Pierce County’s Lady Bears sandwiched a pair of road losses to Cook and McIntosh County Academy around an overtime home win against Crisp County in a three-game slate of games.
The Lady Bears (2-12 overall, 1-2 region) suffered an 11th consecutive setback falling 36-31 Tuesday, January 7 in Adel to the Lady Hornets (6-8, 1-1). The victory was the fourth in five games for the Lady Hornets.
The matchup between the two programs was the first since before 2006.
Pierce County ended its losing streak Friday, January 10 recording a 43-41 overtime victory in the first-ever meeting with the Lady Cougars (3-12, 0-2).
The Lady Bears closed the three-game slate falling 34-25 Saturday, January 11 in Darien to non-region foe McIntosh County Academy (7-9). It was the sixth consecutive victory for the Lady Bucs over PCHS in a series that had not been played since the 2011-12 campaign.
PCHS is off until Friday, January 17 when the Lady Bears travel to face Appling County (8-7, 1-1) in Baxley. Clinch County (3-8, 2-2) visits Saturday, January 18 for a 5 p.m. tip.
Appling County comes to town Tuesday, January 21 for the first of three straight home games. Brantley County visits Friday, January 24.
Cook ..........................................36 Lady Bears .................................31 ADEL — The Lady Hornets built a 13point first quarter advantage and held on to beat PCHS.
Cook scored half of its point total in the opening period in grabbing an 18-5 advantage. The Lady Bears knocked eight points off the deficit in the second stanza outscoring the home team 11-3 to trail 2116 at intermission.
The two teams matched points over the final 16 minutes. Both scored five points in the third quarter and 10 points over the final eight minutes.
Claire Murray scored a game-high 19 points to pace PCHS. Madi McGatha and Sahara Minott bagged three points apiece. Layla Chandel, Caren Drew and Ansley Hutcheson netted two points each.
Lady Bears ............43 Crisp Co...........41, OT BEARVILLE — Murray’s 15-foot jumper from the left wing with three seconds to play in overtime lifted the Lady Bears to their first win since their November 14 season opener.
PCHS trailed 5-2 after eight minutes. The Lady Bears bounced back with a 12-2 run in the second quarter doubling up Crisp County 14-7 at halftime.
The scoring paced quickened in the third period with the Lady Cougars outpointing Pierce County 16-13 to climb to within 27-23. Crisp County continued its comeback over the final eight minutes outscoring the Lady Bears 11-7 sending the game to overtime tied at 34-apiece.
The lead see-sawed in the extra session and was tied at 41-apiece when Murray caught an inbounds pass and drilled the game-winner finishing with a game-high 16 points.
Drew joined Murray in double figures scoring 14 points. Chandel, McGatha (trey) and Hutcheson each scored four points. Minott added a free throw.
The Lady Cougars were led by the 10-point efforts of Mariyah Chamber and Janiya Collins.
MCA ......................34 Lady Bears.............25 DARIEN — McIntosh County Academy opened up an 11-point halftime advantaged and coasted in the second half in beating the Lady Bears.
The Lady Bucs stormed out to an 11-3 first quarter advantage. They outpointed Pierce County 8-5 in the second period to take a 19-8 lead at the break.
MCA added one more point to its margin in the third stanza outscoring the Lady Bears 7-6 extending the margin to 2614. PCHS cut three points off the deficit in the final period outscoring the Lady Bucs 11-8.
Murray paced Pierce County with nine points. Drew contributed seven points. Hutcheson and Minott netted four points and three points respectively. McGatha chipped in two points.
J’Kaiya Moore led the Lady Bucs with a gamehigh 15 points.
