Sports Editor

LOUISVILLE – The Crenshaw Christian Academy Cougars used a 15-2 run in the final minutes of the fourth quarter to hand Pike Liberal Arts School a 68-57 loss in the second round of the Dixie Academy Tournament on Friday.

The Patriots played the loser of the Dixie-Chambers game in a consolation contest on Saturday, while CCA advanced to the championship.

Point guard Steven Wright gave Crenshaw Christian the lead for good with a 2-point basket, making the score 56-55. Wright then hit another basket, which was followed by eight straight points by teammate Dave Pierce. PLAS could only manage a basket by guard B.J. Powell during the Cougars’ run.

"We got real cold shooting the ball there toward the end," said PLAS head coach Jim Bohanan.

Wright finished the game with 22 points, while Pierce followed with 18. The Patriots placed three players in double figures, with Powell finishing the game on top with 15 and Druid Conrad with 14. John Money had 11 points for Pike Lib.

At first it seemed the Patriots would run away with the contest, taking a 14-2 lead at the end of the first quarter.

"We played a good first half, but after the first 12 minutes it looked like our guys let up a bit," said Bohanan. "I don’t know why, but our players just looked tired. You have to teach a killer instinct and we obviously haven’t done a good enough job in that area and that’s a shame."

By halftime the Cougars had narrowed the Pike lead to just 29-28.

CCA opened the third quarter with consecutive shots to take a 32-30 lead, before Patriots’ guard Layton Sanders tied the game with a short jumper.

After that momentum seemed to swing back Pike Lib’s way.

Jared Waldrop sank a basket and that was followed by two straight buckets by Money. On the strength of a Conrad 2-point shot, the Patriots led 40-35 and then the Cougars were whistled for a technical foul.

Powell connected on two shots from the foul line, but the Patriots rushed the shot on their next possession, missing the chance to take what would have been a nine point lead.

Six straight points by the Cougars narrowed the Pike lead to 42-41 with still 1:52 left in the third quarter. PLAS was able to close the third with two straight baskets by Powell and Conrad and led 47-43.

Then Wright took over, floating inside the lane to nail two shots and tying the score at 47-47.

Down 51-49, Pike Lib made a 6-0 charge to grab the lead. Powell and Waldrop both sank baskets and then senior Chris Campbell stole the ball at halfcourt and raced down the floor for an uncontested layup.

The Patriots held the lead 55-51, but from that point on the shots just wouldn’t fall and CCA was able to haul in rebound after rebound on the defensive end.