Pierce County ended a three-game slate of Region 3-AA action winning its first true road game of the year at Crisp County.
The Lady Bears (3-16 overall, 2-5 region) dropped their fourth consecutive game and 14th in their last 15 affairs suffering a 66-41 loss Tuesday, January 28 to visiting Appling County (14-7, 6-1). The victory, which completed the season sweep following a 64-17 win January 17 in Baxley, was the fifth in a row for the Lady Pirates, who also scored 62-plus points for the fifth straight game.
Appling County’s sweep of the Lady Bears was its first in two decades. PCHS had won 22 of 24 games in the series entering this season including 16 in a row.
Tenth-ranked Tattnall County (13-4, 6-1) stretched its winning streak to eight games after pulling out a 44-33 victory Friday, January 31 over the Lady Bears. The victory completed the season sweep for the Lady Warriors, who won 54-23 at home January 3.
Tattnall County has won three straight in the series and seven of the last eight meetings to open up a 25-7 series advantage.
PCHS ended a fivegame losing streak Saturday, February 1 beating homestanding Crisp County (3-18, 0-6) 28-19 for the season sweep handing the Lady Cougars a ninth straight loss. The Lady Bears escaped with a 43-41 overtime victory January 10 to stop an 11 game losing streak.
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.
Appling Co. ............66 Lady Bears 41 BEARVILLE — Appling County spoiled the careerhigh 30-point effort of the Lady Bears’ Claire Murray with the win.
Murray scored 16 of PCHS’s 20 first half points with 11 coming in the first quarter adding 14 in the second half. She went 11of-17 from the free throw line and connected on a three-pointer.
The Lady Bears rode Murray’s first quarter production to grab a 13-9 lead. The Lady Pirates took charge in the second stanza outscoring Pierce County 23-7 to take a 3220 lead into intermission.
Appling County widened its advantage during the third period outscoring PCHS 16-11 to open up a 48-31 lead. The Lady Pirates closed the game outpointing Pierce County 18-10.
Three other players scored for the Lady Bears. Ansley Hutcheson netted six points while Saharah Minott and Keirsten Jones chipped in three points and two points respectively.
Appling County had a trio of players combine for 51 points led by the gamehigh 23-point effort of Keniyah White, who scored 16 points over the middle two quarters. Erica Clemons (five treys) scored 12 of her 18 points in the final period. Shamiah Barnum finished with 10 points, all in the first half.
No. 10 Tattnall Co. .44 Lady Bears .............33 BEARVILLE — Tattnall County took advantage of a cold-shooting night by the Lady Bears in building a 16-point advantage and holding on.
The Lady Warriors doubled up PCHS 16-8 in the first quarter. They would outscore Pierce County by four points in each of the two middle two quarters starting with an 11-7 advantage in the second period for a 27-15 halftime lead.
Both teams matched their second quarter totals with Tattnall County extending the margin to 3822. PCHS outpointed the Lady Warriors 11-6 in the final stanza.
Murray (trey) followed up her career-high outing with a game-high 14 points to lead the Lady Bears. Caren Drew and Madi McGatha (trey) followed with six points and five points respectively. Layla Chandel, Jones, Minott and Hutcheson bagged two points apiece.
Tattnall County was paced by the 12 points of Jailah Chatman.
Lady Bears.............28 Crisp Co. ................19 CORDELE — PCHS outscored the Lady Cougars by nine points over the middle two periods to get the victory in a lowscoring affair.
Crisp County led 5-4 after one period. The Lady Bears doubled up the home team 12-6 in the second quarter to claim a 16-11 lead at intermission.
Pierce County outpointed the Lady Cougars 10-7 during third quarter action for a 26-18 advantage with Crisp County scoring its only field goal over the last 16 minutes. PCHS connected on two free throws in the final stanza with the Lady Cougars canning one free throw.
Murray led the Lady Bears with a game-high 12 points. McGatha’s seven points were the secondhighest for the game. Chandell, Jones, Minott and Hutcheson netted two points apiece. Drew added a free throw.
Crisp County had two players score five points apiece.
