CLASS 5A AREA 5: Pike Road strolls past Beauregard; Brew Tech boys, girls advance
Brennan Jordan drives on Beaurgard’s Logan Ballew in Pike Road’s win in the Class 5A Area 5 Tournament on Monday. (Staff Photo)
By GRAHAM DUNN
PIKE ROAD - Winning the postseason opener in the area tournament may not be construed as “baby steps” by some but Pike Road first-year coach Obadiah Threadgill has the Patriots in training mode.
Yes, even after 25 games.
The Patriots got off to a good start in the Class 5A, Area 5 tournament semis, handling Beauregard with ease in an 82-49 win, moving into the area final on Wednesday.
But Threadgill is looking for more.
“This is a group with talent and athleticism,” he said, “but it can be much more. We have a lot of work to do on having a positive attitude when we are on the court, not so worried about minutes or scoring but about what this team can do.”
Pike Road was somewhat slow to get out of the gate on Monday but led by 13 at one point of the first half only to have it sliced to five at the 3:19 mark of the second quarter.
But the big advantage was quickly built in the second half with the Patriots scoring 16 straight points to start the third quarter. The lead would swell to as many as 33 points in the half, which eventually was the final margin.
“We are still getting to know this team,” stated Threadgill, who came from Booker T. Washington in Tuskegee. “We had several transfers come in and only two back from last year. This can be a very talented team and there was some of that seen tonight but we’ve got a standard we are trying to establish.”
Three different players scored in double figures for Pike Road, led by Jayden Cooper with 17 points. Alijah Hicks had 15 points while Joshua Burt added 14 points.
Corday Stinson led the Hornets with 18 points.
Pike Road (19-6) will be back home Wednesday to face Brewbaker Tech in the Area 5 Tournament title game. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Brewbaker Tech 49, Tallassee 42
PIKE ROAD – The Rams won a tight battle in the first game of the Class 5A, Area 5 tournament on Monday. The Rams took the lead for good with 22 seconds left and then held off a couple of late rallies to earn a trip to the tournament finals on Wednesday.
“We played a lot of the big teams and it got us ready for a night like this,’” Brew Tech coach Kendric Larkin said.. “That helped us a whole lot.”
The Rams built a nine-point lead after three quarters but Tallassee scored the first seven points of the final quarter to pull within two.
“I thought we kept the momentum but it kept slipping away,” Larkin said. “We got some big shots late.”
One of those was a 3-pointer from Jaden Stephens with just over a minute remaining that gave Brew Tech a four-point advantage.
“I knew our team would need a big play and I wanted the ball,” Stephens said. “We had confidence in ourselves to make the plays at the end.”
Brew Tech has faced Pike Road three times and is still looking for their first win. The two teams play Wednesday at Pike Road.
“We have played close so we know we can beat them,” Stephens said. “It’s just a matter of playing our game.”
Michai Gilcrest led the Rams with 15 points while Trey Griffin added 11 points.
Tallassee (10-9) was led by Jalyn Daniels with 13 points while Ty Washington added nine points.
Girls
Brew Tech 60, Beauregard 30
Pike Road 2, Tallassee 0 (Forfeit)
PIKE ROAD – Kennedi McGhee pumped in 18 points while Erin Martin added 16 points to lead the Lady Rams to the finals of the Class 5A Area 5 tournament final.
Brew Tech will face Pike Road in the tournament finals on Wednesday. The Patriots earned a spot in the finals after Tallassee forfeited its semifinal game scheduled on Monday.