MONTGOMERY — It was a close game until the end.

Then the game opened up and R.C. Hatch’s girls basketball team pulled away to win the AHSAA class AA central regional tournament, 71-55, over Lanett High School.

“I think we played an overall decent game,” said Hatch coach John Abraham. “You score 71 points, that’s moving the ball.”

The Bobcats had the lead nearly the entire game, but foul trouble helped keep it close.

In the second quarter, Hatch had to rely on their bench to keep them in the lead, as many of the starters were already deep into foul trouble.

“Our second team guards and forwards did a good job keeping us in this game,” Abraham said. “They did like I asked them too and held our lead.”

In the third quarter, Hatch had to hold off then Panthers early in the third quarter.

Sloppy turnovers and more fouls by Hatch allowed Lanett to come back into the game, but the Bobcats held firm and took a 40-33 lead going into the final quarter.

Tournament MVP Kristy Lipscomb led the Bobcats in scoring with 23 points and Smith had 19.

Hatch moves on to play North Sand Mountain High School 7 p.m. Tuesday in Birmingham.