CORDELE — Pierce County split here Friday in the consolation bracket of the Region 3-AA tournament at Crisp County High School.
The fourth-seed Lady Bears (8-17) followed a loss in the semifinals to top-seed Appling County with a 32-23 victory January 20 over tournament host and third-seed Crisp County (10-16). The Lady Cougars had won five of six before falling to secondseed Tattnall County in the semis.
The two teams split during the regular season with each winning at home. PCHS notched a 51-38 victory January 2 with Crisp County posting a 47-25 decision January 23.
The fourth-seed Bears (7-18), who pushed top-seed Crisp County to a threepoint loss in the semifinals, fell 60-55 to third-seed Appling County (8-19), which entered on a three-game losing streak after falling to second-seed Tattnall County in the semis.
Both PCHS teams awaited “Selection Sunday” to see if they made the field of 32 teams for the state tournament.
Lady Bears................................32 Crisp County .............................23 PCHS received a game-high 13 points from Claire Murray and survived an abysmal free throw shooting performance to beat the Lady Cougars.
The Lady Bears allowed Crisp County to stay in the game after a 6-for-27 (22 percent) outing at the charity stripe.
Pierce County held a 9-2 lead at the end of the opening period. The Lady Cougars chipped a point off the deficit by intermission, outscoring PCHS 7-6 to trail 15-9 at intermission.
The two teams combining for nine field goals (two treys). They were a combined 4-for-19 at the free throw line with the Lady Bears going 4-for-17.
Crisp County climbed to within 22-20 after three quarters outscoring PCHS 117. Pierce County pulled away in the fourth stanza outscoring the Lady Cougars 10-3 with Murray (trey) scoring nine of the points.
Isabella Marx was next in the Lady Bears’ scoring column with seven points. Saharah Minott chipped in four points.
Azalea Mobley and Ansley Hutcheson (trey) netted three points apiece. Jesslyn Moore and Layla Chandel canned a free throw each.
Crisp County was paced by the 10 points of KaKayla Alexander (trey).
Appling County ............................60 Bears ............................................55 The Pirates outscored PCHS in each of the final three periods overcoming a twopoint deficit aided by four players in double- digits.
Pierce County had the lead at 14-12 when the first quarter closed. The Pirates outpointed PCHS 16-12 during the second stanza taking 28-26 halftime lead in the nip-and-tuck affair.
Appling County doubled its advantage by the end of the third period outscoring the Bears 16-14 to lead 44-40. The Pirates held on outpointing PCHS 16-15 for the five point win.
Jamil Strickland (three treys) recorded his second straight 20-point outing netting 20 points to lead the Bears. Nigel Brown (trey) bagged 12 points.
D.J. Moody netted nine points off the bench. Amir McKenzie contributed six points with Shavez Warren adding four points. Tymere Monroe and DeMontre Clark each added two points.
The Pirates were led by the 19 points of Aldarrius Howell (two treys). Noah Henderson (trey) followed with 12 points. Nate Davis and Maddox Jones (three treys) each scored 11 points.
