Good Hope ends Priceville’s run
Priceville’s Lady Bulldogs (21-10) had a dream to get through regional and advance to the final four in Birmingham–something no other team before them had done. But that dream came to a screeching halt at Wallace State Community College on Saturday as they struggled late against a gutsy Good Hope team and fell 45-40.
The match was a replay of the Class 4A Area final in which Good Hope came out on top. In two earlier regular season games the teams split with each winning on its home court.
The Lady Bulldogs played well in the first half, leading 8-7 after one quarter and 21-20 at halftime. The game was locked in a 30-all after three quarters thanks to buzzer-beater lay up by Good Hope’s Cierra Jenkins.
”It was a devastating loss,” said Priceville head coach Katrina Mason. “These girls worked hard and wanted this game badly. I hate it for them, especially the six seniors.
“They have raised the bar for future Lady Bulldog basketball players and I commend them for what they have accomplished and what they have meant to this team.”
Priceville led 8-1 with 2:35 left in the first period after Sydney McLendon nailed a free throw and a 3-pointer and Presley Darling banked in a lay-up. Good Hope’s Kayla Tillman sank two free thrown with 41 second left to bring her team to within a point of a tie.
The contest was tied at 20-all in the second period before Morgan Ponder made a lay up and sank a free throw to give her team a one-point halftime edge.
Ashley Stanley hit a 3-point shot with 1:23 left in the third quarter to give Good Hope a 5-point lead that the Lady Bulldogs were never able to overcome.
Leading Priceville in scoring was McLendon with 13 points and 8 rebounds and had an assist. Darling followed with 11 points and 7 boards and a pair of assists. Ponder had seven points, nine rebounds while Amberly Smith had 6 points and 4 rebounds.
Tillman led Hood Hope in scoring with 17 points. She also had four rebounds and three assists. Ashley Stanley scored nine points and had six rebounds and two assists and Elizabeth Hardin and Darcie Wilson each had eight points.
Priceville’s Darling and McLendon were named to the Class 4A All-Tournament Team.
