The Pike County Lady Bulldogs 2003 season came to an end Friday night with a 53-48 loss to regional rival, Calhoun High School.

The Lady Tigers jumped out to an early lead and kept it for the duration of the game.

The first quarter ended with the Lady Tigers clinging onto an 11-10 lead.

Their lead extended to four, 22-18, at the intermission.

"The team really stepped up tonight with their free throw shooting and making lay ups," said LaDonya Williams-Rudolph, coach of the Lady Tigers. "That's what we had been working on and it showed out there tonight."

Pike County fought back and tried to make a run in the third quarter, but at the end of the period they found themselves trailing by seven.

"We did a lot of growing up tonight," said Leroy Bryant, coach of the Lady Bulldogs.

The fourth and final frame became a shootout.

Late in the period, Pike County but the ball in the hands of their senior shooter, Wennica Foster.

"Foster is a senior," Williams-Rudolph said. "She is kind of scary. She has great potential to shut down a team with her shooting and her very aggressive play."

Foster worked her way outside the arch and led the Lady Bulldogs to a 9-0 run, with the three back-to-back-to-back three pointers.

"She got on fire early in the game, but had a cold streak," Bryant said. "She has been our leader all year and she knows how to handle pressure."

As time wound down, she added a late lay in, but it was to no avail.

But, Bryant was able to find some positive aspect in the young team's loss.

"Tonisha Smith did a great job tonight, she's a ninth grader," Bryant said. "Our young team stepped up."

Leading scorers on the night for the Lady Tigers were Jasmine McCall with 20 points and LaShondria Flowers and Bredia Newbolt both with 16 points.

For the Lady Bulldogs, Foster led all scorers with 13.

She was followed by Kendra Lampley with eight, Tonisha Smith and Marla Boykin, both with seven,

Kenisha Foster with five and Tamela Foster with three.

Calhoun will travel back to Barbour County High School, the host of the Class 3A Area 3 girls basketball tournament on Monday at 7 p.m. to meet the winner of the Barbour County v. Central Hayneville match-up.

The winner of the championship game will host the runner-up of the Area 2 tournament and the runner-up of the Area 3 tourney will travel to the home court of the Area 2 champion. Both of those games are scheduled for Feb. 13 at 7 p.m.

The Pike County boys' team lost in the first round of the area tournament in Hayneville Saturday night.

The Bulldogs lost to host school Central-Hayneville 57-46, losing to Central for the third time this season.

Cody Terry scored 13 points to lead the Bulldogs, but he was the only Bulldog in double figures.

Three from Hayneville scored in double figures. Terrell Moorer scored 18 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Jeremy Steele scored 13 and Latravis Brazil scored 10.

Central Hayneville will play Calhoun for the seventh time this season Tuesday in the finals. Calhoun defeated Barbour County 69-48 Saturday.