Rockets launch into Elite 8 with win over Brewer

By Staff
Lady Pats end season with 22-10 record
Nick Johnston, Hartselle Enquirer
HANCEVILLE – Brewer's run at the Final Four fell a bit short Tuesday afternoon as the Lady Patriots fell to Gardendale 75-64 in the Northwest Regional at Wallace State-Hanceville.
The 32 percent shooting from the field and 3 of 19 shooting from beyond the arc spelled doom for Brewer (22-10). Combine that with four of Brewer's starters fouled out by midway through the fourth quarter, and the loss was inevitable.
Brewer, though, led by seven points on five different occasions in the first half, keeping Gardendale's shooters bottled up for the most part.
The Lady Rockets (19-10) wasted little time regaining the lead in the third quarter, though, as sisters Jae Pickett and Lauren Pickett helped Gardendale out to a seven-point lead of its own. Jae Pickett had a game-high 28 points and 10 rebounds.
Brewer reached within one with :39 remaining in the third on Ashley Walker's jumper
See BREWER, B-4
and only trailed by two heading into the fourth quarter.
Brewer shot just 15 percent (2 of 13) in the fourth quarter, though, as Gardendale was able to pull away in the end.
Jessica Thompson led Brewer with 21 points, as Cristen Slate was the only other Lady Patriot in double figures with 13. Ashley Walker had nine points, Jo Ellen Nay finished the night with eight points, while Lynsie Lamitie had seven in her final game.
Kellie Davis hit 4 of 8 three pointers and scored 20 points for Gardendale, while Lauren Pickett had 14 points and seven rebounds. Sydney Simpson pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds.
Gardendale advances to the Regional Final against Athens at 9 a.m. Friday.