BEARVILLE — Pierce County picked up its second twinbill sweep of the season knocking off visiting Montgomery County here Saturday on Rec Night.
The Lady Bears (4-12) ended a five-game losing streak trampling the Lady Eagles (2-18) 69-8 for the season sweep in the January 24 opener. PCHS won 53-13 in Mt. Vernon back on December 12.
The 69 points were a season high and the most points for the Lady Bears since a 72-11 home victory January 12, 2023 against Jeff Davis. The pair of 61point victories trail the 68-point (82-14) home win December 11, 2021 vs. Cook.
The Bears (5-11), who had dropped eight of nine since a three-game winning streak including three straight, survived an overtime thriller beating the Eagles (5-15), losers of six in a row, 66-63. Pierce County won the first meeting by the identical score. Three of Montgomery County's losses in the streak have been by five points or less.
PCHS will play three times in the next to last week of the season. Pierce County traveled Monday, January 26 to Homerville to face Clinch County in one of two non-region matchups. Region 3-AA member Cook visits Friday for a 6 p.m. start, January 30. PCHS wraps up the three-game schedule Saturday, January 31 with a date against Brantley County with varsity action tipping at 6:30 p.m.
The final week has Clinch County visiting Tuesday, February 3 at 6 p.m. Pierce finishes the season traveling Friday, February 6 over to Baxley to face Appling County and Saturday, February 7 to Reidsville in a matchup with Tattnall County.
Lady Bears ............69
Montgomery Co. .....8
Claire Murray, Madi McGatha and Isabella Marx combined for 44 points, powering the Lady Bears past Montgomery County.
PCHS scored the last 47 points, holding the Lady Eagles scoreless over the last 22 minutes.
Murray (trey) posted a game-high 20 points in three quarters of action. McGatha (two treys) finished with 14 points. Marx scored 10 points.
The Lady Bears had seven other players reach the scoring column with every player dressing contributing. Keirstin Jones contributed eight points. Patience Smith and Ansley Hutcheson (trey) netted four points apiece.
Saharah Minott netted three points. Jesslyn Moore, Layla Chandler and Azalea Mobley netted two points apiece.
PCHS jumped out to a 16-6 first quarter advantage before limiting the Lady Eagles to just two points the rest of the way. The Lady Bears used a 212 run over the second stanza to build a 37-8 halftime cushion.
Pierce County did not allow a point over the final two periods. The Lady Bears used a 24-0 blitz during the third period to push the margin out to 61-8. They outscored Montgomery County 8-0 in the six-minute “mercy rule” final quarter.
Tamerly Hansley and Trinity Wideman led the Lady Eagles with three points draining a threepointer each in the opening period.
Bears.....................66
Montgomery ...63, OT
Nigel Brown scored his game-high 25 points after the first period, including converting six free throws in the overtime session to help PCHS escape.
Montgomery County battled back from a 43-38 deficit in the final period to force the overtime period, tied at 56-apiece. The Bears outscored the visitors 10-7 with D.J. Moody scoring all four of his points to aid Brown’s six free throws.
The Eagles led by as many as six in the opening stanza before settling for a 14-10 advantage. Trailing 17-12 early in the second quarter, PCHS outscored the visitors 19-6 to the break to take a 31-23 halftime lead.
Montgomery County sliced three points off the deficit during the third period, outscoring the Bears 15-12 to climb to within 43-38. The Eagles’ surge continued during the final stanza, outscoring PCHS 18-13 to knot the score at 56-all.
Jaquez Kelly (trey) led Montgomery County with 21 points, including 12 during the fourth quarter rally. Elijah McEwen (trey) contributed 12 points.
Photo By RICK HEAD
