. The inexperience showed as they fall to the Lady Rebels, 60-38.

&8220;We are a very young team and not use to playing at this level,&8221; said Walter Davis, Hatch head coach.

Reeltown started the game with 10 straight points, but the Lady Bobcats stayed as close as six points and ended the first behind 12-6.

Reeltown would run up 21 points in the second quarter to build its largest lead of the game with a half time score of, 33-17.

Hatch couldn’t mount an attack in the second half and end its season with a 60-38 loss.