February started with a two-game home stand with Cordova and Craigmont. The Panthers faced these two teams on the road in January, in which they both lost games.

The first matchup was Cordova on Feb. 1. With Memphis Tigers’ Head Basketball Coach Josh Pastner in attendance, junior Anthlon Bell would have a strong first half as he scored 19 points, his only points in the game, and the Panthers led 33-24 at the half. In the third quarter, freshman Chris Chiozza would also shine as he scored 11 points, his only points in the game. The fourth quarter, on the other hand, was very difficult for the Panthers. They couldn’t score, as Cordova surged back, but junior Latrell Cunningham got very crucial free throws, which closed a Bartlett 52-48 win.

Homecoming night would set the scene on Feb. 4, as Craigmont came into town. It would be a close game through three quarters, with the score tied at 49. The Panthers would pull away early in the fourth, leading by as much as 10, but once again couldn’t score late in the game. In the last two minutes, Bartlett had difficulty getting the ball in the front court with the tenacious Craigmont defense breathing down their necks, which raised the totals of Bartlett turnovers and Craigmont points. The Chiefs would manage to send the game into overtime and win the game 74-70. Bell led with 23 points.

The Panthers would take their final road trip of the regular season on Feb. 8, as they traveled up Highway 51 to face the Millington Trojans. The Panthers would would dominate in the first half, but without the exploits of junior Marquarius Boddie, senior Corey Hopkins, and junior Jeffery Dockett. In the second half, they would play and made up for the lost time as Bartlett cruised to 77-49 win.

Bartlett would close out their District 14-AAA regular season schedule at home on Feb. 11 as Raleigh-Egypt would come to Farley Gym. The game would be close throughout, unlike their last meeting in January. Once again, the Panthers would play an overtime game, but this time ended up on top with a 62-61 victory.

The final regular season would be Senior Night on Feb. 15 as the Panthers played against the home-schooling FCA Nighthawks. It would be a special night for Hopkins and Jonathon Withers, as they were the lone seniors on a mostly junior-class team. It was a slow first half, but from then on it would be all Panthers, as they would win 71-41. Hopkins and Withers both scored 5 points, with Bell leading with 22.

Girls’ Basketball

On Feb. 1, the girls played Cordova, and looked to avenge their loss on the road in January. This game was a far comparison from that last matchup. With junior Destiny James and freshman Shondria Scruggs leading the way, the Lady Panthers would cruise to a 66-51 win. James led with 17 points and Scruggs had 14.

Craigmont would travel to Farley Gym on Feb. 4. Just like the boys’ game, it was close from beginning to end.

With the score Craigmont 54-52, Bartlett had the ball with 4.8 seconds left.

James sets the strategy of the next play: “We wanted [junior] Toni [Chunn] to get it in and throw it long and see who can an open shot.” Sure enough, someone got the open shot, and sure enough it was James.

James drove into the basket and got the game-tying layup and foul with no time remaining. She would get the game-winning free throw and the Lady Panthers would prevail with a 55-54 win.

Their next game would be at Millington on Feb. 8 as they faced the Lady Trojans. It was another close matchup from beginning to end, like their last meeting in Farley in January. Also in that game in January, the Lady Panthers would make a furious comeback to win, and they would do the same thing in Millington, as they won 49-47. Three players would score in double figures: sophomore Tayla Harmon with 12 points, Scruggs with 11, and James with 10.

The final District 14-AAA game of the regular season would be on Feb. 11 against Raleigh-Egypt. This game would be an exact copy of their 71-21 meeting in January as the Lady Panthers cruised to a 78-28 win. Every Lady Panther player who showed up would score, expect senior Bridget Hutchinson, who was out due to injury.

On Feb. 15, it would be Senior Night as the FCA Lady Nighthawks would close out the regular season. Just like they boys’ team, there were only two seniors on the team: Hutchinson and Brittney King.

Hutchinson recapped her four years on the girls’ team: “It’s been very long, but it’s been hard work, and I’ve loved every second of it. I couldn’t ask for anything better.”

It would be a slow start for both teams in the first quarter, especially with FCA’s tough defense stifling the Lady Panthers. The second quarter would be better as Bartlett managed to take the 26-23 lead. The third quarter would be the same as the first, but in the fourth, the Lady Panthers would run away with it, winning 59-49. Hutchinson would score 3 points, King would have 2, with junior Rachell Hughes leading with 12.

