Drew erupts for 40 points in region loss to Hornets
Pierce County’s Bears suffered three losses including two Region 3-AA setbacks during a busy week of action.
The Bears (3-11 overall, 0-3 region) dropped a tough 72-68 decision Tuesday, January 7 in Adel to Cook (3-13, 1-1), losers of eight straight games, spoiling a careerhigh 40-point night by Joe Drew.
The point total is the third-highest in program history. Buddy Cecil holds the record with 47 points.
Pierce County fell 51-38 visiting Crisp County (134, 2-0) Friday night, January 10 in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
The Bears dropped a 47-39 decision Saturday, January 11 in Darien to Class A DII second-ranked McIntosh County Academy (13-3). The matchup was the first between the two schools since 2011-12.
PCHS next plays Friday, January 17 when the Bears visit Baxley to face Appling County (5-10, 0-2). Class A DII fifth-ranked Clinch County (10-1) visits Saturday, January 18.
Appling County makes the trip to Bearville Tuesday, January 21 for the first of three straight home games. Brantley County visits Friday, January 24.
19 to rally for the win.
PCHS carried a 49-44 lead to the fourth quarter. Drew, who scored 25 points in the second half, netted 13 of the Bears’ final 19 points.
The senior finished with 13 of his teams’ 18 field goals, connected on one of four threes made by PCHS, and was 11-of-19 at the free throw line. The Bears were 20-of-35 as a team at the charity stripe.
Cook senior Tucker Rountree, who came in averaging 16.1 points per game, also scored a career- high 37 points canning 12 two-point baskets, adding a trey and going 10-of-11 from the free throw line.
It was the fifth 20-plus outing for Rountree, who had a then 28-point night four games earlier against Berrien.
Pierce County claimed a 14-5 advantage after the opening eight minutes. Rountree scored 14 of his 18 first-half points in the second period helping the Hornets to a 21-17 scoring advantage to cut the deficit to 31-26 at intermission.
Cook ......................72 Bears.....................68 ADEL — Cook overcame a five-point deficit entering the final period outscoring the Bears 28-- Each team poured in 18 points in the third quarter leaving PCHS clinging to a five-point lead at 49-44.
Brandon Williams and Trent Griffin (trey) followed Drew in the Bears’ scoring column with six points apiece. JiKyese McGauley (trey) and Gabe Varnadore (trey) added five points apiece. Marshon Stafford contributed four points with Ahmad Arnold chipping in two points.
The Hornets had two other players reach double figures with Ryan Thompson scoring 13 points and Ethan Rayburn finishing with 11 points.
Crisp Co. ................51 Bears.....................38 BEARVILLE — The Cougars used a 16-point scoring advantage over the middle two periods to pull away for the win.
Crisp County claimed a 14-13 lead by the end of the first quarter. The Cougars stretched the margin to 29-19 at halftime outscoring PCHS 15-6 in the second stanza.
The visitors continued to widen the margin using an 11-4 scoring advantage in the third period to build a 40-23 lead. The Bears outscored Crisp County 15-11 over the final eight minutes.
Drew (trey) was the lone PCHS player to reach double figures scoring a game-high 19 points. Varnadore (trey) followed with five points.
Stafford and Williams each contributed four points. Dylan Johnson, Gihad Taylor and McGauley chipped in two points apiece.
Crisp County had a trio of players in double figures led by Courtney Oliver’s 11 points. Caden Lofton and Zakenya Dwight contributed 10 points apiece.
No. 2 MCA..............47 Bears.....................39 DARIEN — Secondranked McIntosh County Academy eased away from a 17-all halftime score outscoring the Bears in each of the final two periods for the win.
MCA jumped out to a 10-8 lead after one period. PCHS responded with a 97 scoring advantage in the second quarter tying the game at 17-all.
The Bucs, who scored the final four points of the first half, opened the third stanza on a 7-1 run en route to a 10-9 scoring advantage for a 27-26 lead.
Two free throws by Stafford (four points) gave Pierce County its final lead at 31-29 near the six-minute mark. MCA, clinging to a 34-33 advantage with four minutes left, outscored the Bears 13-6 down the stretch for the win.
Drew paced PCHS with 13 points. Varnadore and Williams netted eight points apiece. Parker White and Ryan Pittman finished with three points and two points respectively.
The Bucs’ Fortune Hicks scored all 12 of his points in the final period. Craig Battle and M.J. Quarterman each scored 11 points.
