Brewer's upset bid falls short against AHS

By Staff
Patriots, Lady Pats swept by Athens
Nick Johnston, Hartselle Enquirer
FLORETTE – The Brewer Lady Patriots nearly made history Friday night … nearly.
The Lady Patriots trailed by just one point in the fourth quarter before Athens, riding a 52-game winning streak, was able to pull off a 52-46 win.
Athens completed the sweep with the Golden Eagles beating the Brewer boys, 68-53.
Athens 52, Brewer 46
Girls
The Lady Patriots never led but knotted up with the Lady Golden Eagles four times.
See BREWER, B-2
Athens appeared out of sync early in the contest, missing layups and putbacks, while Brewer was able to stay close.
Jessica Thompson scored the first five points of the game for Brewer as the teams were tied at 5-all. Thompson ended the night with 10 points.
Athens led 10-7 at the end of the first quarter, but Lynsie Lamitie's three pointer at the start of the second made the score 10-all.
Brewer trailed 21-19 at halftime and 35-31 at the end of the third quarter. Thompson's three pointer to start the fourth quarter cut Athens' lead to one at 35-34.
Then, Lakisha Thompson, the team's leading scorer, provided panic in Brewer's team and fans. Thompson, who had struggled to just three points in the first three quarters, hit back-to-back buckets and was fouled on both. Thompson turned both plays into three-point trips for the Lady Golden Eagles.
Thompson's second layup and foul was Athens' last field goal of the game, coming at the 6:08 mark.
Brewer eventually trailed 43-34 with 3:06 remaining, but took advantage of Athens' missed foul shots.
Lamitie's two free throws with 1:30 remaining cut Athens' lead to three at 44-41, but the Lady Patriots could get no closer.
Athens made just 13 of 23 free throws in the final quarter.
Lamitie scored a team-high 15 points, while Brittany Walker added six and Brittney Childers had five.
Athens 68, Brewer 53
The Patriots last led the Golden Eagles 9-8 in the first quarter before giving way.
Matt Rice, Lemont Jackson and Brett Mooneyham each scored 10 apiece.
Brewer trailed 17-13 at the end of the first quarter and 37-25 at halftime. Athens maintained the 12-point advantage throughout the third quarter.
David Champion had seven points for Brewer, while Dustin Scott had six.
In other girls games…
Brewer 55, Huntsville 41
(Monday)
Lamitie had 23 points and Thompson ended the night with 17 as the Lady Patriots improved their record to 15-5.
Brewer led 10-6 after the first quarter and 29-16 at halftime. The Lady Patriots held on to a 40-32 advantage at the end of the third quarter and held on down the stretch.
Childers and Joellen Nay both had six points apiece.
In other boys games…
Huntsville 68, Brewer 59
(Monday)
A sluggish start proved costly for the Patriots as Huntsville won.
Brewer trailed 21-9 by first quarter's end and 35-24 at halftime. Huntsville held a 52-39 lead at the end of the third.
Mooneyham scored a team-high 14 points and Champion had 13. Scott added nine.
Lemont Jackson had seven points, while Matt Eslick added four.
Albertville 59, Brewer 55
(Saturday)
The Patriots led 32-27 at halftime and 41-39 at the end of the third quarter before faltering in the fourth.
Mooneyham scored 12 points, while Scott and Jackson added eight apiece. Rice scored seven points and Wes Graham had six.
Hartselle 73, Brewer 64
(Last Tuesday)
Despite Mooneyham's 21 points, Hartselle managed a 73-64 win.
Brewer led by nine at halftime but trailed at the end of the third quarter.
Matt Eslick had 11 points and Rice had nine, while Champion and Graham added eight.
Brewer is now 6-13 on the season.