WCHS Wildcats Finish in Final Four, End Season 27-9

The Wayne County High School Wildcats finished their 2024-2025 basketball season Friday with a three-point loss to Memphis Hillcrest in the TSSAA 1A State Tournament. The 'Cats defeated Harriman on Wednesday to advance to the final four bracket. The Wildcats finished their very successful season at 27 – 9. Chattanooga Prep repeated as tourney champion. Cayman Camfield and Justice Bell were named to the State Tournament Team.

The Wildcats began the tournament and game against Harriman as Sayler Skelton went to the foul line and sank two free throws. Harriman answered the score with a 3-pointer just seconds later to go up 3 – 2. The score went back and forth until a Cayman Camfield basket with thirty-eight seconds left in the first tied the game at 10 all. A Will Robertson steal and another Camfield basket gave the 'Cats a 12 – 10 lead at the break. Harriman tied the game at 17 all at the 5:23 mark of the second, but a Justice Bell 3 put the 'Cats back on top. Harriman went back on top and led 27 – 24 at the half.

In the third quarter, the 'Cats gave up three offensive rebounds in the early moments of the period. Justice Bell went to work, making a lay-up and a pair of 3's to put the 'Cats on top, 34 – 31. A Harriman turnover led to a Will Robertson lay-up, and Bell hit his 3rd three of the quarter to put the 'Cats on top 39 – 31. Cayman Camfield and Sayler Skelton each scored a basket to make it a double-digit lead, 43 – 31, but a pair of Wildcat turnovers and two three-pointers by Harriman cut the margin to 43- 39 at the end of the third.

The Wildcats went back on top by 10 and maintained the lead until only 40 seconds left when the Blue Devils cut it to 4. The 'Cats were solid from the foul line and took the win, 62 – 55. Justice Bell hit for 22 points, going 5 of 9 from three, and had 3 rebounds, a block, a steal, and an assist. Cayman Camfield scored 18 points and had 12 rebounds, a steal, and 3 assists. Will Robertson scored 11 points and had 2 boards, 4 steals, and 3 assists. Sayler Skelton scored 6 points and had 11 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 2 assists. Logan Davis added 4 points, a rebound, a block, a steal, and 5 assists. Kace Bryant had 1 free throw and an assist, and Nate Bevis had a rebound. The Wildcats hit 49% from the field and won the rebounding battle, 30 – 23.

Friday morning, the 'Cats matched up with the Vikings of Hillcrest High School from Memphis. A lay-up by Cayman Camfield off a Logan Davis assist with 4:43 left in the first gave the 'Cats their first lead, 7 – 6. Justice Bell added a three to make it 10 – 6. Hillcrest came back and took the lead again, 12 – 10. A Sayler Skelton lay-up with nine seconds left in the quarter tied the game at 14 all. The Vikings took the air out of the ball, stalling, and the 'Cats trailed 23 – 21 at the half. A three by Bell and one by Will Robertson gave the 'Cats a 27 – 25 lead, but Hillcrest answered with a 3 to go back up, 28 – 27. They led 31 – 28 after three quarters. A Will Robertson lay-up with 1:13 left gave the 'Cats a 41 – 38 margin. Hilcrest hit on a lay-up and then forced a Wildcat turnover with 42 seconds remaining. The Wildcats fouled and the Vikings converted the free throws to go up 42 – 41. Another Wildcat turnover and foul gave Hillcrest two more free throws with 12 seconds left to go up 44 – 41. The 'Cats had 2 three-point shots in the final seconds but failed to make them, falling 44 – 41.

Cayman Camfield scored 16 points and had 5 boards and 3 assists. Justice Bell hit for 13 points with a rebound and assist. Will Robertson added 7 points and had 2 boards, while Sayler Skelton added 5 points, 5 boards, a block, a steal, and an assist. Logan Davis had a rebound and 7 assists, and Case Butler had a rebound. The 'Cats shot 48% from the field and had 12 assists on 14 made baskets. In the stalled game, the 'Cats matched the Viking rebounding at 15 all.

The Wildcats will lose four senior players this year: Justice Bell, Isaac Hampton, Will Robertson, and Sayler Skelton. The remaining 'Cats will be working hard to try to improve on this year's finish – working towards that “GOLD BALL!” WORK HARD WILDCATS!---Submitted by Susan Gallian

Photos Courtesy of Heather Warren