Pillow turns back Kirk to remain unbeaten
Southern Sports & Travel
Two of the best girls teams in their respective classes went to war in round one of the Kirk Invitational Tournament last night in Grenada. The Pillow Lady Mustangs, undefeated and ranked number one in Class AAA, got all they wanted from Class AA fourth ranked Kirk as they held on to win 64-56 before a big and boisterous crowd.
Seniors Kristen Stephens and Walker Kimes combined for 26 points as the top ranked team in the MAIS remained undefeated in improving to 19-0 on the season. The Lady Mustangs will face off with North Delta today.
Kirk looked ready to give Pillow their first loss of the season last night as the Raiderettes quickly established why they are serious contenders to win a Class AA State Championship.
(Above) Pillow's Kristen Stephens (#12) looks to drive past Emily Lundy (#2) of Kirk
Kirk struck early as Carmen Woods drained a 3-pointer from the deep corner just twenty seconds into the game. The Raiderettes were successful in maintaining an up-tempo pace with Pillow early on and it was evident as they built a 15-7 lead following two Carmen Woods free throws at the 3:22 mark. Walker Kimes hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key and Avery Alderman sank a 17 foot jumper to pull Pillow to within three points at 15-12 at the 2:37 mark but Kirk answered with five straight points of their own to take a 20-12 lead with 1:57 remaining in a high scoring first quarter.
Kirk took a 24-16 eight point cushion into the second quarter but Pillow stepped up their intensity and defensive pressure quickly.
Sage Greenlee’s steal and lay-in started the second quarter for Pillow and Walker Kimes did the same as the Lady Mustangs quickly cut the deficit in half at 24-20 less than one minute into the quarter.
Turnovers continued to plague Kirk and Pillow capitalized. Sage Greenlee sank a 3-pointer from the wing to pull Pillow to within one point at 24-23 forcing a Kirk timeout with 6:11 left in the half.
After a Carmen Woods free throw Pillow took their first lead of the night at 26-25 on a Kristen Stephens 3-pointer from the wing at the 5:08 mark.
The remaining five minutes of the half provided three ties and two lead changes as the teams went chest to chest in an intense and physical battle.
After two Carmen Woods free throws tied the game at 30-30 Pillow took their biggest lead of a closely played first half on a Kristen Stephens 3-pointer with 1:08 remaining to go up 33-30 but Kirk answered.
Hayden Grantham scored in the paint for Kirk with 47 seconds remaining and Emily Lundy picked up a fast break basket with just six seconds left to give the Raiderettes a 34-33 halftime lead.
Kirk would add three free throws during the first two minutes of the third quarter to extend their lead to 37-33 but Pillow’s pressure and bench depth started taking a toll on Kirk.
Kristen Stephens canned another 3-pointer and Avery Alderman’s bucket at the 4:49 mark gave Pillow the lead at 38-37. That lead grew to 43-37 as Pillow capped a 10-0 run on Merritt Belk’s 15 foot jumper with 3:31 left in the quarter.
Kirk closed out the quarter on a Carmen Woods fast break bucket off a Pillow turnover and Daniella Dipalo’s transition basket at the 1:05 mark to trim the lead to 45-43 but Pillow's Qua’Niya Head got a basket in the paint to wrap a physical third quarter with the Lady Mustangs on top 47-43.
Pillow threatened to gain separation in the opening minutes of the final quarter. Merritt Belk’s offensive rebound and put back gave the Lady Mustangs a six point cushion at 49-43 and following two Daniella Dipalo free throws Pillow increased their lead to 52-45 on a Walker Kimes 3-pointer from the top of the key.
After two Kirk free throws Pillow would grab their biggest lead of the night. Christian Robertson’s baseline drive was followed up by a Qua’Niya Head bucket to extend the Pillow lead to 56-47 with 4:52 remaining in the game but the Lady Mustangs couldn’t shake Kirk.
The Raiderettes pulled back to within six points at 58-52 on a Carmen Woods bucket on the block with four minutes left but Kirk couldn’t capitalize on four Pillow turnovers down the stretch.
Kirk failed to cut into that six point deficit on four trips down the court following those four Pillow turnovers during a two minute span and the Lady Mustangs went 4/4 on the line in the last 30 seconds to secure a 64-56 win.
Kristen Stephens led Pillow with 15 points, Walker Kimes added 11, Sage Greenlee, Qua’Niya Head and Christian Robertson each had 8, Merritt Belk 6 and Avery Alderman and Chloe Bush had 4 each.
Kirk (17-4) was led by Carmen Woods who had a game high 26 points, Daniella Dipalo added 8, Emily Lundy 7, Hayden Grantham 6, Jordan Rutland 5, Beth Boxx 3 and Beth Tillman 2.
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