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| Thursday, September 2, 2010 |
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Eagles claim another area championship
Published February 9, 2010
It hasn't been a typical season for the Pisgah girls basketball program, but it the Eagles got a typical result Saturday afternoon.
Pisgah rallied in the final minute to beat Crossville 53-52 in the Class 3A Area 14 Tournament championship game, giving the Eagles' their eighth area championship in the last 11 seasons.
Pisgah (15-13) lost all of its starters to graduation a year ago, but coach Carey Ellison said his young squad has shown a lot of character during an up and down season.
"They've fought hard to try to prove themselves," Ellison said. "They've come a long away...they've showed their character, showed that they don't quit."
That was evident Saturday. After second-seeded Crossville took a 52-51 lead on Darby Williamson's free throw with 1:02 remaining, Ella Denes drove the lane and scored over two Crossville defenders to push top-seeded Pisgah in front 53-52 with 24.5 seconds left to play.
The Lions missed a go-ahead shot underneath on their ensuing possession, but a scramble for the rebound produced a jump ball that went back to Crossville with 8.5 remaining. Williamson got an open look at 3-pointer off the inbounds pass, but the shot was long and Pisgah came up with the rebound and drew a foul with 3.1 seconds left. The Eagles missed the two free throws but Crossville was unable to get off a shot before time expired.
"It was nerve-wracking there at the end," Ellison said.
Denes, who faced a harassing box-and-one defense from Crossville, made some key baskets down the stretch. The sophomore finished with a team-high 16 points, nine of which came in the fourth quarter.
"She just hates to lose," Ellison said. "She created some shots just when she needed to."
Jordan Guffey finished with 15 points for the Eagles, who also got seven from Shelby Holley and six from Dallas Gilley. Emily Peek scored 16 for Crossville (13-14) while Macey Simpson had 10 and Williamson nine.
Pisgah and Crossville met for the area championship for the third time in the past four years on Saturday. Pisgah's victory moved the Eagles to 3-0 against the Lions this season, but not without some tense moments.
Crossville took a 12-8 lead after one quarter but Pisgah pulled in front 26-24 at halftime. Guffey's second 3-pointer of the third quarter upped the Eagles' lead to 34-30, but Crossville led 40-38 entering the fourth quarter. The Lions' largest lead in the final period was 47-43.
Both teams will play in the sub-regional round on Thursday. Pisgah will host 3A Area 13 runner-up Susan Moore while Crossville travels to face Area 13 winner and No. 6-ranked Holly Pond.
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