Lady Pirates advance to Elite Eight with convincing win

BY BRIAN HAMILTON, Editor

The Pickens Academy girls basketball team secured its spot in the Elite Eight in Montgomery with a 51-11 win over Escambia Academy last Tuesday night. The Lady Pirates played solid defense and shot the ball well enough for a 40-point win over the Cougars.

“The press was effective and I thought we played our best game offensively,” Pickens Academy coach Wade Goodman said. “I thought we shot the ball better than we have. It kind of started out a little slow, but it picked up and we shot the ball with some confidence. It was probably our best game offensively.”

Shelby Lowe scored the first eight points of the game, as the Lady Pirates fed the forward the ball on the block, giving Escambia problems early. With 2:14 left in the first quarter, it was Shelby Lowe, 8 Escambia Academy, 0.

“They were having a hard time guarding Shelby, so we were trying to get it in to her, which would open it up for other people,” Goodman said. “I think that’s one thing the girl’s don’t realize. Everybody wants the ball, but if you can get it into the paint and start getting double teams, you are opening it up for everybody else.”

Audrey Fondren then hit a layup and was fouled for a three-point play and an 11-1 lead with 1:30 remaining in the first quarter. Pickens Academy led 14-1 after one quarter thanks to solid defense and good free throw shooting.

Escambia Academy would score its first field goal of the game when Kelly Polletta hit a jumper to open the second quarter, making the score 14-3. A Britney Fitch layup made the score 16-3 before Polletta answered with a bank shot, cutting the PA lead back to 11.