Down and out: Lady Eagles have their season come to an end with loss to Choctaw County

Published 3:00 am Friday, February 17, 2017

Photo/dan smith Bree Griffin of Goshen High moves the ball downcourt beyond Verilyah Keeton, left, and Shakira Doss of Choctaw. Griffin and the Eagles fell to Choctaw 64-56 on Thursday afternoon.

Photo/dan smith
Bree Griffin of Goshen High moves the ball downcourt beyond Verilyah Keeton, left, and Shakira Doss of Choctaw. Griffin and the Eagles fell to Choctaw 64-56 on Thursday afternoon.

MONTGOMERY – The Lady Tigers of Choctaw County overcame a 28-26 Goshen High halftime lead, broke the game open in the third quarter, en route to a 64-56 win over the Lady Eagles Thursday in the first round of the AHSAA Class 2A Central Regional at the Alabama State Dunn-Oliver Acadome.

Goshen led much of the first half, and 27-22 with 1:30 to go in the second quarter, but Choctaw County cut the lead by two points at the intermission.

The third quarter was all Lady Tigers, as they outscored Goshen 23-5 in that period to pull away.

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“We led the first half, but they came back out and outplayed us in the third quarter,” said Goshen  Head Coach Fred Lowery. “They wanted it more than we did and that’s really what it boils down to. They outplayed us and outscored us in the third quarter. Their No. 12 (Jasmine Cunningham) got hot and made some shots that were unbelievable with a hand in her face. She still made those shots. I tell them all the time you have to play four quarters, and that’s what this game is. We lost it in the third quarter.”

Goshen made the regional tournament for the second consecutive year, ending the season at 14-7, while Choctaw, now 16-6, advances to play Monday. Goshen saw seniors Amber Tillery, Taylor Hughes and Shamiya Griffin play their final game.

“I’m very proud of our girls,” said Coach Lowery. “To get back here to this setting, two years in a row, says a lot about them and this team. We had three seniors, and they have been a good group of leaders. They’ve been the backbone. We rely a lot on our guard play with Bree Griffin. She’s just a sophomore, but her sister Shamiya has been a catalyst of this team on the inside. I’m going to miss those three seniors and most of all the leadership they do provide for the team, on and off the court.”

Goshen was led in scoring by Bree Griffin with 29 points and 10 rebounds, Jada Hall added 11 points and Shamiya Griffin scored eight.

Choctaw County placed four girls in double-figures, as Shakira Doss had 18, Destiny Anderson 12, Cunningham 11 and Keyora Smith 10.

Coach Lowery believes the Lady Eagles have a lot of talent returning for next season, and he hopes they can return to the AHSAA Central Regional Tournament.

“To get here two years in a row, losing only three seniors last year as well, we’re still fairly young,” said Coach Lowery. “I think having this experience, being able to get here, seeing what it takes to win here, is going to be big for us next year. I’m just still happy and excited for these girls, to get to come here and represent Goshen High School and the Pike County Board of Education, and I’m just looking forward to what the future holds.”