BEARVILLE — Pierce County opened up the second half of the 2025-26 season splitting with visiting Crisp County in the Region 3-AA opener for both schools.
The Lady Bears (3-7 overall, 1-0 region) ended a three-game losing streak Friday, January 2 with a 51-38 victory over the Lady Cougars (2-8, 0-1) who lost for the third straight time.
The Cougars (9-2, 0-1) improved their winning streak to four games in the nightcap while handing the Bears (3-7, 01) a fourth consecutive loss winning 6253.
Lady Bears ................................51 Crisp County.............................38
Isabella Marx, Madi McGatha and Claire Murray each scored game-high tying 14 points leading PCHS past the Lady Cougars.
Marx netted 12 of her points over the final two periods. McGatha bagged eight points in the first period and had 10 points by intermission.
The Lady Bears built a 13-7 first quarter lead behind McGatha’s exploit. They widened the margin by two points at intermission outscoring Crisp County 9-7 for a 22-14 halftime lead.
PCHS stretched the margin to doubledigits during the third period outscoring the visitors 10-4 for a comfortable 32-18 advantage. The Lady Cougars, who trailed by as many as 18 points in the final stanza, surpassed their point production over the final eight minutes outscoring Pierce County 20-19.
Alayna Bell scored a season-best six points to help the Lady Bears. Sahara Minott and Caren Drew chipped in two points and one point respectively.
Lakayla Alexander led the Lady Cougars with 12 points. Mariyah Chambers netted 10 points.
Crisp County..........62 Bears .....................53
Crisp County was never headed after claiming a seven-point lead in the first quarter in beating the Bears.
The Cougars used a balanced scoring attack getting 17 points from Caden Lofton. Four other players scored followed with a nine-point effort and three finishing with eight points.
PCHS got a game-high 22 points from Nigel Brown (trey) with 17 coming in the second half including 12 over the final eight minutes. Jikeyse McGauley (three treys) netted 13 of his 15 points over the final 16 minutes.
Crisp County jumped ahead 12-5 over a coldshooting, turnoverplagued Bears squad in the opening eight minutes. The Cougars padded the margin during the second stanza outpointing PCHS 12-10 for a 24-15 halftime lead.
The scoring pace picked up over the final 16 minutes with each team scoring 38 points.
Crisp County outscored the Bears 17-14 in the third period to open up a 41-29 advantage. PCHS found an offensive rhythm in the final stanza outscoring the Cougars 24-21 for the final nine-point deficit.
The Bears received eight points from Jamil Strickland (two treys) - all in the last period - five from Chezz Armstrong (trey) and three from Amir McKenzie (trey).
