Staff Report

TUSCALOOSA – The R.C. Hatch girls’ basketball team has been in a familiar situation to the one they faced last year.

The Bobcats were young, raw and had to travel to advance in the playoffs. Perhaps that’s why they fared so well again.

For the second year in a row Hatch won a sub-regional on the road, beating American Christian 43-35 Thursday night.

Eboni Smith led the Bobcats (9-12) with 14 points and eight steals. Ashley Wilkins scored 10 points with two steals and two assists. Da’Quisha Coleman pulled down seven rebounds.

Hatch will play their first game of the Central Regional tournament at 12 p.m. Wednesday at Alabama State University.