By Andy Brown

GREENVILLE – A 15-point second period powered Pike Liberal Arts School to a 41-38 win against Fort Dale Academy Thursday night.

The Lady Patriots (4-7) got off to a sluggish start offensively in the game’s opening period, but settled in during the second period to carry a two-point lead into the intermission.

“We don’t really have that one ballhandler that can get us into our offense consistently against a man-to-man defense, and that was a big part of our problem in the first period,” Pike Liberal Arts head coach Robert Hawkins said. “But then in the second period, we got into a good flow offensively and were able to make some shots.”

Katie Ward sparked the Lady Patriots with nine first-half points after Marlee Tunstill was forced to the bench with three fouls.

“Marlee getting in foul trouble hurt us, but Katie stepped up and made plays for us,” Hawkins said.

After a third period that saw the Lady Patriots outpace the Lady Eagles 8-5 to carry a 31-26 lead into the final stanza, Fort Dale made a charge in the fourth period and sliced the lead to a single point with 24.3 second remaining to play on a free-throw by Anne Matthews.

But free throws by Ellie Barron and Ward in the last 14.8 seconds of play sealed the win for the Lady Patriots when a 3-point attempt by Matthews clanked off the rim as the buzzer sounded.

“I’m tickled to get this win,” Hawkins said. “To come to Fort Dale and win a game like this is an accomplishment for us.”

Ward and Tunstill led the Lady Patriots with 10 points each, while Barron added nine.

Barrett Leverette led Fort Dale (5-9) with 10 point, while Matthews added eight and Nedra Toulmin Crosby chipped in eight.

Eagles 51, Patriots 21

No. 8 Fort Dale Academy cruised to a 51-21 win against Pike Liberal Arts School Thursday night.

After leading 23-13 at the break, the Eagles (11-3) blew the game wide open with a 14-0 run to start the third quarter. Matt Langford and Tyler Millo helped spark the run with a pair of 3-pointers. By the close of the third period, Fort Dale led 39-16.

A 12-5 advantage in the fourth period secured the win for the Eagles.

Wesley Scott led Fort Dale’s offensive charge with 11 points. Langford scored nine, Chip Taylor added eight and Ryan Salter scored seven in the win.

Rush Hixon led Pike Liberal Arts with seven points, while Tanner Free ad Chandler Avant each scored six.