Pierce County’s week got off to a great start before falling twice during the weekend to the top two teams in Region 3-AA.
The Bears (6-13 overall, 2-5 region) stretched their winning streak to a season-best three games Tuesday, January 28 beating visiting Appling County 61-50 for a sweep of the season series. PCHS, winners of seven straight against the Pirates with three consecutive sweeps, posted a 72-56 victory January 17 in Baxley.
Pierce County holds a 17-9 series lead since 2012-13 against the Pirates, who dropped their third in a row and lost for the fifth time in six games.
Ninth-ranked Tattnall County (17-2, 7-0) rallied Friday, January 31 to beat the Bears 44-38 to extend its winning streak to 16 games while ending PCHS’s streak. The victory gave the Warriors a sweep of the season series after recording 58-39 decision January 3.
Tattnall County has won three straight against PCHS and eight of the last nine matchups pushing its series record to 25-7 since 2012-13.
The Bears wrapped the three-game work slate Saturday, February 1 falling 73-51 at Crisp County (18-5, 51) for a sweep in the season series. The Cougars, winners of four straight, posted a 51-38 victory January 10 in Bearville.
Pierce County closes out the season with two home games this week. Cook visits Friday, February 7 with Brantley County coming to town Saturday, February 8.
Bears ......................... 61 Appling County .......... 50 BEARVILLE — The trio of Joe Drew, Ahmad Arnold and Gabe Varnadore combined for 49 PCHS points nearly matching the Pirates’ total.
Drew (trey) led the way with a game-high 19 points. Arnold (two treys) and Varnadore (all in the second half) each scored 10 points.
The Bears jumped ahead 15-12 by the end of the opening stanza. They added one point to the margin outscoring Appling County 16-15 in the second period to take a 3127 halftime lead.
PCHS pushed the margin to double figures during the third quarter outscoring the Pirates 199 to build a 50-36 advantage. Appling County sliced three points off the deficit over the final eight minutes outpointing the Bears 14-11.
Brandon Williams and Marshon Stanford (trey) were next in the Bears’ scoring column finishing with eights points and seven points respectively. Parker White added four points with Trent Griffin canning a three-pointer.
The difference in the game was from behind the three-point line with PCHS making three more than the Pirates (5-2) and two made free throws (108 Bears).
Nate Davis topped Appling County’s scoring chart with 10 points.
No. 9 Tattnall County . 44 Bears ......................... 38 BEARVILLE — The state-ranked Warriors outscored PCHS 14-5 over the final four-plus minutes to rally for the victory.
Pierce County led 33-30 with 4:51 remaining in a very physical defensive battle. An 8-0 run by the Warriors ended with 1:20 remaining as PCHS cut the deficit to 38-35.
The Bears got as close as 39-37 with 30.7 ticks remaining before Tattnall County shut the door with five free throws.
PCHS claimed a 13-9 lead after one period. The Bears were leading 19-13 with about 1:30 to play in the half. Three turnovers were turned into baskets by Tattnall County tying the score at 19-all at intermission.
The visitors scored the opening basket of the third period. The lead changed hands three times in the middle of the quarter which ended with the Warriors leading 2826 after outpointing PCHS 9-7. A 7-2 spurt through the first 3:09 of the final period gave the Bears a 33-30 advantage.
Varnadore (two treys) was the lone double-figure scorer for the Bears finishing with 14 points. Arnold (trey) was next with nine points.
Drew was held to a season- low five points. Stanford and Griffin (trey) netted four points apiece. Williams chipped in two.
Tattnall County’s Justin McMillan claimed gamehigh scoring honors finishing with 20 points.
Crisp County .............. 73 Bears51 CORDELE — A 16point first quarter lead swelled to 30 points after three quarters as Crisp County cruised to the win.
The Cougars hit four of their 10 threes in the opening period in building a 25-9 advantage. Zakariyya Dixon scored 15 of his game-high 24 points in the first eight minutes.
Crisp County padded the margin by seven points in the second stanza outscoring the Bears 20-13 for a comfortable 45-22 halftime margin.
The Cougars added seven more points to their margin during the fastpaced third quarter outpointing Pierce County 23-16 for a commanding 68-38 lead. PCHS sliced eight points off the deficit during the “mercy rule” final period outscoring the home team 13-5.
Williams scored a season-best 18 points to lead the Bears. Varnadore (three treys) added 16 points with Drew finishing with nine points.
Stanford netted four points while Jamil Strickland and Arnold contributed two points each.
Crisp County had two other double figure scorers with Courtney Oliver bagging 14 points and Caden Lofton finishing with 12 points.
