Campbell and Cooter advance in Campbell Christmas Tournament

CAMPBELL – The Campbell Camels and the Cooter Wildcats advanced to tonight’s semi-final round of the Campbell Christmas Tournament.

The Naylor High School Eagles fell to the Camels and the Armorel Tigers were defeated by the Cooter Wildcats in Tuesday’s games.

Campbell Head Coach Steve Fowler said he respected Naylor’s team and his Camels “will have to do a lot” of good things to place a W in the appropriate column.

“We’re hoping we can kinda get rockin-n-rollin fairly quickly,” Coach Fowler explained. “We hope to get the ball out and push it down the floor for some easy buckets. I understand Naylor’s team is down from illness. We have a starter out as well and another under the weather. This time of year we really have to watch out for sickness, and this year it’s going around like crazy. It’ll make the game tough for both teams. We haven’t played Naylor this year so this will be a test for us.”

Campbell was first to score with 7:45 left in the first period and scant seconds later increased the lead by three, bringing the score to 5-0 with 7:09 remaining.

The Camels' Drew Fowler was effective both inside the lane and outside Tuesday and put Campbell up by 13 points 16-3, the result of sinking a fine three-point missile from the corner with 4:45 remaining in the first period. Tanner Smart and the rest of the Camels squad all performed beyond expectations.

Campbell continued outplaying Naylor and led 35-9 at the first-period buzzer.

With 3:06 left to play in the second period, the Camels were on top 43-14 and dominated the Eagles game at the half 48-16.

Campbell persisted in the opening seconds of the second half with Fowler’s hot hands dropping two 3-pointers consecutively and the team outscoring Naylor 58-16 with 5:40 remaining in the third.

The Camels carried on in the third when Kennan Siebert hit a three from the corner and asserted supremacy over the Eagles, 75-18.

Campbell took home the win 85-23 and returns to face the Cooter Wildcats Thursday.

Tanner Smart was Campbell’s top gun with 24 points.

Junior McCoy landed 10 total points for Naylor.

In his 11th year at the school and his fifth season coaching the Tigers, Armorel Head Coach Shannon Miller said he knew the Cooter Wildcats would play a fast game.

“Our main thing is taking care of the basketball, maintaining control and going to work under the boards,” Coach Miller noted. “We’re gonna have to get those defensive rebounds.

“If we don’t, it’s gonna be a long night,” Coach Miller continued.

Cooter Head Coach David Mathis said his team had its work cut out for it against Armorel.

“We’re just gonna play hard, rebound and get the ball up and down the floor,” Coach Mathis said. “Hopefully, we’ll come out with a win.

“Armorel is good,” he added. “They play good competition. Their record doesn’t reflect that. But they could easily wear us out.”

The Wildcats bared their claws, drew first blood Tuesday, and the Tigers trailed by seven, 16-9 with 6:15 left to play in the first.

Cooter persevered, led the Tigers at the half and remained ahead 37-22 with 5:16 left to play in the third period.

The Wildcats powered through the third to lead the Tigers 48-32 heading into the final period.

Armorel displayed plenty of guts during the outing and brought the score to 48-39 with 3:27 left in the fourth.

But Cooter responded in kind and blasted two three-point bullets from the outside to lead Armorel 54-41 with 1:52 remaining on the clock.

The game ended and the Wildcats emerged victorious 56-43.

Cooter’s high scorer was 6’7” center Caleb Gunnels, who dropped 17 points for the Wildcats.

Armorel’s Ben Braswell led the Tigers with 14 total points.

The Camels face off against Cooter at 8 p.m. Thursday. Greenville plays Senath-Hornersville, who respectively beat Piggott and Delta C-7 on Monday, beforehand at 6:30 p.m.