Pillow looking for seventh Overall title Southern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas
The girls’ basketball program at Pillow Academy has a storied history that includes a record six Overall titles and five AAA State Championships. On Friday afternoon the Lady Mustang’s took a step towards earning a seventh Overall crown as they edged Jackson Academy 33-31 in a thrilling semi final battle that produced eight lead changes and was tied twice. With the win Pillow improves to 23-11 and will take on East Rankin who will be looking to win their first Gold Ball.
Pillow wasted little time as August Malouf canned a 3-pointer just 10 seconds into the opening quarter to put the Lady Mustangs on top 3-0. Jackson Academy grabbed their first lead at 4-3 on an AJ Frazier steal and lay-in at the 6:39 mark. Mackenzie Carmody’s basket with two seconds remaining in the quarter gave the Lady Raiders a 12-9 advantage after eight minutes of play.
Pillow only managed to score seven points in the second quarter but the Lady Mustangs held Jackson Academy scoreless. Devin Mitchell canned two free throws and an offensive rebound and put back from Kristen Stephens gave Pillow a 13-12 lead with 4:13 remaining in the first half. Following a Jackson Academy turnover Pillow extended their lead to 16-12 on Holly Ann Pannell’s 3-pointer from the top of the key with 1:37 on the clock. The score would remain at 16-12 to end the second quarter.
(Above) The Pillow student section gives Mandy Dace (#30) of Jackson Academy some warm encouragement
Jackson Academy trimmed the deficit to 16-14 on Riley Busching’s offensive rebound and put back nearly two minutes into the third quarter. Holly Ann Pannell drained another 3-pointer to extend the Lady Mustang’s lead to 19-14 but two consecutive baskets from Mandy Dace pulled Jackson Academy to within one point at 19-18 with 3:36 left in the quarter. Kristen Stephens drained two free throws to give Pillow a three point cushion but Jackson Academy pulled even at 21-21 on AJ Frazier’s 3-pointer at the 1:57 mark. The Lady Raiders regained the lead at 23-21 with 45 seconds left in the quarter on Mackenzie Carmody’s basket in the paint following a Pillow turnover.
Jackson Academy pushed out to a 29-23 lead following a Mandy Dace 3-pointer with 4:49 left in the game but Pillow started tearing into the six point deficit. After Holly Ann Pannell hit one of two free throws, Mary Langdon Gallagher converted on a steal and lay-in to make it 29-26 with just over four minutes to play. Another free throw from Pannell and one from Dasha Tsema brought the Lady Mustangs to within one point at 29-28 with 3:51 remaining. After a Jackson Academy turnover Devin Mitchell’s assist to Kristen Stephens put Pillow back on top at 30-29. Holly Ann Pannell hit two free throws as Pillow extended their slim lead to 32-29 at the 1:18 mark. Jackson Academy got a basket from Mandy Dace with 1:00 left and following a Lady Raider timeout Pillow turned the ball over but Jackson Academy’s shot attempt with 9 seconds on the clock was off the rim. Dasha Tsema brought in the rebound and was fouled with 5 seconds remaining. Tsema hit one of two free throws and Jackson Academy could not get a shot off as Pillow escaped with a 33-31 semi final win.
(Above) Kristen Stephens of Pillow battles with Brett Ball (#23) of Jackson Academy
Holly Ann Pannell led Pillow with 12 points, Kristen Stephens added 8, August Malouf had 7 and Mary Langdon Gallagher, Dasha Tsema and Devin Mitchell each had 2.
Mandy Dace led Jackson Academy (24-10) with 11 points, Riley Busching and AJ Frazier had 5 apiece, Mackenzie Carmody 4 and Mollie Blair, Kristen McNair and Brett Ball had 2 each.
Pillow wasted little time as August Malouf canned a 3-pointer just 10 seconds into the opening quarter to put the Lady Mustangs on top 3-0. Jackson Academy grabbed their first lead at 4-3 on an AJ Frazier steal and lay-in at the 6:39 mark. Mackenzie Carmody’s basket with two seconds remaining in the quarter gave the Lady Raiders a 12-9 advantage after eight minutes of play.
Pillow only managed to score seven points in the second quarter but the Lady Mustangs held Jackson Academy scoreless. Devin Mitchell canned two free throws and an offensive rebound and put back from Kristen Stephens gave Pillow a 13-12 lead with 4:13 remaining in the first half. Following a Jackson Academy turnover Pillow extended their lead to 16-12 on Holly Ann Pannell’s 3-pointer from the top of the key with 1:37 on the clock. The score would remain at 16-12 to end the second quarter.
(Above) The Pillow student section gives Mandy Dace (#30) of Jackson Academy some warm encouragementJackson Academy trimmed the deficit to 16-14 on Riley Busching’s offensive rebound and put back nearly two minutes into the third quarter. Holly Ann Pannell drained another 3-pointer to extend the Lady Mustang’s lead to 19-14 but two consecutive baskets from Mandy Dace pulled Jackson Academy to within one point at 19-18 with 3:36 left in the quarter. Kristen Stephens drained two free throws to give Pillow a three point cushion but Jackson Academy pulled even at 21-21 on AJ Frazier’s 3-pointer at the 1:57 mark. The Lady Raiders regained the lead at 23-21 with 45 seconds left in the quarter on Mackenzie Carmody’s basket in the paint following a Pillow turnover.
Jackson Academy pushed out to a 29-23 lead following a Mandy Dace 3-pointer with 4:49 left in the game but Pillow started tearing into the six point deficit. After Holly Ann Pannell hit one of two free throws, Mary Langdon Gallagher converted on a steal and lay-in to make it 29-26 with just over four minutes to play. Another free throw from Pannell and one from Dasha Tsema brought the Lady Mustangs to within one point at 29-28 with 3:51 remaining. After a Jackson Academy turnover Devin Mitchell’s assist to Kristen Stephens put Pillow back on top at 30-29. Holly Ann Pannell hit two free throws as Pillow extended their slim lead to 32-29 at the 1:18 mark. Jackson Academy got a basket from Mandy Dace with 1:00 left and following a Lady Raider timeout Pillow turned the ball over but Jackson Academy’s shot attempt with 9 seconds on the clock was off the rim. Dasha Tsema brought in the rebound and was fouled with 5 seconds remaining. Tsema hit one of two free throws and Jackson Academy could not get a shot off as Pillow escaped with a 33-31 semi final win.
(Above) Kristen Stephens of Pillow battles with Brett Ball (#23) of Jackson AcademyHolly Ann Pannell led Pillow with 12 points, Kristen Stephens added 8, August Malouf had 7 and Mary Langdon Gallagher, Dasha Tsema and Devin Mitchell each had 2.
Mandy Dace led Jackson Academy (24-10) with 11 points, Riley Busching and AJ Frazier had 5 apiece, Mackenzie Carmody 4 and Mollie Blair, Kristen McNair and Brett Ball had 2 each.
PA....9...7...5...12...33
JA...12..0...11...8....31
(Photo at top) Mary Langdon Gallagher of Pillow (#11) gets past Mackenzie Carmody of Jackson Academy
