This season has been one of ups and downs for the No. 5 Pike Liberal Arts School Lady Patriots. The Lady Patriots started a new win streak with their second win in as many days Tuesday night on Senior Night with a 44-27 victory over Hooper.

The Lady Patriots (12-8, 7-4 AISA Class 3A, Region 1) opened up a 12-4 lead by the end of the first quarter and never relinquished the lead.

“It was ugly, but it was a good win for us,” PLAS head coach Steven Kilcrease said. “I thought our defense was good again.”

The Lady Patriots committed 15 turnovers by halftime, but they led 25-13 heading into the break because of a stifling defense that the Lady Colts could not handle.

“I thought we ran our offense well,” Kilcrease said. “And you take away those 15 turnovers in the first half I think we could have put the game away a little bit earlier, but we didn’t.”

PLAS pushed that lead to 20 points by the end of the third quarter and by the fourth quarter the bench had been cleared and every player got some playing time.

This game was a must win for the Lady Patriots, as it was a region game. The team is fighting for a good seed in the region tournament and the win helped them get one step closer to the No. 2 seed.

“We needed this game and I am proud of the girls,” Kilcrease said.

Locked away in the importance of it being a region game, the game was also Mary Vance Ventress’ final home game as a Lady Patriot.

“I was proud of how Mary Vance played in her final home game,” Kilcrease said. “That is a good way to go out for her.”

Eady Pinckard led the team with 11 points, three rebounds and two steals. Rebecca Farrar added seven points, six steals and two rebounds. Katie Wiggins and Anna Saunders contributed six points apiece, Josie Griffin had five points and five steals and Kelly Cash, Ventress, Alla Anderson and Shelley Cox each had two points.

The JV girls lost 24-22 to Hooper and Marlee Tunstill led the team with six points.

The Lady Patriots close out the regular season Friday with a region game in Cecil against Macon-East.