District 14-AAA Tournament Preview
The District 14-AAA tournament will begin today at Bartlett High. When you play in one of the toughest districts in Shelby County, you plan to keep an eye on every team.

On the girls’ side, Arlington clinched the first round bye, and will be automatically in the semifinals. This means that Bartlett will have to play in the first round on Friday. The Lady Panthers will play winless Raleigh-Egypt (Lady Panthers won season series). Though Bartlett and Arlington split the season series, coach Lynn Whitfield is not worried about the Lady Tigers until later in the tournament.

Here is the schedule for the girls’ games:

Friday, Feb. 18
3:00 p.m.- #4 Cordova vs. #5 Millington
4:30 p.m.- #3 Craigmont vs. #6 Bolton
6:00 p.m.- #2 Bartlett vs. #7 Raleigh-Egypt

Saturday, Feb. 19
3:00 p.m.- Craigmont-Bolton winner vs. Bartlett-Raleigh-Egypt winner
4:30 p.m.- #1 Arlington vs Cordova-Millington winner

Tuesday, Feb. 22
6:00 p.m.-Consolation Game
7:30 p.m.-Championship Game

On the boys’ side, it seems that every team could possibly win the tournament. Craigmont, who won the season series versus Bartlett, will get the first round bye. Bartlett and Raleigh-Egypt finished with a 8-4 district record and split the season series, so a coin flip was used to decide the 3 and 4 seeds. Raleigh-Egypt won the coin flip, so Bartlett will play their first round game Friday vs Arlington. This prevents a first  round matchup versus Bolton, but does keep in line a semifinal matchup versus #1 Craigmont.

Coach David Owen, who is looking to win his first postseason game as head coach, is keeping his eye on every team playing in the tournament: “This is about as good as our district has been in a long time, as far as parity.” Bartlett won season series against Millington, Arlington, and Bolton, and split series against Raleigh-Egypt and Cordova.

Here is the schedule for the boys’ games:

Friday, Feb. 18
7:30 p.m.- #4 Bartlett vs. #5 Arlington

Saturday, Feb. 19
Noon- #2 Cordova vs. #7 Millington
1:30 p.m.- #3 Raleigh-Egypt vs. #6 Bolton

Monday, Feb. 21
6:00 p.m.- Raleigh-Egypt-Bolton winner vs. Cordova-Millington winner
7:30 p.m.- #1 Craigmont vs Bartlett-Arlington winner

Wednesday, Feb 23
6:00 p.m.- Consolation Game
7:30 p.m.- Championship Game

Note that the top four teams in both tournaments will go to their respective Region 7 tournaments, in which they will be paired with the top four teams from District 13-AAA. First-round games will be played at the higher-seeded team’s home. Championship games will be played at Munford High School.

All Bartlett games are available on KPTR.com. Check the website frequently for any sudden changes with schedule.

Not so much at Bartlett High School.

At Bartlett, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes boasts 93 members who serve the community. This year, they collected money for turkeys for needy families on Thanksgiving.

“We raised $1400 and fed 25 families for Thanksgiving,” said Coach Amye Patterson, the FCA sponsor.

In addition to performing community service, athletes in FCA seek to enhance their spiritual lives.

Last summer, Bartlett United Methodist Church hosted an FCA Team Camp for the Bartlett High School Football team. They worked out and went to chapel, and in the end the majority agreed that it helped the team.

“It was a great experience, we had well over half the team convert on that trip, and it was just fun being with the team all weekend,” said sophomore Matthew Webb.

FCA has started a website similar to Myspace for FCA members called FCAlife.com. To begin FCAlife.com, FCA partnered up with Tangle.com, an online community for Christians, and created a place where coaches and athletes can interact safely with one another.

Also, FCA has introduced OneWay2Play (OW2P), a campaign which encourages student athletes to stay drug and alcohol free. OW2P attempts to confront drug and alcohol use by instilling values such as faith, accountability, commitment, and positive peer pressure so that athletes can perform to the best of their ability.

Patterson said she enjoys heading this club because she likes to see the impact it has on the student’s lives.

“I like watching how young men and ladies have an impact for Christ and show His light on campus,” Patterson said.

At Bartlett, FCA meetings are held every Wednesday morning with Patterson. Speakers come and talk to students while they enjoy breakfast.

“It’s a good way to learn without being in a church setting,” said Webb

FCA offers its support for athletes who want to fortify their faith as well as their muscles.