Sports Writer

LUVERNE – Junior Layton Sanders scored 24 points and pulled down 10 rebounds as the Pike Liberal Arts Patriots pulled away with a 67-55 victory over the Ashford Academy Falcons in the consolation game of the Crenshaw Christian Academy Boys Basketball Tournament Tuesday night.

With the win, the Patriots claimed third place in the four-team tournament. Dixie Academy claimed the tournament championship with a 60-53 victory over the host Cougars.

In the first quarter, the Patriots (5-6) took control of the game early by jumping out to a 11-4 lead midway through the first quarter. After the Falcons cut the lead to four points, consecutive baskets by Sanders increased the lead back to eight points at the end of the period. Sanders finished the opening stanza with seven points.

The Patriots continued to dominate at the start of the second quarter stretching their lead to as much as 16 points at 27-11 with five minutes left in the first half before setting for a 34-25 lead at the intermission.

For the second consecutive game, the Patriots were sluggish coming out of the halftime locker room as Ashford Academy crept back into the game cutting the deficit to just one point at 38-37 with 3:45 left in the third quarter.

However, unlike the loss to Dixie Academy, the Patriots didn’t relinquish the lead as they finally got the ball inside against Ashford Academy zone defense. Pike Liberal Arts took a 46-41 lead into the closing period.

In the fourth quarter, the Falcons cut the deficit to three points before the went on a 6-0 run to take a 52-43 lead with 4:30 remaining in the game. After Ashford sliced the deficit to five points at 53-48, Sanders took over hitting several key shots down the stretch to help the Patriots put the game away.

Other individual stat leaders included senior B.J. Powell scoring 20 points while John Money had 10 points and collected five rebounds in the winning effort. Point guard Michael DiChiara had six points and collected numerous assists.

Lane Sellers led the Falcons with 18 points and six rebounds, while Ricky Darlson had 16 points in a losing cause for Ashford Academy (2-7).

 

Ashford Academy (girls) 39 Pike Liberal Arts 36

For the second consecutive day, the Pike Liberal Arts Lady Patriots dropped another hard fought close game to the Ashford Academy Academy Lady Falcons 39-36 in overtime at the consolation game of the Crenshaw Christian Academy Girls Basketball Tournament in Luverne late Tuesday afternoon.

In the third quarter, the Lady Patriots (4-7) appeared to be headed for a victory as they started the second half on a 10-0 run to take a 26-17 lead over the Lady Falcons. Ashford Academy didn’t score a field goal in the third quarter until 58 seconds left in the period as the Lady Patriots enjoyed a 28-21 lead into the final stanza. Jessica Brooks scored five of her seven points in the third quarter to pace PLAS.

However, things started to unravel for the Lady Patriots as Ashford Academy started to chip into the lead using the three point shot. Pike also hurt themselves by not cashing in at the free throw line down the stretch as the Lady Falcons tied the game at 34-34 going into overtime.

The Lady Patriots took the lead at 36-34 when Rae Pinckard sank two free throws with 3:04 remaining in the overtime period. However, the Lady Patriots failed to score a field goal in the rest of the extra period. Ivey Jeffcoat’s three-point play with 1:25 left proved to be the difference as the Lady Falcons improved to 2-7.

Aubrey Mobley led all scorers for the Lady Falcons with 12 points while Jennifer Wesley contributed 11 points including three three-pointers. Danielle Johnson led the Lady Patriots with 10 points and Katie Sanders finished with eight points in a losing cause.

The Patriots return to action on Thursday, Dec. 28 when they will participate in the Dixie Academy Basketball Tournament. Among the teams playing include Dixie Academy, Bullock Memorial Academy, Lakeside School, Crenshaw Christian Academy and Chambers Academy.