On Friday night those who ventured out to the Cove got to see a Putnam County League battle as the Lady Pirates hosted the Miller City Wildcats. In a game where 5 players ended up with foul disqualifications and another 3 with 4 fouls, bench play was important. Pirate Senior Ashley Mansfield came off the bench for the Pirates with 12 points outscoring the Wildcat bench play by 7.
The Wildcats opened up the scoring by putting in the first 5 points before the Pirates rallied to take lead by hitting the next 6 on a pair of baskets by Brooke Bradford and one by Ashley Mansfield. A Wildcat basket was bettered by a Pirate Addyson Armey 3 pointer to make it Pirates 9, Wildcats 7 at the end of one.
The second quarter had the Wildcats put in the first 4 to regain the lead 11-9. A Pirate 9 point run fueled by a pair of Bradford baskets, Amber Logan basket, and an Alex Hoeffel 3 pointer gave the Pirates an 18-11 lead. A Wildcat basket made it 18-13 was followed by a Bradford free throw. Another Wildcat basket was matched by a pair of Ashley Mansfield free throws. A Wildcat basket finished the scoring for the half with the Pirates leading 21-17. Bradford led all scorers at half with 9 points.
The Wildcats put in the first 4 in the third to make the score 21 all. A Logan free throw was met with a Wildcat 6 point run to make it Wildcats 10 Pirates 1 to start the third. Wildcats 27 Pirates 22. The Pirates then ran off 7 straight points as Logan hit for a 3 and 2 while Mansfield made a basket. Pirates 29, Wildcats 27. A Wildcat basket tied the game at 29. A Mansfield free throw made it 30-29 Pirates. The Wildcats had the last 2 points of the quarter to make it Wildcats 31, Pirates 30 after three.
In the third and fourth quarter Miller City turned up the D with an aggressive man to man which in turn led to foul problems for both teams. By the end of the fourth the Wildcats would have 3 starters on the bench due to fouls to the Pirates 2 starters. The Pirates opened up the scoring in the fourth with a Bradford basket to take a 32-31 lead. A Wildcat basket was followed by a Logan free throw to even the score at 33 all. A Wildcat basket was matched by a Jaylen Armey basket making it 35 all. Another Wildcat basket was bettered by the Pirates when Kerri Prowant made a free throw and Logan a basket to make it Pirates 38, Wildcats 37. A Wildcat free throw was followed by a 3 point play by Mansfield Pirates 41, Wildcats 38. A pair of Wildcat free throw made it a one point game. The Pirates finished the game from the line with Hoeffel hitting 4-6 and Mansfield 2-2 while the Wildcats mustered a basket and a free throw. Pirates 47, Wildcats 42.
Ashley Mansfield came off the bench and put in 12 points going 3-3 from the line in the fourth. Brooke Bradford and Amber Logan both had 11 ponts. Alex Hoeffel finished with 7 points while Addyson Armey had 3, Jaylen Armey 2 and Kerri Prowant 1. Logan, Hoeffel, and A. Armey all made one 3 point shot.
The Pirates ended 2016 with a win and started 2017 with a win for the first 2 game winning streak since the end of 2014. The Pirates are now 2-9 (1-1 PCL) while the Wildcats are also 2-9 (0-4 PCL). Continental hits the hardwood again on Monday as they travel to Crestview.
–Mike Jones, Sportswriter
mike jones says
Ashley Mansfield was award the Zsportslive player of the game award. Great job Ashley!