BEARVILLE — Pierce County staved off elimination in the Region 3-AA tournament here Monday with the Lady Bears and Bears ousting Cook in a play-in doubleheader.
The fourth-seed Lady Bears (716) handed the fifth-seed Lady Hornets (2-22) a ninth consecutive loss, winning a 39-36 nailbiter in the opener. The victory was the second of the year for PCHS, 4-4 over its last eight games, in the matchup. After falling 53-48 January 9 in Adel, the Lady Bears evened the season series, posting a 36-30 home win January 30.
The fourth-seed Bears (7-16) halted a four-game losing streak in the nightcap, recording the trifecta against the Hornets (1-23), who ended a 27-game losing streak in their season finale against Berrien, notching a 76-32 victory. It was the third win of 44 points or more against Cook. PCHS recorded a 7224 road win in the first meeting and an 85-42 home decision.
Lady Bears..........................39 Cook ...................................36 Claire Murray poured in 23 points with one three-point basket and was 4-of-5 at the free throw line in her last home game leading the Lady Bears over Cook.
PCHS started strong, claiming a 14-12 first quarter advantage. The Lady Bears opened up some breathing room in the second stanza, outscoring Cook 11-4 in building a 25-16 halftime lead.
The Lady Hornets took advantage of Pierce County’s struggles from the floor during the third period, outscoring the home team 12-4 to climb to within 29-28. Murray scored PCHS’s final eight points over the nip-and-tuck final eight minutes with the Lady Bears outscoring Cook 10-8 to escape.
Isabella Marx followed Murray’s lead, bagging five points. Azalea Mobley and Saharah Minott netted four points apiece. Ansley Hutcheson and Jesslyn Moore contributed two points and one point respectively.
Cook’s Jordin Pitts (three tryes) scored 12 of her game-high 15 points over the last two periods.
Bears ..................................76 Cook ...................................32 Freshman D.J. Moody led a trio of Bears’ bench players reaching double- figures, netting a game-high and career-high 17 points to lead the rout of Cook.
Moody scored all of his points over the second and fourth quarters with PCHS starters playing the first and third periods and bench players seeing action in the even stanzas. Pierce County’s starters finished with 33 points with the bench contributing 43 points. PCHS’s rotation ended with nine three-point baskets.
Amir McKenzie (two treys) came off the bench to score a career-high 15 points in two periods. Jikeyse McGauley (two treys) contributed 11 points off the bench in three quarters of action.
The Bears struggled early on with the rim unkind before finding a rhythm, doubling up Cook 14-7 in the first quarter. The second unit drained three threes during the second period in outscoring the Hornets 23-6 to open up a 37-13 lead at intermission.
With the starters back on the floor in the third stanza, PCHS outpointed the visitors 16-11 to extend the margin to 53-24. The bench finished the game, closing with a 23-8 scoring advantage for the final margin.
Starters Jamil Strickland (two treys) and Nigel Brown (trey) bagged nine points and eight points respectively. Starters Chezz Armstrong (two treys) and Shavez Warren contributed six points each. DeMontre Clark, the fifth starter, chipped in four points.
Cook’s leading scorers were Malik Johnson and Ja’dius Wallace with seven points and a three-pointer each.
