Red Level’s Tigers bounced back from a five-point halftime deficit to defeat Mobile Christian 57-45 Friday night in Red Level.

In the second quarter, the Tigers held a 19-14 lead when Mobile Christian called timeout with 5:08 left. Red Level did not score again until Nick Nolen hit a free throw with 4.7 seconds left to cut Mobile Christian’s lead to 25-20.

“We made a lot of adjustments at halftime,” Red Level coach Fred Kelley said. “We told them to be more patient and tried to create more movement on offense. We did a lot of standing around in the first half.”

The halftime adjustments worked, as Red Level (9-9, 2-0 in Class 2A, Area 1) outscored Mobile Christian 22-7 in the third quarter. The Tigers quickly came out of the intermission break and went on an 8-2 run to take a 28-27 lead with 5:30 left in the third.

The Leopards were able to move back in front when Taylor Hardy hit one of two free throws to put Mobile Christian ahead 30-28 with 4:41 left in the third. At the time, Red Level had committed six fouls and Mobile Christian had only committed two.

“We got into foul trouble some in the game tonight,” Kelley said. “But our bench players really stepped up when they had to play.”

After Hardy’s free throw, the Tigers put together a 12-2 run to end the third quarter and take a 42-32 lead heading into the fourth. Red Level stretched its lead to 15 points at one point in the fourth quarter, and the Leopards got no closer than eight points the rest of the way.

“This was probably our best overall game all year,” Kelley said. “Mobile Christian is very talented and well coached, and we were fortunate to play hard and make some shots. This is what it’s all about. The kids are finally starting to see how the pieces fit into the puzzle.”

Preston Ryce and Troy Nolen each scored 18 points to lead Red Level. James Feagin and Tyler Paulk added six each.

Hardy scored 15 points to lead Mobile Christian.

Red Level will travel to play Flomaton on Tuesday evening.

“It’s been up and down this season, but we’re happy to be 2-0 in area,” Kelley said. “We know Flomaton will be a tough game, so we’ve got to keep playing hard.”

Red Level girls 37,

Mobile Christian girls 33 (OT)

Despite facing an eight-point deficit at one point in the fourth quarter, the Lady Tigers were able to hang on for a hard-fought 37-33 overtime victory over Mobile Christian.

Red Level (3-11, 2-0) trailed 29-24 with a minute left in the game before using its defense to come back and send it to overtime.

A Lady Tiger stole the ball and Koneshia Calloway hit a 3-pointer with 56 seconds left to cut Mobile Christian’s lead to 29-27. On the Lady Leopards’ next possession, Red Level’s Lania Paulk stole the ball at half court and eventually scored on a short bank shot with 35 seconds left.

Mobile Christian missed a lay up that would have won the game in regulation with 15 seconds left.

“My girls stepped it up late in the game,” Red Level coach Delores Douglas said. “We started protecting the ball more, and also created some turnovers of our own. We did a better job of working the ball inside tonight, even though we missed several short shots and lay ups. But we were fortunate to do enough to get the win, and I couldn’t be happier for them.”

In overtime, the teams traded baskets and free throws before Kieria Coleman hit a lay up with 30 seconds left to put Red Level ahead 35-33. The Lady Tigers sealed the victory when Calloway hit two free throws with 12 seconds left.

Calloway led Red Level with 11 points and Paulk finished with eight. Coleman and Kim Perdue each added six.

Kristen Johnson led the Lady Leopards with 11 points.