Late MRA basket halts Pillow surge
Southern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas
With 3:17 left in the game the Pillow Lady Mustangs were staring at a nine point deficit and had just watched MRA reel off seven straight points to take control of a close battle between two top five Class AAA squads. Three minutes later Pillow tied the game at 54-54 on Qua Niya Head’s offensive rebound and put back. Pillow seemed to have all the cards as they quickly regained possession with a half court steal and 19 seconds remaining in the game but that steal and possession quickly switched hands as MRA junior Anna Claire Henderson got a steal of her own and got a quick outlet pass to Tori Kennington. Kennington then found an open Marye Will Mitchell who laid in the game winner at the buzzer as MRA won 56-54 in dramatic fashion.
After a first half that went back and forth with neither squad able to build a sizable lead Pillow would grab a brief advantage at 35-32 with just over a minute gone in the third quarter on Kristen Stephens’ 12 foot jumper. That lead evaporated quickly as MRA junior Jessica Whitehead drilled a 3-pointer from the wing to knot the contest up at 35-35. (Above) MRA's Anna Claire Henderson (#5) penetrates the Pillow defense
With the game tied at 37-37 MRA would end the final 3:49 of the third quarter with a 7-2 run with baskets from Anna Claire Henderson, Caroline Kerley and Whitehead to take a 44-39 lead into the final quarter of play.
MRA maintained that five point cushion until the 6:31 mark of the fourth quarter when Pillow answered with a Qua Niya Head jumper from 18 feet and a Christian Robertson free throw following an MRA turnover to pull to within two points at 47-45.
MRA responded with an offensive rebound and lay-in from Anna Claire Henderson and a Jessica Whitehead 3-pointer from the top of the key. The Lady Patriots capped off a 7-0 run on Tavyn Lovitt’s 19 foot jumper with 3:15 remaining to take what most thought was a comfortable 54-45 lead only to see Pillow reel off nine straight points to set up the dramatic 56-54 finish.
Caroline Kerley led MRA with 15 points, Anna Claire Henderson added 13, Jessica Whitehead had 12, Marye Will Mitchell had 6 including the game winner, Tori Hines 5, Tori Kennington 3 and Tavyn Lovitt 2. (Above) Walker Kimes (#24) of Pillow looks for an opening
The 5th ranked Lady Patriots improved to 22-8 & 9-3 and will host Marshall on Monday.
Holly Ann Pannell led Pillow with a game high 24 points, Qua Niya Head added 13, Kristen Stephens 9, Christian Robertson 3, Katy Coleman and Kara Mae Bowden with 2 each and Walker Kimes 1.
Pillow slips to 20-6 & 10-2 and will host Magnolia Heights on Tuesday.

(Photo at top of page) MRA senior Caroline Kerley (#25) gets a shot off over Kristen Stephens (#12) and Devin Mitchell (#34) of Pillow